Deb Krishnadasan on Joining the State Senate in 2024

Sen. Deb Krishnadasan, D-26

WA Senate Democrats

26th LD Delegates at Work for the KP

Some of the new funding and new laws the entire local delegation supported in the 2025 legislative session.

$42 million to complete the West Sound Tech project in Bremerton.

$13.56 million for State Route 3 widening in Gorst.

$1,030,000 toward building a Gig Harbor sports field.

$211,000 for a Key Center emergency backup power system to keep water running during power outages.

$103,000 to repair the west wall of the Key Peninsula Civic Center.

Rep. Michelle Caldier sponsored and passed House Bill 1615, prohibiting population-based assumptions when determining a water system’s classification, ensuring fairer compliance and lower costs for Class B well users. Sen. Deb Krishnadasan and Rep. Adison Richards both voted for it.

Sen. Krishnadasan sponsored and passed Senate Bill 5655, redefining the occupancy load of a childcare center in an existing building to be based only on the area where services are provided, moving a daycare facility on the KP closer to reality. Reps. Caldier and Richards voted for it.

Rep. Richards sponsored and passed House Bill 1902 to help streamline permitting for transportation projects, ensuring that such projects are built faster and cheaper. Sen. Krishnadasan and Rep. Caldier voted for it.

Sen. Deb Krishnadasan (D-26th, Gig Harbor) hit the ground running.

After eight years as a director on the Peninsula School District board, including two as president, the long-time community volunteer was appointed to the Washington State Senate Dec. 11, 2024. She showed up for her first committee meeting at 8 a.m. the next day.

“It was a huge learning curve during what many have called one of the most challenging legislative sessions in years,” Krishnadasan said. “I’m proud of what I accomplished, but I’m also concerned.”

Washington’s legislative session began Jan. 13 with the state facing a deficit the governor’s office estimated to be $16 billion. The Legislature was tasked with creating a two-year plan for three balanced budgets: operating, transportation, and capital.

Krishnadasan voted against the $77.8 billion operating and $15.6 billion transportation budgets, both of which passed the Senate 28-21 and later the full Legislature. The capital budget was passed in the Senate and House unanimously. Gov. Ferguson signed off May 20.

“It’s hard to vote against your own party, but I did because I felt it placed too much of a burden on working families,” she said. “There’s the B&O, and they haven’t done this for a long time, but a gas tax increase.”

The business & occupation tax will increase from 1.75% to 2.1% Oct. 1 for businesses with gross income over $5 million Oct. 1. The state gas tax will increase by 6 cents a gallon starting July 1.

“Now, having said that, the transportation budget (including the gas tax) was passed on bipartisan votes, but it’s more tax on folks when we’re already struggling,” Krishnadasan said.

She also said that more substantial tax reform may be needed for Washington, citing a decades-old regressive tax system.

“We need to address it with a balanced approach, however, so that we don’t break what we have here in our state,” she said. “We have a pretty robust economy with large employers, and a lot of people start up businesses here. We need to take the major tax burden off our working families towards a progressive tax system, but have to do it in a balanced approach because we want companies to continue to do well in our state.” 

“I introduced a sales tax reduction,” she said. “It didn’t get through, but I was just trying to think of ways to help people today.”

Krishnadasan did successfully sponsor Senate Bill 5557 and Senate Bill 5655, both of which were supported by her colleagues in the 26th legislative district, Rep. Michelle Caldier (R-Gig Harbor) and Adison Richards (D-Gig Harbor), among other efforts.

SB 5557 guarantees emergency medical treatment for reproductive health emergencies such as ectopic pregnancy and other complications, to guard against federal rule changes. SB 5655 allows child care centers to operate under occupancy rules relevant only to that portion of larger buildings they may use, permitting daycares where they were once prohibited.

Members of the Key Peninsula Preschool were invited to the signing ceremony in Olympia, but were unable to attend because they were too busy preparing for childcare in the Lakebay Community Church near Home.

The KP Preschool first brought the issue to Pierce County Council Member Robyn Denson (D-7th), who contacted the 26th LD legislators, she said.

Krishnadasan will be defending her senate seat against one of them — Caldier — in November to complete then-Sen. Randall’s original term. The winner will face another election in the regular cycle November 2026 to earn a full four-year term.

“One of the things about being appointed Dec. 11 and thrown right into it Dec. 12, I didn’t have ramp-up time with our community,” she said. “So I’m really looking forward over these next six months to visiting businesses, visiting organizations, going to public functions, and listening. What do we need in our community? Education is a big one here. Transportation issues, cost of living, those are things that I continue to hear.

“The big thing I think about is my kids launching in this world right now, and I don’t see their path forward. I’m worried about that. How are they going to afford a home? How are they going to continue to find employment? How are they going to start families in this economy? I really want to make this state a better place for our kids to thrive.”