The County Connection | Session Superlatives: Big Wins, Near Misses & the Policy Team Unplugged – Episode 221

About this episode

The episode provides a humorous and insightful recap of the 2026 legislative session, highlighting key victories and setbacks for counties.

In this lively end‑of‑session wrap‑up, Paul Jewell brings in Travis and Curtis for a candid, funny, and surprisingly deep look at what passed, what flopped, and what counties should take away from the 2026 legislative session. From major victories like the clean energy property tax overhaul to protecting permanent supportive housing funds, the team breaks down their biggest wins, along with the bills that fizzled out or left them scratching their heads. They also dish on behind‑the‑scenes surprises, bloopers, parking‑policy déjà vu, and how the policy team found its rhythm this year. A fast and witty close‑out to a session that was anything but predictable. Recorded: March 11, 2026 ---------- County Connection is the official podcast of the Washington State Association of Counties—where we dive into the legislative issues shaping the future of our communities. From budgets to public safety, infrastructure to elections, we’ll break down what’s happening in Olympia and how it impacts counties across the Evergreen State. Stay informed, stay engaged, and join us as we amplify the voice of Washington’s 39 counties. ---------- Learn more at wsac.org Register on The Hub Follow us…

People in this episode

Host: Paul Jewell

Guests: Travis, Curtis

Topics covered

• legislative session wrap-up
• policy analysis
• county issues
• clean energy
• housing policy
• government wins and losses

Keywords

• legislative session
• policy team
• clean energy
• housing funds
• county wins
• bloopers
• government

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Washington State Association of Counties

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• The County Connection | Sine Die Shenanigans: Surprises, Setbacks & Standouts of the 2026 Session – Episode 222 · March 13, 2026 · 55 min
• The County Connection | Sine Die Eve: Public Health Wins, Near‑Misses & Last‑Minute Saves – Episode 220 · March 12, 2026 · 43 min
• The County Connection | The 'Ol Policy Switcheroo – Episode 219 · March 10, 2026 · 43 min
• The County Connection | Budget Gymnastics & Billion‑Dollar Backfills: Inside the 2026 Supplemental Showdown – Episode 218 · February 27, 2026 · 1h 11m
• The County Connection | Cutoff Chaos & Big Politics – Episode 217 · February 26, 2026 · 31 min