Issue 3 | February 6, 2026
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Progress at Risk: Why Local Solutions Matter in a
Volatile Legislative Session
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Legislative sessions are rarely quiet—but this one has been especially charged. As debates intensify in Olympia, it’s easy for nuance to get lost and for sweeping proposals to move faster than the communities they impact.
Here in Spokane, progress has come the hard way. It has required coordination between local leaders, service providers, law enforcement, businesses, and neighborhoods. It has required policies shaped by real conditions on real streets—not theories drafted from a distance. And importantly, it has begun to show results.
That is why proposals like House Bill 2489 deserve careful scrutiny. When legislation threatens to override locally developed solutions, it risks unraveling hard-won gains and reintroducing instability at a time when predictability matters most. Progress is not fragile because it is weak, it is fragile because it is complex.
Local solutions work best when they are allowed to breathe, adjust, and evolve. Spokane’s experience has shown that balanced approaches—ones that prioritize safety, accountability, and compassion together—can move communities forward. Disrupting that momentum without clear evidence of improvement is not reform; it is regression.
Spokane Business Association remains committed to advocating for policies that respect local decision-making and protect the progress our community has built. We will continue to inform our members, engage lawmakers, and speak plainly about the real-world impacts of legislation proposed in this session.
The goal is not confrontation. It is continuity. A safer, more stable Spokane does not come from constant resets, it comes from strengthening what is already working and refusing to lose ground when the stakes are this high.
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An SBA Conversation with Shaun Cross, CEO of Maddie’s Place, and City Council Member Paul Dillon
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SB 6094 and HB 2560 represent a smarter, more effective approach to caring for babies born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in Spokane—one that delivers better outcomes while reducing long-term public costs. These bills recognize that early, specialized treatment shortens hospital stays, improves developmental trajectories, and lowers the downstream burden on Medicaid, foster care, and emergency services. While SB 6094 was recently replaced with a more targeted substitute bill, this shift should be viewed as refinement, not retreat. The substitute preserves the essential findings language, directs the Health Care Authority to conduct a Medicaid feasibility study by November 1, and establishes a clear mechanism for expanded grant funding through the state’s opioid abatement account. Together with HB 2560, this framework prioritizes impact over expense—aligning public dollars with proven, life-saving care and positioning Maddie’s Place for sustainable support beginning in the state fiscal year on July 1, 2026.
To learn more or donate today, visit www.maddiesplace.org
Read the full bill here.
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Member Meetings
Sprague Union Terrace Community Room
1420 E Sprague Avenue, Spokane WA 99202
4th Wednesday of the Month
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February 25th Member Meeting
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Kate Telis
City Council Member
District 2
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Kate Telis was elected to the Spokane City Council representing District 2 in the November 2025 general election. An attorney and longtime community advocate, she brings a deep commitment to public service and thoughtful leadership to City Hall. Representing South Spokane, Telis is focused on practical, community-centered solutions that strengthen neighborhoods and support a safe, vibrant city.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Find us at Ignite Northwest
518 West Riverside Ave
-upstairs on 2nd level-
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Learn more about the CBPS!
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C L E A R E R .
S M A R T E R .
C O N N E C T E D .
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The Spokane Police Department maintains an online platform that allows community members to view, and in some cases search, crime statistics data. The platform replaces the department’s previous reporting method and provides user-friendly dashboards that are updated daily.
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Spokane Business Association gives businesses a united voice, direct access to decision-makers, and a seat at the table where real change happens. Together, we advocate, connect, and grow Spokane’s business community.
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www.SpokaneBusinessAssociation.com
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