As the New Year approaches, we’re busy at work gearing up for the 2026 legislative session, aiming to support policies that positively impact frontline communities and defend against those that would cause harm. As part of this preparation, I’m in Olympia this week for Committee Days, kind of like a pre-season warm up, where lawmakers gather to preview, discuss, and lobby one another around a long list of policies they hope to pass during session. Together with our contract lobbyist, Nancy Canales, we will be discussing energy affordability, and protecting climate revenue with members of the House and the Senate.
This upcoming session is unlike most other ones we’ve faced. Challenging headwinds include a decreased state revenue forecast, hefty budget cuts, and costly tariffs at the federal level—all making it difficult for families to afford basic necessities. While we will continue to fight for environmental and climate justice initiatives this year, our top priority will be protecting existing low-income assistance programs along with the funding of a statewide energy assistance program to help bring relief to those most in need.
Read our 2026 Legislative Agenda, which includes these coalition priorities:
- Protecting the Social Safety Net: preserving our beneficial social programs
- Curbing Pollution: House Bill 1303
- Energy Assistance—Investing Public Monies: House Bill 1903
- Revenue: Fairly Balancing Our Tax Code
- Support Agenda: Fully Fund the Wildfire Response
Our team is here to help keep you up to speed on our efforts and invite you to get engaged on whatever level you’re interested in and available. For starters, you’re invited to join our virtual legislative session briefing on January 6, 2026, where we’ll explore the political landscape around the session, preview our legislative priorities, and answer your burning questions:
The rest is up to you! While a key goal for each session is to advocate for good policy, legislative sessions provide other valuable opportunities, including educating community around policies and procedures, testifying before committees, answering calls to action, promoting our coalition, and building stronger relationships with policymakers, their staff, and state agencies. All of these strategies set us up for success in the future.
Although the focus will be on the Washington State Legislature, this will be the first session for Governor Bob Ferguson to weigh in on his administration’s priorities. With that in mind, we sent a letter to the Governor arguing unequivocally that issues of poverty and environmental health MUST be addressed simultaneously. The shortfall we are facing shouldn’t spell even more cuts to the social safety net. This approach is necessary to appropriately protect frontline communities and make Washington a livable state for all.
To this point, we highlight important—and vulnerable—programs that need to be protected such as TANF, Apple Health, and SNAP. Energy assistance should also be funded in the form of House Bill 1903, sponsored by Representative Mena. We also propose new financing opportunities that the state should consider. One example includes Senate Bill 5796, which would generate new revenue from wealthy corporations by implementing a progressive excise tax.
We also urge the Governor’s Office to help ensure that the Climate Commitment Act’s funding obligation to “Overburdened Communities” be met—a longtime, top priority of the Front and Centered coalition that we will continue to track closely. The legislature should be able to point to investments that lead to a reduction in health disparities and make the green energy transition attainable and affordable for low-income communities.
Please subscribe to our email list to follow our progress throughout the session and so that we can send you timely calls to action to help advance policies that help our communities!