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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
It’s been a busy interim, and I wanted to share a quick update on what’s happening in Olympia and what I’ve been working on for you.
New Taxes Now in Effect
Unfortunately, many of the new taxes and fees passed by the majority party this session are now in effect—and they’re hitting families, small businesses, and especially rural communities hard.
Here’s what we’re seeing:
- A 6-cent increase in the gas tax.
- A 12-cent increase in the diesel tax.
- New and higher taxes on businesses.
- Higher or new fees on hunting, fishing, camping, and more.
- Expanded sales tax.
These costs add up—at the pump and across the board—driving up prices on groceries, school supplies, construction materials, and just about everything that needs to be transported. It’s making life even more expensive in our state.
As House Republican budget leader, I’ll keep working across the aisle to push for relief and make our state more affordable for everyone.
Protecting Kids in Crisis
Many of you know I’ve spent the past few years focused on fixing our broken child welfare system. Too many children are left in unsafe homes, often with parents struggling with addiction. The 2021 “Keeping Families Together Act” shifted priorities in the wrong direction—pushing to keep kids in homes even when there’s active drug use.
Now the numbers are in, and they’re heartbreaking:
Ninety-two children have died or nearly died in just the first half of 2025—up from 78 during the same period last year. Twenty of those were due to accidental drug ingestion or overdose.
Despite this, DCYF and the majority party are still standing by the system that’s failing these kids.
And just this month, DCYF cut ties with the Pediatric Interim Care Center (PICC) in Kent. PICC has been a national model for 35 years, caring for babies born addicted to drugs. Though Democrats slashed its funding this year, the center raised enough private donations to keep going for another year—but DCYF pulled the contract anyway, cutting off its ability to take in new babies.
The good news: PICC is still open, and I’m working on a solution to restore its funding and capacity.
I’m also pushing ahead with my bill to require DCYF to remove babies from homes with active hard drug use. I’m building bipartisan support and fighting to get it a hearing in the 2026 session.
Let’s Stay in Touch
These are just a couple of the issues I’m focused on this interim. As I prepare for the next session, I want to hear from you. Your input helps me better represent the 35th District, so please reach out and let me know what’s on your mind.
Look for another update next month. Until then, enjoy the rest of your summer!
Travis Couture
