EASC and Municipalities Hold Meetings to Prepare for Upcoming Legislative Session

Over the past several weeks, Economic Alliance Snohomish County (EASC) has met with leadership from the cities of Everett, Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood, Mill Creek, Marysville, and Snohomish to discuss local legislative and economic development priorities ahead of the 2026 state session. These meetings are part of EASC’s expanded outreach strategy to ensure municipal needs directly inform the development of our 2026 Legislative Agenda, which will be finalized before the December 10 Legislative Kickoff.

Across jurisdictions, several consistent themes have emerged. Cities expressed a strong interest in protecting Tax Increment Financing (TIF) as a vital tool for infrastructure and redevelopment, and many emphasized the need for reforms to the Public Records Act to reduce administrative burden and better support small-staffed cities. Nearly all municipalities highlighted rising public safety costs, including staffing, training, and equipment, as a significant budget pressure heading into the next biennium. Cities also raised concerns regarding condominium liability laws, noting that meaningful reform is needed to expand multifamily and ownership housing options. Additionally, several jurisdictions referenced the need for clearer state regulations around E-bikes — particularly relating to safety, trail use, and enforcement — as well as growing concerns about liabilities associated with Flock cameras and the implications for city risk management and budgets.

EASC will continue meeting with additional cities in the coming weeks to round out this regional perspective. These conversations are helping shape a cohesive countywide set of priorities that reflect the needs of Snohomish County’s municipalities and the businesses they serve.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at info@economicalliancesc.org!