2026 Policy AgendaTransportation Package - Transportation investments are necessary for sustaining a reliable infrastructure, creating family-wage jobs, and ensuring an equitable economic recovery for Washington. The state must fund preservation and maintenance efforts, at a minimum, and not solely rely on federal investments that will not remedy the increasing deficit in transportation spending that requires over $10 billion in the next 10 years for preservation and maintenance alone.
Clean Energy Infrastructure & Workforce - The path to Washington’s clean energy economy must maintain employment for workers affected by energy market changes; must not prematurely eliminate current energy sources without a sufficient and diversified in-state energy infrastructure; must not incentivize or rely on the exporting of projects and importing of energy; must ensure out-of-state procurement of energy includes Project Labor Agreements, or at least high-road labor standards, and do not subvert CETA responsibilities; must include research and pilot project funding to bring new energy technologies to market; must ensure current infrastructure is repurposed and new facilities can be built; and must ensure any decarbonization policies include union labor standards. Siting & Permitting - Meaningful siting and permitting reform is necessary for Washington to build a diversified and self-sufficient in-state clean energy production infrastructure and the manufacturing of components for clean energy technologies. In addition, projects lost to other states is a loss of family-wage jobs and local economic benefit for communities, and ultimately results in greater emissions due to weaker environmental laws in other states. Apprenticeship Pathways and Apprentice Support - Pathways to building trades apprenticeship programs must be recognized and supported the same as other postsecondary pathways. State registered apprentices must receive all available supports and services that other postsecondary students have access to. A journey card must not be deemed less than a two-year degree and all competencies acquired through building trades apprenticeship programs must be acknowledged. In addition, the Washington College Grant for Apprentices must be accessible to building trades apprentices and disbursed by college financial aid departments when the apprentice is enrolled with them. Training & Work Standards - A skilled and trained workforce is essential to Washington’s economy, meeting industry needs and workplace safety. Child Care Infrastructure - Access to childcare, particularly outside of traditional work hours, is a barrier for building trades apprentices and journey workers to be successful in their careers and, in particular, limits access to apprenticeship pathways for women and single-parents. Capital Budget - Investments in capital projects positively impact access to family-wage jobs and on-the-job training opportunities for Washingtonians through prevailing wage and Apprenticeship Utilization Requirements. |
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