The CityVoice Podcast

CityVoice - S08E04: Legislative session home stretch

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 year.    * Visit our bill tracker [https://wacities.org/advocacy/bill-tracker] to check the status of proposed legislation  * Read the latest news [https://wacities.org/advocacy/News] on the topics that matter most to your city * Subscribe to our Legislative Bulletin [https://wacities.org/advocacy/legislative-bulletin]

CityVoice - S08E03: Housing and homelessness bills

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, and emergency housing and details the practical considerations of HB 2489, which would affect cities' ability to enforce ordinances limiting activities such as camping on public property.    * Read more about SB 6026/HB 2480 on zoning: https://wacities.org/advocacy/news/advocacy-news/2026/01/23/a-short-bill-with-significant-consequences---requiring-housing-in-commercial-zones [https://wacities.org/advocacy/news/advocacy-news/2026/01/23/a-short-bill-with-significant-consequences---requiring-housing-in-commercial-zones] * Learn about HB 2266/SB 6069 on STEP housing: STEP housing bill returns [https://wacities.org/advocacy/News/advocacy-news/2026/01/16/step-housing-bill-returns] * Follow the news on HB 2489: https://wacities.org/advocacy/news/advocacy-news/2026/01/16/homeless-response-bill-emerges-to-allow-camping-in-all-public-spaces

CityVoice - S08E02: 2026 Legislative session preview

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 60-day session.   * Review our City Legislative Priorities [https://wacities.org/advocacy/City-Legislative-Priorities] * Sign up for Friday Action Calls [https://wacities.zoom.us/meeting/register/lcClkb91Tsm4xDAYrBgT9Q#/registration] * Subscribe to AWC's Legislative Bulletin [https://wacities.org/advocacy/legislative-bulletin] * Register to attend City Action Days [https://wacities.org/events-education/conferences/city-action-days], January 21-22

CityVoice - S08E01: State of the cities: Behavioral health

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 common language and shared vision for behavioral health support at the local level.    * Download State of the Cities: Behavioral health—Supporting vulnerable populations in our communities [https://wacities.org/data-resources/articles/2025/12/11/state-of-the-cities--behavioral-health-supporting-vulnerable-populations-in-our-communities] * Subscribe to AWC's Legislative Bulletin [https://wacities.org/advocacy/legislative-bulletin]

CityVoice - S07E11: AWC's 2026 Legislative Priorities

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 and each priority's potential impacts for cities, and get tips developing your city's own legislative agenda and connecting with your state legislators.   For more depth: * Read about AWC's four legislative priorities for 2026 [https://wacities.org/advocacy/City-Legislative-Priorities] * Download the full 2026 AWC legislative agenda [https://wacities.org/docs/default-source/legislative/legprioritiesfulldetails.pdf?sfvrsn=ea60274f_3] * See your city's state shared revenue distributions [https://fiscal.wa.gov/Spending/SpendTaxDistributions] * Register for the AWC Legislative Session preview webinar [https://wacities.org/events-education/upcoming-awc-events/events-details?ID=2849] on December 2