# Bellingham Committee of the Whole Navigates Legislative Priorities, Historic Preservation, and Emergency Infrastructure Response The City of Bellingham Committee of the Whole convened on April 13, 2026, in the late afternoon for a packed agenda covering state legislative outcomes, municipal operations, and an unexpected update on a major infrastructure crisis. All seven council members participated, with Council President Hannah Stone chairing the meeting and Council Member Lisa Anderson joining remotely. What emerged was a comprehensive look at how local government adapts to state policy changes, modernizes its operations, and responds to unforeseen transportation emergencies that ripple through the entire community. ## State Legislative Session: Cautious Progress Amid Economic Uncertainty The meeting opened with a detailed briefing from the city's contracted lobbyists, Luke Esser and Nick Federici, joining remotely to report on the recently concluded 60-day legislative session. The session, which ended March 12, 2026, was characterized by what Federici called "caution as the watchword" due to ongoing economic uncertainty and political volatility. "You may remember that last year 2025 the state was facing a $16 billion deficit that they resolved through about half cuts to programs or eliminations of programs and about half new revenues," Federici explained. "This year came back with a $1.8 billion deficit for the remainder of this biennium." The legislature balanced this smaller deficit through additional cuts and limited short-term revenue measures, creating a legislative environment where ambitious initiatives struggled to gain traction. However, one major exception emerged: the millionaire tax, which will take effect January 1, 2028, with revenue beginning July 1, 2029. This new tax had immediate implications for local government finances, as it repealed the local sales tax that had been passed the previous year. "We'll be working with AWC – Association of Washington Cities of which the city of Bellingham is a member to see between now and 2028 what can be done to rectify that potential hole in sales tax revenue for local governments," Federici noted. ### Housing Policy Changes Create Implementation Challenges Luke Esser highlighted two major housing bills that will significantly impact municipal operations. House Bill 2266, known as the "step housing bill," addresses supportive, transitional, and emergency housing while limiting cities' abil…