WA lawmakers faced with $570M decision on surging lawsuit payouts

A Washington agency that manages the state’s lawsuit payouts is seeking a one-time infusion of nearly $570 million to address skyrocketing liability costs.

And without a more permanent fix to funding the state’s self-insurance fund, the Department of Enterprise Services warns its gap could grow to more than $1.3 billion by mid-2027. By mid-2029, the deficit could be anywhere from $2 billion to $3.2 billion.

The department is also asking the governor to propose adjusting the insurance fund’s ongoing funding to minimize this shortfall. This would mean hundreds of millions more dollars per year to offset the state’s payouts.

The request is among those state agencies have submitted in recent days to Gov. Bob Ferguson’s office as he prepares a budget proposal ahead of the 2026 legislative session.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/09/24/wa-lawmakers-faced-with-570m-decision-on-surging-lawsuit-payouts/