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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope you’ve had a great summer, as we head into the fall and kids go back to school. The 2025 legislative session concluded in April, but despite not being in Olympia, I have been busy representing you back home in the 18th District these last several months.
There is still much work to be done in Washington as we gear up for the 2026 session, so I hope you will continue reaching out to me to offer your input and ideas. I have enjoyed the many visits and tours I have participated in during this interim and have learned a great deal from the local officials, businesses, and constituents I’ve met with.
Washington Is Too Expensive
I continue to hear from many of you about the economy and the high cost of living in Washington. People and businesses are facing sticker shock at the gas pump, grocery store, and just about everywhere else. Yet, the majority party has not offered any real relief. Instead, this past session, they raised taxes and fees throughout the state that the average person can’t afford.
In fact, Washington has gone from being ranked the No. 1 state for business in 2017 to 48th in cost of doing business, 41st in business friendliness, and 39th in cost of living. Those rankings aren’t just numbers — they translate into higher prices, fewer job opportunities, and harder choices with every purchase.
Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Efforts
One of the many important visits I’ve made during the interim was to the recent grand opening of the Madrona Recovery and Treatment Center in Brush Prairie. I worked hard to secure funding for this in the 2024 supplemental capital budget. We were able to secure $16.2 million for this 54-bed facility that helps youth with mental health issues and addiction recovery.
This project is vital to everyone in Southwest Washington. Adding 54 more beds for youth who struggle with substance abuse and behavioral health problems is a game-changer for Clark County and the entire state. It was an honor to attend the grand opening in August, and I look forward to seeing the many lives that will be positively influenced by this recovery center.
Unfortunately, the news is not so good for another important mental health facility in Southwest Washington, the Clark County Residential Treatment Facility, also known as the Brockmann Campus.
More than two years ago, the state Legislature allocated $42 million to build this new inpatient mental health facility. It was scheduled to open this year and offer mental health treatment for up to 48 patients for up to 180 days. However, today it sits unoccupied and closed, serving no one. The state legislature chose not to fund the facility, allegedly to save $74.4 million in operating costs. The state will spend $595,000 over the next two years to keep the facility in a “caretaker status.”
This is a major disappointment and waste of funding. I recently joined several other Southwest Washington lawmakers in sending a letter to the acting DSHS secretary and the governor, formally requesting they open this facility. You can read the letter here. This facility would benefit so many people, and it needs to be funded now.
Cell Phones in Schools
I have been working on a bill (House Bill 1122) to regulate cell phone use in Washington schools for several years. There has been much bipartisan support for this policy, and there continues to be. Although this bill has yet to make it to the governor, it is still alive.
Additionally, many districts throughout the state are creating their own policies, which you can read more about in this KOMO article: Most Washington schools plan to limit students’ cellphone, smart device usage this year. I’m happy to see that schools are taking this issue seriously, and I look forward to seeing the impact it will have on student learning and outcomes. Click here to learn more.
Thank You, and Please Stay in Touch
I will continue working throughout the coming months to get your input and feedback as we head into the 2026 legislative session. I look forward to meeting with you. Please continue reaching out.
It’s an honor to serve you.
Stephanie McClintock
