On Monday, Washington’s Legislature saw several prominent bills—spanning topics from psilocybin therapy and medication abortion on college campuses to short‑term rental taxes—fail to survive the fiscal committee deadline, effectively dooming them for the year unless labeled “necessary to implement the budget.” Flexible legislators occasionally re‑tag stalled bills in this way to push them forward amid tight budget constraints. 

Among the casualties were measures to authorize city and county sales taxes on short‑term rentals—modeled on House Bill 2559—intended to fund affordable housing. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Lisa Parshley (D‑Olympia), admitted hopes were low that it could be revived under the “necessary to implement the budget” exception, effectively putting it on ice for now.

Senate Bill 5826, which would have required public colleges and universities to provide medication abortion or referrals through their student health centers, also did not advance out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Its sponsor, Sen. T’wina Nobles (D‑Fircrest), acknowledged the challenges of this budget year and said while the need remains real, the bill could not clear the fiscal hurdle.

Another bill championed by Sen. Jesse Salomon (D‑Shoreline) addressing therapeutic access to psilocybin—a psychedelic compound—was similarly stalled. The proposal would have allowed the Department of Health to launch a program prescribing psilocybin for adults with qualifying conditions. Despite bipartisan support in policy hearings, the bill failed to survive the fiscal cutoff; Salomon pledged to return next year with an advisory group as a precursor for a future pilot.

Other notable bills that died in the aftermath of Monday’s deadline include legislation regulating kratom sales—such as prohibiting sales to minors and limiting psychoactive potency—and a foster youth rental assistance pilot that had been scaled back multiple times before falling short again.

Why this matters
While the Legislature enters a period of floor debates, these defeats spotlight the stark reality that policy proposals—even with community backing—can collapse under financial strain. In a state grappling with a budget shortfall, lawmakers are being forced to choose between expanding social supports and preserving fiscal discipline. The lost opportunities range from reproductive access and mental health innovation to housing affordability and addiction regulation.

Key surviving measures—like an Extended Foster Care bill shielding Supplemental Security Income from garnishment—signal a more cautious, targeted legislative approach as lawmakers pivot away from committee maneuvering toward full‑chamber votes. Yet for the broader social reforms now sidelined, the door remains open for a second push in next year’s biennium.

Sources
Reporting by Jake Goldstein‑Street, Washington State Standard via Yahoo News.