The Washington Retail Association (WR) was pleased to join chamber leaders from across the state at the 2026 Washington Chamber of Commerce Executives Annual Conference in Wenatchee.
WR has long been a supporter of WCCE and was proud to sponsor this year’s conference dinner and reception. The conference is always a valuable opportunity to connect with chamber partners who are on the front lines of supporting local employers in their communities every day.
Chambers play a critical role in helping businesses navigate policy changes, economic uncertainty, workforce challenges, and the growing cost of doing business. WR was glad to support that work and be part of the conversation.
As part of the conference program, Crystal Leatherman, WR’s Director of Policy and Government Affairs, joined Max Martin with the Association of Washington Business and Andrea Reay with the Washington Hospitality Association for a campfire-style policy discussion on the 2026 legislative session and what employers should expect heading into 2027.
With Washington still facing serious budget pressure, the panel talked through how lawmakers may continue looking for new revenue, which proposals are likely to return, and how those decisions could affect businesses across the state. The panel discussed policies and issue areas that are expected to remain on the radar heading into the 2027 session, including a potential Medicaid reimbursement tax, increased technology and AI regulation, and additional environmental policy proposals. Each of these areas could carry significant cost, compliance, or operational impacts for employers, including retailers.
The panel also discussed quieter revenue strategies that may not make headlines but still matter, such as higher licensing and permit fees or the repeal of longstanding tax exemptions. These policies can be easy to overlook individually, but taken together, they add another layer of cost and complexity for employers already managing tight margins.
For WR, conversations like this are an important part of making sure the retail and broader business community stays connected to the policy decisions being made in Olympia. When chambers, trade associations, and local business leaders are sharing information and working together, employers are better prepared to respond to proposals that affect their operations, employees, customers, and communities.
WR thanks WCCE for the invitation and for bringing together such a strong group of local business leaders. We look forward to continuing our partnership with chambers across Washington as policy conversations continue ahead of the 2027 legislative session.
