⚠️ Action Alerts ⚠️Click on the links below to take action on bills. Want to know more about a bill and why we support it? Review our 2026 Legislative Issues page. |
Making Democracy Work | Environment | Social & Economic Policy |
Making Democracy Work
ELECTIONS AND MONEY IN POLITICS
HB 1916 Amending voter registration challenges and managing voter registration lists.
The League of Women voters supports policies that ensure that every person eligible to vote can vote. Mass voter registration challenges threaten to disrupt election administration and create the possibility of eligible voters not being able to vote.
Mass voter registration challenges occur when individuals or organized groups contest the eligibility of a large number of voters at once, typically alleging they no longer live in the jurisdiction. The practice has surged since 2020 due to new software and organized efforts focused on unsubstantiated election security concerns.
This bill would protect voters by restricting who can bring a registration challenge, requiring proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the challenged voter is not qualified to vote, and giving auditors more power in throwing out false claims. Individuals who make false statements or frivolously challenge a voter may be subject to criminal penalties. We can continue the legacy of protecting our voters from anti-voter tactics by supporting HB 1916 and protecting our voters from mass voter challenges.
⚠️Contact your Representative HERE to ask them to PASS HB 1916 on the Floor of the House by Tues. Feb. 3 at 3 pm.
HB 1710 Pre-Clearance for Proposed Changes to Election Procedures.
Civil rights activists fought for our federal and state Voting Rights Acts, which ensure that voters of every race and background have an equal voice in our democracy. The 2013 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder removed “pre-clearance.” Twelve years after this decision, the voter turnout gap between white voters and voters of color has increased and continues to increase.
The Washington Voting Rights Act (WVRA) was passed and signed into law in 2018 to protect voters in Washington independent of the federal law. HB 1710 will amend the WVRA to include pre-clearance. Without pre-clearance, redressing violations to the state VRA requires lengthy and expensive litigation after the fact. This bill requires certain local election officials to consult with the state attorney general’s office before making changes to election procedures that may violate the state’s Voting Rights Act prohibition against racial discrimination. HB 1710 would allow our state to use pre-clearance to prevent racial discrimination in election procedures. It is scheduled for executive session in House Appropriations on Feb. 2 at 4 pm.
⚠️ Contact the members of the Appropriations Committee HERE to ask them to PASS HB 1710 out of committee.
LOCAL NEWS AND DEMOCRACY
SSB 5400 Support local news journalism.
A hearing scheduled in Ways & Means this week means the public has an opportunity to support SSB 5400, now with amendments that include two special features:
- a carve-out to support an expansion of the Murrow News Fellowship at Washington State University and
- a bit of a boost for smaller outlets, a guarantee that 10 percent of the total revenue generated goes to outlets with 10 or fewer newsroom staff members.
SSB 5400 would provide much-needed support in the form of grants for non- and for-profit newspapers (print, online-only and hybrid formats), radio and television news operations that meet solid eligibility requirements. These local news operations have experienced serious declines as social media platforms and search engines have taken content and advertising from local news outlets. Importantly, the bill is revenue-generating with proceeds from a nominal surcharge on social media platforms and search engines covering all costs. The surcharge is expected to generate about $20 million annually. The public hearing for SSB 5400 is scheduled in Senate Ways & Means at 1:30 pm Thurs. Feb. 5.
⚠️ Sign in PRO on SSB 5400 HERE by Thurs. Feb. 5, at 12:30 pm.
Environment
CLIMATE CRISIS & ENERGY
HB 2367 Eliminating preferential treatment related to a coal-fired electric generating plant.
This bill removes the exemption from the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) for coal-fired electric generation facility after January 1, 2026, meaning they must purchase allowances to emit greenhouse gases if they operate after that date. Plus, the bill will reimposed sales and use taxes for those plants. The state’s last coal-fired generation plant in Centralia was given an exemption from the taxes and fees if it permanently closed by the end of 2025. The plant was closed in mid-December. There is a public hearing scheduled in the House Committee on Finance at 8 am on Feb. 3.
⚠️ Sign in PRO on HB 2367 HERE by Tue. Feb. 3 at 7 am.
FORESTS
HB 2629 Restoring collaboration in the forest practices rule-making process for the benefit of long-term protection of natural resources and the forest products industry.
It is unreasonable to rescind the Forest Practices Board's Type Np decision from November given its beneficial environmental effects, support from the Dept. of Ecology, and long, thorough decision-making process that included multiple stakeholders. See more HERE.
⚠️ Sign in CON on HB 2629 HERE before Tue. Feb. 3 at 9:30 am.
WASTE DIVERSION
HB 1420 /SB 6174 EPR for textiles (Establishing producer responsibility for textiles).
Over 80% of clothing and textiles are made of plastic and these bills would set up an extended producer responsibility program for apparel and textiles, and restricts toxic PFAS chemicals in textile products. Textiles and fashion, especially fast fashion, harm the environment and waterways, increase carbon emissions, and generate a very large load of waste when people are ready to dispose of items. SB 6174 Public Hearing in Senate Committee on Energy, Environment & Technology on Feb. 4 at 8:00 am.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for SB 6174 HERE by Wed. Feb. 4, at 7 am.
HB 2633/SB 6271 Concerning mattress producer responsibility organizations (mattress recycling).
Championed by Senator Hunt and Rep. Hall, this bill would establish an extended producer responsibility bill for mattresses. Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology on Wed. Feb.4 at 8:00 am.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for SB 6271 HERE by Wed. Feb. 4, at 7 am.
Social & Economic Policy
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
HB 2658 Concerning the truth in mental health coverage act.
People cannot access the behavioral health care that they need if the number and specialties of the providers in their plan’s network is inadequate. This bill requires carriers to annually submit data to demonstrate access to and coverage of mental health and substance use disorder services. It requires the Insurance Commissioner to publicly post this information and develop a dashboard to allow the public to compare network adequacy. Scheduled for public hearing in House Health Care & Wellness on Feb 3 at 1:30 pm.
⚠️ Sign in PRO on HB 2658 HERE by Tue. Feb. 3 at 12:30 pm.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SB 5974 Modernizing and strengthening laws concerning sheriffs, police chiefs, town marshals, law enforcement agency volunteers, youth cadets, specially commissioned officers, and police matrons.
The law enforcement bill strives to make uniform standards across the state that are more up-to-date and professional for all marshals, sheriffs, and chiefs. It will create standards for eligibility for office, certification, background checks, and use of volunteers. There is a public hearing on Feb. 5 in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 pm.
⚠️ Sign in PRO on HB SB 5974 HERE by Thurs. Feb. 5 at 12:30 pm.
HEALTHCARE
HB 2555 Concerning Medicaid coverage for traditional health care practices.
The Health Care Authority (which manages Medicaid) shall apply for a waiver from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services to allow coverage of traditional health care practices. Upon approval the authority shall provide coverage, in accordance with the centers for Medicare and Medicaid services requirements, for traditional health care practices received through Indian health service facilities or facilities operated by tribes. Scheduled for public hearing in House Committee on Health Care & Wellness on Feb 3 at 1:30 pm.
⚠️ Sign in PRO on HB 2555 HERE by Tues. Feb. 3 at 12:30 pm.
HB 2658 Concerning the truth in mental health coverage act.
There is strong evidence of barriers to receiving behavioral health care. More transparency and oversight by the WA Insurance Commissioner is needed. This bills requires reporting of a variety of measures by insurance carriers to the Insurance Commissioner to be reported on a publicly available dashboard. These include out-of-network use rates. Scheduled for public hearing in House Health Care & Wellness Feb 3 at 1:30 pm.
⚠️ Sign in PRO on HB 2658 HERE by Tues. Feb. 3 at 12:30 pm.
HB 2683 Promoting transparency and efficiency in health carrier relations with health care providers and facilities.
Requires insurance carriers to use a credentialing database and not require additional credentialing reporting. It sets time limits on when approval determination must be completed. Additionally requires insurance carriers to provide transparency in all billing and health plan coverage information to all health care providers and entities, including nonparticipating providers and facilities. This bill includes timely information on patient eligibility and required information and processes to submit claims for reimbursement. Scheduled for public hearing in House Health Care & Wellness on Feb. 3 at 1:30 pm.
⚠️ Sign in PRO on HB 2683 HERE by Tues. Feb. 3 at 12:30 pm.
HB 2685 Concerning sharing and protection of tribal data.
Provides protection for access to public health data on managing diseases. Clarifies that tribes retain ownership of data they report and must be given informed consent on how their data will be used. Clarifies definitions of tribal data and sovereignty. Scheduled for public hearing in House Health Care & Wellness on Feb. 3 at 1:30 pm.
⚠️ Sign in PRO on HB 2685 HERE by Tues. Feb. 3 at 12:30 pm.