State Representative Andrew Barkis

05/03/2026

I just sent my final regular email update before election-year communication restrictions begin tomorrow. The update includes some final thoughts on the 2026 session and a link to the six-page legislative report Rep. Matt Marshall and I recently mailed to households across the district.

While these restrictions limit what I can send proactively until the general election results are certified in November, they do not prevent me from responding directly to constituents. Please contact me anytime at [email protected] or (360) 786-7824.

It is an honor to serve you. We'll talk again soon!

This will be my final email update before election-year communication restrictions begin tomorrow. Under state law, representatives running for reelection are prohibited from sending official legislative communications, including email updates, newsletters, press releases, videos and similar materia...

03/17/2026

More spending. Bigger government. A new state income tax. Not the session any of us hoped for, but Washington State House Republicans are going to keep fighting.

More in my latest Barkis Breakdown:

03/16/2026

Back at the Capitol filming my final Barkis Breakdown of the 2026 legislative session. Out soon!

03/09/2026

03/04/2026

Washington’s carbon tax, known as the Climate Commitment Act, adds an estimated 56.7 cents per gallon to the cost of gasoline. In 2025, state Democrats also raised the state gas tax to 55.4 cents per gallon – the third highest in the nation – with automatic 2% yearly hikes.

During the debate on Saturday over the supplemental operating budget, House Republicans fought to include a carbon tax rebate for every registered vehicle owner in Washington state: $100 for gas vehicle drivers and $50 for hybrid drivers.

Democrats shot down the amendment – denying families even partial relief.

03/02/2026

State Representative Andrew Barkis and fellow House Republicans fought to include a carbon tax rebate for every registered vehicle owner in Washington state: $100 for gas vehicle drivers and $50 for hybrid drivers.

Democrats shot down the amendment – denying families even partial relief.

Washington’s carbon tax, known as the Climate Commitment Act, adds an estimated 56.7 cents per gallon to the cost of gasoline.

In 2025, state Democrats also raised the state gas tax to 55.4 cents per gallon – the third highest in the nation – with automatic 2% yearly hikes.

02/28/2026

Yesterday, the Senate passed its supplemental transportation budget proposal. Today, the House unanimously approved ours.

The House plan keeps major projects moving, strengthens public safety, prioritizes road and bridge preservation, and avoids new bonding or new taxes.

Both chambers have now put forward their ideas. As we work toward a final agreement, my focus remains the same: protect our commitments, prioritize the fundamentals, and manage taxpayer dollars responsibly.

Rep. Andrew Barkis, ranking Republican on the House Transportation Committee, issued the following statement today following unanimous House passage of the 2025-27 supplemental transportation budget: “This supplemental budget does exactly what it should. It builds on the biennial budget we adopted...

02/28/2026

The volume of emails this session has been incredible. My latest Barkis Breakdown focuses on the concerns I’m hearing about most.

Washington State House Republicans are continuing to fight as hard as we can for you and your family. Stay with us in the fight.

02/10/2026

We’re seeing pages of new tax proposals from majority Democrats, including a new state income tax, but not much when it comes to making life more affordable for families. I cover that and more in my latest Barkis Breakdown.

01/30/2026

Barkis told The News Tribune on Tuesday that declaring the closure a state of emergency could play a key role in getting a new bridge sooner.

“In Washington state, it takes a long time to build projects. It takes a long time to go through all the normal processes,” Barkis said. “What the bill is hoping to do is anywhere they can find to expedite — whether it’s in the planning, the permitting, the environmental — that is what the bill is directing them to find.”

The closure has had a devastating ripple effect on tourism, local businesses and recreation.

01/22/2026

Two weeks into session and things are moving fast. Here’s a quick Barkis Breakdown on what I’m working on right now.

One of my main focuses this session is pushing to use existing Climate Commitment Act dollars to fix and preserve our roads and bridges. We have plenty of revenue available due to the CCA, which has done very little for the climate but has made gas a lot more expensive. It’s time to get some of that money working for the people who are actually footing the bill by fixing critical infrastructure now, not adding more debt and not kicking the can down the road.

Housing is another area I’m spending significant time on. It’s critical that lawmakers get to the root of the affordability problem instead of adding new burdens that will only make things worse.

Stay engaged, keep the feedback coming, and thanks for following along.