Thanks to all who joined is for a great groundbreaking ceremony for Hayden Homes' new developments, Madison Park North and Alvarado Place! You can find them at 6407 N. Road 52, Pasco WA 99301

Thanks to everyone for joining us at a very informative luncheon lead by AWB's President, Kris Johnson! 

Thanks to all who joined is for a fantastic ribbon cutting at Swagg Coffee Bar's third location this morning! Be sure to check them out at 2915 N 20th Ave, Pasco, WA 99301.

The Washington State Legislature has released its 2026 supplemental budget proposals, which can have significant, short-term effects on employers — from workforce and education funding to infrastructure investments and community projects that foster growth throughout our region.

Supplemental budgets aren’t just "small tweaks.” They are the Legislature’s opportunity to modify the current two-year budget based on updated revenues, costs, and priorities — and this is the part of the session where decisions move quickly. Lawmakers aim to adjourn on March 12, 2026, which makes it crucial to review current items and identify those important to your business and community.

On our State Budget page, we’ve gathered:

• House and Senate proposals for Operating, Transportation, and Capital budgets
• Budget summaries and overview pages to help you spot key changes fast
• Project lists and supporting documents so you can dig into the details behind the headlines

A few reasons these documents are worth a look:

• Transportation: Proposed plans outline significant funding levels and priorities — including a strong emphasis on preservation and maintenance, along with capital projects and programs.  
• Operating budget decisions: This is where updates to state services and investments appear, and the budget bills and references can help you understand what’s influencing costs and program changes.  
• Capital budget: The capital budget determines the pipeline for construction and modernization projects across the state, and project lists often show what may (or may not) receive funding.

We encourage members to spend a few minutes reviewing the proposals and supporting documents, and to share what they observe. The Chamber team relies on this feedback to improve our advocacy and keep the Tri-Cities business community informed as negotiations progress.

Washington’s recent “isolated worker” laws aim to protect employees who spend much of their shift working alone, often in settings where help is not immediately nearby. In 2025, the Legislature passed 2SHB 1524, which enhanced Washington’s existing isolated worker protections and established clearer requirements and enforcement. For many employers, the key point is this: if you have workers who are often alone, you must have a plan, training, and a reliable way for them to call for help quickly.   


Under the updated law, “isolated employees” generally include roles like hotel or motel housekeepers, room service attendants, janitors, security guards, and similar positions where a worker is alone for long periods or is not within immediate reach of a supervisor or coworker. The law applies to specific types of employers that employ these roles, such as hotels and motels, retail businesses, security guard agencies, and property services contractors. This is important because a business with only a few covered workers might still need to comply with the requirements.


The main requirements focus on prevention and quick response. Employers must establish a sexual harassment policy, offer training for isolated workers and supervisors, and ensure workers know how to report concerns. A key aspect is the “panic button” requirement, which is designed to give an isolated worker a fast way to call for help if they feel unsafe or are threatened. L&I is developing rules to clarify what counts as compliant, including expectations around training, resource lists, and how employers should respond when a device is activated.


For businesses, the challenges are real and can be costly or time-consuming, especially for small employers. Panic button solutions can be expensive, and employers also need to establish a response plan, train staff, track training completion, and keep records for potential review. If a workplace has weak cell service or large buildings, ensuring a device works everywhere can increase complexity. Additionally, enforcement is now clearer, with investigations and penalties for willful or repeat violations.


Overall, these isolated worker protections are a compliance and safety concern that employers should treat like any other workplace standard. The easiest way to handle this is to identify which roles are covered, select a reliable panic button option, train workers and supervisors, and keep thorough documentation. Businesses that establish a clear process now will be better prepared to avoid complaints, penalties, and disruptions later.

Thanks to everyone who joined us for a ribbon cutting at Tacos Y Mas! Go check them out at 7425 Sandifur Parkway, Pasco, WA 99301.

We are now accepting speaker proposals for the Washington Workplace Summit, taking place on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick.

This dynamic half-day event is designed to empower professionals with cutting-edge workplace best practices. Whether you're looking to enhance your skills or transform your organization's culture, this summit offers invaluable insights and networking opportunities. 

If you have a message, experience, or strategy to share that can inspire and equip our attendees, we invite you to apply.

• Provide an outline, including title and description of your presentation
• Include your bio and links to any videos you may have representing prior public speaking experiences
• Attach a high-quality, professional head shot
• Breakout session speakers and panelists receive one complimentary pass to the conference and luncheon in lieu of compensation

Questions? Email Ricki Gillette Event Director, at [email protected] or call 509.491.3230.

Thanks to all who joined us at a fabulous ribbon cutting for The Grove! You can check out their gorgeous townhome community at 4529 Grove Ct., West Richland, WA 99353

Thank you to all who joined us for a very fun evening with Gravis Law at Solar Spirits! 

Peritting in the United States should answer a simple question: can a project move forward, and under what conditions? Too often, the process is slow, confusing, and unpredictable. When decisions take years rather than months, projects stall, costs rise, and communities miss out on the housing, infrastructure, and private investment they rely on.

The biggest negative effect is uncertainty. A business can handle clear, even strict, rules, but it is difficult to plan when timelines are unknown, and requirements change later in the process. Delays increase funding costs, raise construction bids, and can force projects to shrink or be canceled. For small businesses, this can be the difference between expanding and walking away, because they rarely have extra cash to cover months of waiting and redesign.

Local communities experience the same frustrations daily. Delays in permits can hinder new housing development, keeping rents and home prices high. They can also delay road upgrades, utility improvements, port and industrial projects, and even repairs after storms or emergencies. When projects are stuck in limbo, construction and supply chain jobs do not happen, and local tax bases may grow more slowly than expected.

In Washington State, these impacts are especially noticeable because the state is simultaneously trying to build more housing, modernize infrastructure, and expand energy and manufacturing capacity. When backlogs accumulate across local, state, and federal levels, it becomes harder for communities to compete for new facilities and for employers to meet demand. The frustration isn't just about speed; it's about fairness and predictability, because long delays can reward those with the most money, the most lawyers, and the most patience.

The positive aspect of an effective permitting system is simple. It maintains strong public protection while ensuring timely, consistent decisions. It creates a clearer process, with early coordination, realistic timelines, and expectations that don't change at the last minute. When permitting operates this way, businesses can invest with more confidence, communities can complete projects faster, and residents gain from more housing options, improved infrastructure, and more stable costs over time.

Because of these stakes, the Chamber has teamed up with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to urge the United States Senate to support comprehensive permitting reform that restores predictability, reduces unnecessary delays, and helps our communities build projects that keep our economy moving.
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​·  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: NEPA review process overview
·  Council on Environmental Quality: EIS timeline reporting and NEPA practice resources
·  U.S. Government Accountability Office: Reports on federal permitting and infrastructure project delivery
·  Washington State Legislature: RCW Chapter 43.21C (State Environmental Policy Act)
·  Washington State Department of Ecology: SEPA handbook and guidance materials
·  Washington State Department of Commerce: Reporting on residential permit delays and local capacity challenges
·  Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council: FAST 41 program and permitting dashboard resources
·  MRSC: Practical guidance on local permitting process improvements

This article was written with contributions from AI to organize the information and improve its readability.