As Washington State faces a multi-billion dollar budget deficit during this legislative session, tough decisions about funding will need to be made. Our elected officials are currently deliberating potential new revenue sources and cuts to the state budgets. Often, when confronted with financial challenges, social programs—especially those that serve Overburdened Communities—are the first to feel the cuts. This is a pattern that we have observed time and time again from the 2008 recession to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This legislative session is therefore a pivotal moment. At stake are the protections and services for Overburdened Communities and Vulnerable Populations—groups that are disproportionately harmed by the cumulative impacts of climate change, environmental hazards, and systemic inequities. These key environmental justice programs are designed to help these communities and are necessary to ensure a future where every Washingtonian, no matter their race, income, geographic location, or occupation, can live in a safe and healthy environment.
With only three weeks of the legislative session left, Front and Centered is focusing on the following budget priorities:
Funding to Overburdened Communities
Over the last three years, Front and Centered has asked the state legislature to affirm its commitment to the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act and to environmental justice provisions in the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) by adequately resourcing overburdened communities. While the legislature has made improvements over the last two years, this year we are noticing a troubling trend. Instead of directly dedicating funds to overburdened communities, we see the removal of language that would have explicitly directed or prioritized funds to Vulnerable Populations and Overburdened Communities. This move raises concerns that the 35% funding obligation, or 40% goal the state has set for itself, will not be adhered to. This means that communities that are most at risk and need resources to weather the existing and forthcoming climate challenges will not be prepared. Therefore, we are asking the legislature to include the following language in the applicable budget provisos for items funded by the CCA.
- “The department shall prioritize investments to benefit vulnerable populations in overburdened communities as defined in RCW 70A.02.010 with a goal of investing at least 40% of funds to this purpose.”
- “At least 35% of funds must be prioritized to benefit vulnerable populations in overburdened communities.”
The Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act
The HEAL Act is the state’s landmark environmental justice law requiring seven agencies to prioritize Overburdened Communities and Vulnerable Populations in state-level decision-making and resource allocation. This means that state agencies are required to actively identify and address the disproportionate environmental and health impacts that these communities face, through meaningful community engagement and equitable processes. To date, agencies have been able to lay the following groundwork:
- Community Engagement Plans to meaningfully engage Overburdened Communities and Vulnerable Populations;
- Environmental Justice Implementation Plans that outline agency process to prioritize environmental justice;
- Environmental Justice Assessments to help agencies maximize benefits and eliminate harms on Overburdened Communities and Vulnerable Populations; and
- HEAL Dashboards to communicate HEAL implementation progress to the public.
Sustained funding to support the implementation of the above structures are crucial to pursuing the intent of the law. However, the House has proposed cuts in HEAL implementation funds for the Department of Commerce, while the Senate has proposed cuts for the Departments of Commerce and Natural Resources. We ask the legislature to maintain the 23-25 biennium level of funding and appropriate $3 million for Commerce and $3.8 million for Natural Resources.
Community-Led Collaborative Governance Grants
Community engagement is a core tenet of environmental justice. Meaningful community engagement respects lived experiences and empowers frontline community members to co-create solutions to environmental justice priorities in partnership with government. In the 2023-2025 biennium, the legislature allocated nearly $67 million to crucial programs that create opportunities and support community capacity to engage in the government process. In this biennium, the House and Senate have proposed significant cuts to these efforts and the discontinuation of the community assemblies pilot program. We’re asking the legislature to uphold its commitment to environmental justice and to overburdened communities across the state by fully funding the HEAL Capacity Grants, Participatory Budgeting program, and the Community Assemblies program.
- $23.67 million for HEAL Capacity Grants for community based organizations to support frontline community efforts to organize and identify their priorities, especially Vulnerable Populations in Overburdened Communities, separate from an agency-led process. Projects completed in the 2023-2025 biennium demonstrate how building community capacity leads to positive environmental health outcomes.
- $38.6 million for the Participatory Budgeting program that engages Overburdened Communities. Funds are necessary to expand the program under the Department of Commerce to other communities in Washington and to support projects in Overburdened Communities that were identified in the prior biennium.
- $5.5 million to continue the statewide Community Assemblies program to empower frontline community members to gather and identify community needs and solutions to environmental and climate justice concerns. Six community-based organizations engaged in the community assemblies process in 2024 and identified priorities in affordable housing, immigrant and refugee services, and mental health.
Energy Assistance
As we write our analysis of the state’s proposed budget, federal energy assistance in the form of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance is under attack. As of April 2nd, all staff who administer LIHEAP at the Department of Health and Human Services have been fired, jeopardizing support for over six million low-income Americans. We’ve known for a long time that thousands of households across Washington have a high energy burden — meaning they pay more than six percent of their monthly income on their utility bills. Oftentimes, this means families have to decide to pay for their rent, groceries, transportation, or basic needs.
A November 2024 report from the Department of Commerce emphasized the urgent need for legislative funding to support a statewide energy assistance program. The report found that low-income households across the state face a collective energy burden of $275 million. Energy assistance is not an isolated issue—it directly affects broader societal challenges such as housing and financial stability, food insecurity, and physical and mental health. Rising outdoor temperatures and increased indoor cooling demands will only intensify the strain on household energy costs.
In light of the attacks on federal energy assistance programs, it remains essential for the legislature to step up allocate funding for energy assistance to low-income residents — even in the midst of a budget crisis. The well-being of our communities depends on reliable, dignified access to necessary energy, regardless of ability to pay, so everyone in our state can thrive.
Other Budget Priorities We Support
In addition to the above budget priorities, the Front and Centered coalition is also in support of the following:
ClimeTime is a Washington State initiative that provides formal and informal educators with resources to teach climate science effectively. The main goal of the ClimeTime network is to foster the creation of quality tools and resources to better understand and address the impacts of climate change in our state, by connecting OSPI, higher education institutions, ESDs, and community-based organizations across Washington.The different programs in the network highlight environmental justice by revealing how marginalized communities are disproportionately affected by climate change. In their draft proposals, ClimeTime is funded at $3 million in the Senate, but not in the House. Frontline communities need the House to match Senate funding and extend support through 2027 to ensure educators receive essential climate science training and empower students to tackle real-world climate challenges.
The Wildfire Response, Forest Restoration, and Community Resilience Account, created in 2021 with unanimous bipartisan support, has proven effective in reducing wildfire risks, restoring forests, and strengthening community preparedness. Despite significant progress—restoring over 800,000 acres and keeping 95% of fires under 10 acres—over 1.5 million acres still require treatment, and declining federal funding makes continued state investment critical. Fully funding $125 million for 2025-27 is essential to sustaining these efforts, protecting lives and property, and ensuring long-term wildfire resilience across Washington.
These Investments are Not Optional, They are Essential
As Washington faces difficult budget decisions, it is crucial that lawmakers uphold their commitments to environmental justice, climate resilience, and community engagement. The HEAL Act has proven to be a pivotal and positive shift in the priorities of state government, ensuring that Overburdened Communities and Vulnerable Populations are not left to bear the burden of budget cuts. Cutting vital programs that support these communities, climate education, and wildfire preparedness undermines progress and leaves the most vulnerable at risk.
These investments are not optional—they are essential to protecting public health, advancing equity, and ensuring a sustainable future for all Washingtonians. We urge legislators to maintain and expand funding for these critical initiatives, honoring the promises made to communities disproportionately affected by environmental and economic challenges. Now is the time to prioritize equity, resilience, and a just transition for all.
