“Spokane shows up in numbers,” Emily Cameron, CEO of the Downtown Spokane Partnership, remarked as she welcomed Representative April Berg to the Greater Spokane Inc 2026 Olympia Fly-In delegation.
Welcome to Olympia
GSI is honored to represent Spokane with one of the state’s largest advocacy events. The 2026 Olympia Fly-In, presented by MulitCare, brought together more than 70 leaders from nonprofit organizations, service providers, utilities, education institutions, and businesses across all sectors to ensure our region is consistently represented and heard in cornerstone policy conversations.
During this event, participants met with Washington State’s Chief Economist, Lieutenant Governor, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and 14 members of the Legislature to discuss the Spokane business community’s policy priorities. Those priorities were thoughtfully crafted by GSI’s Regional Advocacy Committee, approved by the Executive Board, and outlined in our 2026 State Legislative Agenda.
Setting the Stage
To understand Washington State’s economic direction, the Fly-in kicked off with a conversation at the Association of Washington Businesses (AWB) office, where Chief Economist Dave Reich of the Economic & Revenue Forecast Council provided an update.
In the last legislative session, the most foreboding issue was the state’s major budget deficit, estimated at $12-16 billion, which was addressed through budget cuts and the largest tax increase in state history. This session, a budget challenge looms again, though smaller, at over $2 billion, which will likely be addressed with a mix of budget cuts and tax increases.
Some silver linings include projections that construction employment in the state will start ticking back up, along with housing stock and marginal increases in revenue and employment, despite the stability challenge posed by federal tariff policy.
Meetings with Legislators: Top Issues & Priorities
From the Kick-off meeting at AWB, GSI and the Spokane delegation made their way to the Capitol campus to begin meeting with legislators and advocating for the Spokane region. Over the day and a half spent at the Capitol building, participants met with the Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck and 14 legislators from both sides of the aisle. Thursday afternoon’s programming included meetings with the “four corners,” meaning the top Republican and Democrat in both the House and Senate. Each legislator shared their priorities for the session, what bills they are working on, and what they were looking forward to, with a few key themes emerging in the end:
- Federal funding challenges – As the federal policy landscape evolves, so must the Washington legislature’s response. Several legislators emphasized that looming federal funding cuts are top of mind this session, adding pressure to an already difficult state budget environment.
- Taxes and spending – Participants heard that many members of the legislature are increasingly recognizing that Washington State’s spending behavior is not sustainable, and lawmakers need to find clearer ways to measure program success to inform funding decisions. Fly-in participants pressed for action not only on high spending but also on the historic tax burden.
- State tax structure – Washington State is recognized for having one of the most regressive tax systems for businesses and residents in the nation. With the burden of budget shortfalls growing in recent years, legislators are having more serious discussions around moving toward an income tax structure. This has begun with the proposed “Millionaires Tax” bill, which at the time of the Fly-in had not yet been released. Fly-in participants shared concerns about this particular legislation, as well as concerns about the longer-term discussion needed around Washington State’s tax structure at a high level.
- The sales tax on services (SB 5814) – GSI’s membership base has been highly impacted by the new sales tax on services, implemented by SB 5814 in the 2025 legislative session. It was top of mind during the 2026 Fly-in, as participants shared their questions and concerns about its implementation, and legislators provided some, although limited, comments on its future.
Closing the Fly-in
The 2026 Olympia Fly-in concluded with a breakfast presentation from the Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal. Participants received an update on the state’s education system, including insights gained from navigating an increasingly complex political environment and the strategic direction for the years ahead. The conversation sparked thoughtful discussion about the challenges facing our youth, public schools, and future workforce. Despite the difficulties across sectors, participants left with a sense of optimism about opportunities to strengthen systems and better serve communities both locally and statewide.
Your Impact
By coming to Olympia and meeting with lawmakers, you help elevate our shared priorities and ensure the challenges you and your business face are understood. By showing up together, we build influence for our community. Our advocacy continues beyond Olympia and beyond the legislature’s adjournment.
We look forward to continuing our advocacy work on behalf of the Spokane region. To ensure we are aware of and can support the issues you are monitoring, please reach out to the GSI Public Policy team: Mary Miller ([email protected]) and John Somerlott ([email protected]).
As we continue monitoring the state’s policy work, we begin gearing up for our next big Fly-In to the nation’s capital. We will be developing priorities for GSI’s federal policy agenda, and we would love to see you attend our D.C. Fly-in from April 21st to 24th. All are welcome at these events, regardless of having been before.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to AWB, Economic & Revenue Forecast Council, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and each legislator who met with us during this busy time of year.
For making our events possible, thank you to our Event Sponsors: MultiCare, DoorDash, Alaska Airlines, and ICCU.
Finally, and most importantly, thank you to every partner who attended this vital event. We appreciate the chance to work alongside you and your organizations. Our region demonstrates strong collaboration and unity, which truly represents our shared vision for progress.
Together we’re greater!
