Last week, UW submitted its 2026 operating and capital budget requests—known as “decision packages”— to the Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM). As a public state agency, UW is required by law to submit these requests each September to help inform the state’s budget development process. These requests also shape the University’s legislative agenda.
Understanding the State Budget Process
Washington state operates on a two-year budget cycle, with the biennial operating, capital, and transportation budgets adopted in odd-numbered years (e.g., 2025). In even-numbered years (e.g., 2026), the state adopts supplemental budgets, which apply technical corrections or make adjustments to the adopted biennial budgets based on caseload changes, updated fiscal conditions, or other emerging needs.
The Governor kicks off the state’s budget process by releasing proposed budgets in early- or mid-December. This timeline is why public agencies must submit their decision packages in September for consideration. The Governor’s budget proposals then serve as a starting point for legislative budget discussions and negotiations during session, which begins in January.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Legislative Session
The 2026 legislative session will begin on January 12 and run for 60 consecutive days. During this time, lawmakers will decide the 2026 supplemental budgets before sending them to the Governor for his approval or veto. For context, sessions during which the biennial budgets are decided run for 105 consecutive days.
This year, Washington is projected to face another operating budget deficit. In light of this challenging fiscal outlook, UW has not submitted any new operating budget requests. Instead, the University will focus its efforts mitigating potential budget cuts and their impact to the UW’s education, research, and public service missions.
For the supplemental capital budget, the UW is requesting $47.5 million to support the first phase of major decarbonization efforts for the Power Plant on the Seattle campus. This “proof of concept” project will deliver immediate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and support the University’s path the compliance with the state’s Clean Building Performance Standards and decarbonization requirements.
What’s Next?
The UW’s 2026 legislative agenda will be posted to this website later this fall. In the meantime, the Office of State Relations is actively preparing for the 2026 legislative session in coordination with campus partners and key stakeholders. For questions about the UW’s state priorities or advocacy efforts, please contact Morgan Hickel at mhickel@uw.edu.