The CityVoice Podcast

In this episode of the CityVoice Podcast, AWC's advocate team: Candice Bock, Carl Schroeder, Steven Ellis, and Derrick Nunnally, unpack the twists and turns that shaped the 2026 legislative session in Olympia. Hear them discuss the bills that died, some that are still progressing, and others that came out of nowhere — as well as the lessons learned from this session and what they portend for next...

AWC Deputy Director of Government Relations Carl Schroeder leads a look at several bills on housing and homelessness and their potential impacts on Washington cities and towns. He covers SB 6026/HB 2480, which would require cities to allow housing in commercial and mixed use zones as well as limit first-floor retail authority. He also discusses HB 2266/SB 6069 on STEP supportive, transitional,...

Listen as Candice Bock, Carl Schroeder, Steven Ellis, and Derrick Nunnally of AWC's Government Relations team share their priorities, predictions, and prescriptions for the upcoming 2026 Washington state legislative session. Get the early buzz from the Capitol, find out what each of our advocates is working on, and walk away with some practical tips for surviving the accelerated pace of a short...

In our first episode of 2026, Government Relations Advocate Derrick Nunnally and Policy Analyst Emma Shepard discuss AWC's latest research report, State of the Cities: Behavioral health—Supporting vulnerable populations in our communities. They cover key takeaways, give examples of how cities are working to expand services, and explain how cities and legislators can use this report to develop a...

AWC's Government Relations Team has identified its top four city legislative priorities for the 2026 session: indigent defense, transportation, housing supply, and shared revenues. Listen as Government Relations Director Candice Bock unpacks each of these four issues with Deputy Director Carl Schroeder and legislative advocates Derrick Nunnally and Steven Ellis. Learn about the selection process...

As fall approaches, AWC's Government Relations Team is well underway in adopting priorities and planning for Washington state's 2026 Legislative Session. In this episode of the CityVoice Podcast, Director of Government Relations Candice Bock and Deputy Director Carl Schroeder are joined by legislative advocates Derrick Nunnally and Steven Ellis to share their insights on making the most of the...

With just two weeks left in Washington state's legislative session, AWC's Deputy Director of Government Relations Carl Schroeder looks at between-session strategies that city and town leaders can use to strengthen relationships and secure support for their communities' priorities. Communication, coalition-building, and inviting state legislators into local budget processes are all methods of...

AWC Director of Government Relations Candice Bock unpacks the Washington State Legislature's 2025 budget proposals with Deputy Director Carl Schroeder. In a new twist, the Legislature is rolling out budget proposals in installments instead of by chamber. Bock and Schroeder talk about the potential gains and losses of this year's operating budget proposals for Washington cities, particularly in...

Following the house of origin cutoff, AWC Director of Government Relations Candice Bock and General Counsel Sheila Gall look at which bills are still making their way through the Washington State Legislature. Bock and Gall cover HB 2015 and SB 5775, which address public safety funding. They also discuss the Washington state revenue forecast, with a projected budget shortfall of $12-$15 billion,...

In this episode, AWC lobbyist (and former journalist) Derrick Nunnally talks with AWC Director of Government Relations Candice Bock and Deputy Director Carl Schroeder about the status of bills making their way through the Washington Legislature at the midpoint of the 2025 legislative session. With the policy and fiscal cutoffs reached, Bock and Schroeder look at the remaining bills on public...