WA Gov. Bob Ferguson's State of the State highlighted floods, taxes and ICE concerns

Gov. Bob Ferguson praised community response to December floods, urged a tax on incomes over $1 million and called for a bill to bar federal immigration agents from hiding their identities, while not mentioning a looming multibillion-dollar budget shortfall.

Gov. Bob Ferguson delivered his second State of the State address on Jan. 13, 2026 in the Washington House chamber. He opened by noting the damage and disruption caused by December storms and praised the response of local governments and agencies. The governor then moved to policy priorities that resonated with Democratic lawmakers. He did not address the multibillion-dollar budget shortfall that leaders must resolve in the 60-day session. Key points: - December 2025 storms caused significant damage across Washington and officials said recovery of homes and infrastructure will take months to years. - Ferguson proposed a tax on income over $1 million, with lawmakers in the Legislature drafting related legislation, and said much of the revenue should be returned to families and schools. - He called for a bill to bar federal immigration agents from shielding their identities when operating in the state and asked for that bill to be delivered to his desk promptly. - The governor did not mention the state's looming multibillion-dollar budget shortfall during the address. Summary: The speech emphasized storm recovery and named several Democratic priorities that the governor supports, while avoiding public discussion of the budget gap. Legislative leaders are drafting a millionaire tax bill and other proposals, and the 60-day legislative session remains the forum where the budget and those bills will be debated.