Agency directors may approve exceptions to the spending freeze when an expense (hiring, contract, travel, goods or equipment) is deemed critical to statutory duties.
Agencies report their exceptions to OFM and will be posted here every two weeks.
Washington is among several states facing a budget shortfall. The costs to maintain current services and program levels for the next four years have risen approximately $12.6 billion due to inflation, higher projected caseloads in several safety net programs, expansion of popular programs like early learning, and workforce costs. Revenues have dipped lower than forecasted due to lagging home sales and collections for sales and capital gains taxes.
In response to the state facing a significant budget deficit, effective Dec. 2, 2024, Governor Jay Inslee directed state agencies under his authority to implement a freeze on:
Washington state has adopted landmark policies to promote environmental justice. The Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act and the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) emphasize equity by creating requirements for certain programs and investments to be directed by and for overburdened communities and Tribes. Both laws require OFM to track and report on agency actions and progress in fulfilling these mandates.
These dashboards are designed to track and display the progress of specific state agencies in implementing the HEAL (Healthy Environment for All) Act, Washington's landmark environmental justice law.
Gov. Jay Inslee’s 2024 supplemental budget maintains the state’s efforts on several critical issues including homelessness, behavioral health, the fentanyl and opioid crisis, education, and climate change.
