OLYMPIA…Sen. Phil Fortunato (R-Auburn) is proposing legislation aimed at confronting Washington’s worsening housing and affordability crisis. As everyday costs continue to rise faster than wages for individuals and families across the state, more and more households find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle of rising rents, unaffordable home prices, and difficulty covering basic necessities.

SB 5939 would create the Washington Is Simply Unaffordable Fund in the state treasury to assist lower-income residents who can no longer afford to live in Washington in relocating to a more affordable state. The cumulative impact of increasing taxes and state policies has driven the cost of living beyond what many residents can reasonably manage.

Washington has the distinction of having the highest increase in homelessness in the country and has become one of the most expensive states to live in, with residents facing higher costs for housing, rent, dining, and everyday necessities.

“It is becoming harder and harder for families to keep a roof over their heads and put food on the table,” Fortunato said. “Rent goes up. Gas goes up. Food goes up. And Olympia’s answer keeps being more taxes and higher costs.”

Over the past decade, state government spending has grown at roughly twice the rate of median worker wages. During that same period, job growth in Washington slowed to about one-seventh the pace of the rest of the country, limiting opportunities as household expenses continue to climb.

Fortunato argued that state policies supported by the Democratic majority harm not only high-paying jobs but also entry-level jobs. He cited the automatic linking of minimum wage increases to the consumer price index (CPI), saying that as the minimum wage rises, wages increase across the board, fueling inflation and triggering further wage hikes. Fortunato said that those higher entry-level wages then accelerate automation, limiting opportunities for young workers entering the workforce.

“Instead of reducing costs for low-income residents by removing the sales tax on prepared food and clothing — a change that would primarily benefit those households — Democrats have focused on expanding government and layering on more policies that place the greatest burden on people who can least afford it,” Fortunato said.

SB 5939 would allow residents earning below 300% of the federal poverty level to be reimbursed for documented moving expenses if they relocate out of Washington because they can no longer afford to stay. Eligibility would be limited to individuals moving to states that provide greater value per dollar than Washington, based on the state’s own economic climate rankings.

Fortunato said the legislation reflects a need to put affordability at the center of state policy decisions and to address the economic pressures facing working families.

“When people are being priced out of their own state, that’s not success,” Fortunato said. “If we want families to stay, work, and build their lives here, affordability has to come first.”

The proposal includes a one-time $7 million appropriation to establish the fund.

The 60-day 2026 legislative session will begin Monday, Jan. 12, and will conclude March 12.