5 Things You Need to Know This Week: Oly Update, the Crosslake Connection, Year in Review

1. Live from Olympia: Week 2 of the Legislative Session

There's six weeks left in the legislative session, but who's counting?

Our Olympia lobbyist, Lyset Cadena, has been pumping out weekly updates from the Capitol, and our President & CEO Joe Fain popped over himself last week to testify against HB 2100, the proposed legislation that would expand a Seattle-style payroll tax statewide. (Read that blog and listen to the testimony here.)

In other news, our advocacy team is also prepping for annual Chamber Day, where we head to Olympia to meet with our state legislators alongside our fellow Chambers of Commerce. This year's Chamber Day is set for Wednesday, February 18 — sign up today to join us!

2. The Time is Near: Crosslake Connection

An opening date for the much-anticipated Link 2 Line Crosslake Connection was announced last week, and we can hardly wait the two months.

With service set to start on March 28, this final segment of East Link includes two new stations at Mercer Island and Judkins Park, and the final component of the 2 Line will cross Lake Washington and connect with the 1 Line at International District/Chinatown Station. Just in time for us locals to get used to it before World Cup!

3. Will You Join Us?

Your calendar is calling: It misses us! Make it happy and fill it with one (or all) of these upcoming Chamber events, won't ya?

Network Power Hour: A Member-Only Event

February 4 @ the Chamber Office

Insurance 101: Understanding Coverage

February 12 @ the Chamber Office

2026 Women's Leadership Conference:

February 24 @ Meydenbauer Center

4. Hey! That's Our Representative!

Sure, we are normally full of complaints when the legislative session rolls around ... but sometimes we share good news, too! Our hometown rep, Janice Zahn, is the primary sponsor for HB 1980, which allows ultimately certain private employer transportation services to use public transportation facilities, and is currently in running through the Senate's Transportation Committee.

Get acquainted with the bill here, and be sure to keep up with our weekly Olympia updates (see item #1) for upcoming hearings and all that jazz.

5. Chamber Year in Review

2025 flew by — let’s run through each month and reflect on all the good stuff we did this past year! (Advocacy folks don’t fret: Your much-needed and very-detailed “Policy Wrapped” is coming soon. Let us reflect on the fun stuff first!)

Read the recap using this link, and check out the "Best Of" photo album here.

• Game Day Ready: A Seahawks Super Bowl run is a fantastic excuse to patronize a local sports bar or otherwise sports-friendly establishment ... take a look at Visit Bellevue's "Where to Watch the Game" roundup here for some inspiration, with a side of ranch, carrots, and celery, of course.
• The Coug Effect: WSU released its 2025 Economic Impact Study, and let’s just say our UW grads staff have been encouraged to keep the Coug slander at an all-time-low. Some highlights? For every $1 in state funding received, WSU generates $12 in economic impact, which totaled up to $4 billion last year. Take a peek for yourself here. 
• WaPo Weighs In: Tax policy so wonky, we’ve got The Washington Post chiming in. Read their opinion piece here.
• In Need of Meals: The Sophia Way expressed a “great need” for meal donations this past week, encouraging folks to sign up to help prepare meals, or provide a prepared meal from your fav restaurant. Details at this link. 
• Wanna Tree? Or Three?: The Spring Tree Giveaway 2026 is Open! King County residents can order up to 3 trees and pick them up in South Bellevue on Friday, February 27 or Saturday, February 28. And, eligible groups may order up to 20 trees. More info here.