East King Chambers Coalition: 2027 Priorities Head to Member Chamber Boards

Bellevue Chamber of Commerce  |  September 24, 2026

The East King Chambers Coalition met virtually on September 24 with delegates from Bellevue, Woodinville, Issaquah, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Sammamish, Renton, SnoValley and OneRedmond. 

A Long Session and a Short Budget

The Chamber's contract lobbyist opened with a preview of the 2027 session, which starts in January and runs 105 days while the Legislature writes the operating, transportation and capital budgets. Half the Senate and every House seat are on the November ballot, and the retirement of Rep. Ormsby of Spokane means new leadership on House Appropriations.

"For this coming session, the number that I keep hearing about the deficit is anywhere between 2 to 3 billion dollars."  — Contract Lobbyist, Bellevue Chamber

The firmer number arrives with the November revenue forecast, which the governor uses to build a budget due by December 20. The governor has told agencies to propose no new policy items. The state income tax passed this year does not help close the gap yet, because collections do not begin until 2029.

Other pressures on the budget include the cost of new SNAP and Medicaid work requirements under federal HR 1, and rising liability payouts at the state, county and city level. On transportation, a highway user fee modeled on Virginia's was discussed, which would charge vehicles above a set fuel-economy threshold. Stakeholder conversations on that proposal begin in October.

The representative of the SnoValley Chamber asked whether anyone is counting the businesses that have left Washington. The Association of Washington Business is tracking relocations, and the member offered to bring examples of lost revenue from SnoValley members.

Six Papers, Line by Line

Tony Sprague of the Bellevue Chamber walked delegates through the drafts that subcommittees wrote over the summer, covering budget and economic vitality, education and workforce, energy, housing, public safety, and transportation and infrastructure. Delegates took them bullet by bullet and marked amendments in the room. A motion to approve the drafts as amended and send them to the chambers carried with no opposition.

Delegates now take the drafts to their own boards and executives and bring back strike-through and minor edits. The coalition adopts a final draft at its October 22 meeting. Each member chamber then gives final approval and can strike any line on its own.