VIDEO: Joint chamber Legislative Wrap-up Luncheon focuses on budget challenges and business impacts

Business leaders and lawmakers from across South King County gathered April 16, 2026 at Green River College’s Kent campus for a joint Legislative Wrap-up Luncheon hosted by the Kent and Seattle Southside Chambers of Commerce, highlighting a challenging session marked by budget deficits, tax debates and growing demands for public services.

Opening the event, Zenovia Harris, CEO of the Kent Chamber, emphasized the importance of civic engagement and the direct impact of state decisions on local businesses.

“Civics is important and civics is a critical piece of our infrastructure here,” Harris said. “What happens in Olympia does not stay in Olympia. We feel it here in South King County. It shows up in our labor cost. It shows up in taxes. It shows up in regulations, public safety, housing, transportation, child care, and the overall business environment.”

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A panel of legislators representing South King County districts described the 2026 session as difficult, with competing pressures to balance the state budget while addressing rising community needs.

Rep. Debra Entenman said one of her most difficult votes was supporting a tax on individuals earning more than $1 million to help fund priorities such as child care and education.

“It was one of the hardest things to do to vote for a tax on folks making over a million dollars, but I think there will be some good that comes out of taking that hard decision,” Entenman said.

Rep. David Hackney cited both the state’s budget deficit and its reliance on sales tax as reasons he supported the measure, while also highlighting public safety concerns such as delays in toxicology lab results for DUI cases.

“We were several billion dollars in the red but we also have an upside down tax system,” Hackney said.

Sen. Tina Orwall pointed to $41 million secured for flood recovery and prevention following recent flooding in Kent and Auburn, as well as progress on a 223 unit affordable housing project near Highline College.

“I see so many families and businesses struggling,” Orwall said, adding that collaboration with the business community will be key moving forward.

Sen. Claudia Kauffman said economic growth must be part of the solution, noting $500,000 allocated to develop a statewide economic development strategy and efforts to support emerging industries such as aerospace and space technology in Kent.

Rep. Chris Stearns highlighted bipartisan cooperation and legislation aimed at speeding up energy projects while respecting tribal lands, warning of a potential power shortage in the state.

“We really need each other,” Stearns said.

Rep. Mia Gregerson focused on the complexity of balancing the state budget, describing it as a “living document” shaped by competing priorities such as education, child care and housing.

Discussion during the event centered heavily on the state’s ongoing budget challenges, with lawmakers acknowledging the need for both revenue increases and spending reductions.

Hackney said long-term deficits will require closer scrutiny of spending growth.

“If your expenses are rising much faster than your revenues, that’s going to lead to a deficit,” he said.

Entenman added that lawmakers face difficult choices between funding essential services and limiting costs.

“We have greater needs and greater responsibilities and not enough money to meet all of those responsibilities,” she said.

Other topics included workforce development, education funding, transportation investments and public safety issues such as fentanyl and organized retail crime.

Stearns emphasized the need for expanded treatment options to address addiction, while Hackney called for stronger enforcement against those distributing illegal drugs.

The panel also addressed concerns about transportation congestion and infrastructure, noting the importance of maintaining projects like State Route 18 and addressing local impacts on businesses.

Closing the event, Samantha Le, CEO of the Seattle Southside Chamber, underscored the value of collaboration between chambers and lawmakers.

“Policy is not something distant,” Le said. “It shapes the environment our businesses operate in, the opportunities available to our communities, and the future that we are building across our region.”

Legislators encouraged continued engagement from the business community, including voting, providing feedback on legislation and participating in discussions about long term economic and workforce strategies.

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Video

Below is edited video of the luncheon, as filmed by Scott Schaefer: