FAN Advocates rally for justice in Olympia. Thank you for all the pictures shared and your continued advocacy in a short session!

This week, faith communities across Washington State enter a meaningful season of convergence. Muslims began the holy month of Ramadan, families and communities celebrated the Lunar New Year, Christians began the journey of Lent, and many others observe sacred days and cultural traditions. As a multifaith network, we give thanks for the rich religious and cultural diversity of our state and for the values that unite us—reflection, compassion, justice, generosity, and hope. May this season of fasting and reflection strengthen our relationships across faith lines and renew our shared commitment to love our neighbors, care for our communities, and work together for the common good throughout our state.

To our Muslim siblings and neighbors Ramadan Mubarak! May you have a blessed Ramadan. 

To our Christian siblings and neighbors we also wish you a holy start to Lent.

To all our community members, we encourage you to learn more about the holy days and traditions of the different faiths in your community. Join an open iftar or service in your community during this holy month.

Next week includes several important hearings advancing immigrant protections, police accountability, and progressive revenue—all core priorities of Faith Action Network. Please be sure to sign in at least one hour before each hearing.

HB 2464 – Reporting Requirements for Private Detention Centers
Requires private detention facilities to report serious incidents to the Department of Health and local law enforcement, increasing transparency and accountability. FAN supports this bill because no one should be detained without oversight, and private detention facilities must meet clear standards that protect human dignity and public safety.
February 23 @ 1:30 PM in the Senate Human Services Committee.
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SB 5974 (Lovick) – Standards for Law Enforcement Leaders
Strengthens and updates eligibility requirements and accountability standards for sheriffs, police chiefs, and other law enforcement leaders. FAN supports this bill because strong, consistent professional standards help build trust, uphold constitutional rights, and ensure responsible leadership in our communities.
February 23 @ 1:30 PM in the House Community Safety Committee.
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SB 6346 (Pedersen) – Millionaire’s Tax
Establishes a tax on annual income over $1 million to fund essential services such as education, health care, and the Working Families Tax Credit. A Millionaire’s Tax is a moral step toward fairness and shared responsibility, ensuring our state can meet the needs of all people.
February 24 @ 8:00 AM in the House Finance Committee.
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If you were not able to make it to Interfaith Advocacy Day to talk to your legislators, or have more to say or ask, one great option is to attend a legislative town hall. If you are attending make sure to ask your representative, "Are you supporting the Millionaires Tax?" and get a yes or no answer. You can also mention to the room that it only impacts people with yearly income over one million dollars. There are townhalls coming up February 18-23 in legislative districts 1, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 21, 27, 28, 33, 34, 36, 37, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45. You can find the schedule and locations for Town Halls of Democratic legislators here, and if you live in a district with Republican lawmakers, you will need to check their individual websites to see if a town hall is listed. 

There are a few bills that need a push: The Millionaires Tax (SB 6346) and the Data Center Bill (SHB 2515).

If you are attending make sure to ask your representative, "Are you supporting the Millionaires Tax?" and get a yes or no answer. You can also mention to the room that it only impacts people with yearly income over one million dollars. For a list of other sample questions check out this document.

The Data Centers bill (SHB 2515) needs a big push to pass, protecting both affordability and our environment. Our partner Climate Solutions is especially asking for constituents to ask a data center question of the following Senators:

Interfaith Advocacy Day 2026: Bringing Washington’s Moral Compass to the Capitol

On February 12, something powerful unfolded in Olympia.

275 advocates registered from across Washington gathered for Faith Action Network’s Interfaith Advocacy Day (IFAD)—our annual day of sacred witness, collective courage, and legislative action. From every region of the state, people of many faiths and philosophies came together not simply to advocate for policies, but to embody our shared commitment to compassion, justice, and human dignity.

Grounded in Community, Guided by Values

The day began at Temple Beth Hatfiloh, where orange FAN scarves shimmered across the sanctuary—a visible reminder that we are part of something larger than ourselves. We prayed. We sang. We listened. We grounded ourselves in the sacred work ahead.

Sen. Manka Dhingra offered words that set the tone for the entire day. She told the room that this gathering brings the “moral compass of Washington State to bear.” Sen. Dhingra spoke about protecting the rule of law, standing with immigrant neighbors, advancing SB 5974 (Standards for Law Enforcement Leaders), and championing SB 6346 (The Millionaire’s Tax) to build a more equitable future. Her leadership reminded us that values and policy must move together.

Naming What Is at Stake

Throughout the morning panel, speakers underscored the urgency of building and funding Washington’s social safety infrastructure.

Each speaker called us to fund and strengthen the systems that support ALL people—especially those struggling in our society.

Dr. Rev. Kelle Brown challenged us to speak plainly: to call out greed, to name hunger, and to refuse an immoral budget. As people of faith and conscience, she said, we must be clear about the harms we see and bold in our response.

Sacred Movement

Then we moved literally and spiritually. Led by artist Sari Breznau with drum and song, we marched peacefully to the Capitol. Step by step, we made visible our shared commitment to justice. It was a symbolic push forward—one foot over the other, together.

On the steps of the Temple of Justice, FAN Board President Jasmit Singh fired up the crowd, reminding us that our strength lies in our diversity and our shared purpose. We do not advocate alone—we bring our congregations, our communities, and our lived experiences with us.

Interfaith Advocacy Day was more than a gathering. It was a visible sign of a growing movement. A reminder that when people of faith show up—organized, informed, and united—we shift the conversation.

The orange scarves may be folded for now. But the sacred work continues. Together, we showed up. We marched. We spoke truth. We built power. And we will keep moving Washington forward.

Week 6 Recap

This week, FAN testified in strong support of SB 5436 alongside FAN Board President Jasmit Singh, lifting up the urgent reality facing places of worship across Washington.

In testimony, we shared that harassment, threats, and acts of intimidation against faith communities have been increasing — including targeting of mosques, synagogues, gurdwaras, churches, and other sacred spaces. Communities of color and immigrant communities are disproportionately impacted.

Dr. Jasmit Singh spoke about the growing security costs that many congregations now face simply to gather safely for worship. Sikh gurdwaras, Jewish synagogues, Muslim mosques, and other houses of worship are being forced to invest in security cameras, guards, reinforced entryways, and safety protocols — costs that strain already limited budgets and divert resources away from ministry, service, and community care.

FAN’s testimony emphasized that protecting the freedom to worship safely is foundational. SB 5436 represents a recognition that safeguarding religious spaces is an issue of dignity, pluralism, and public safety.

Faith Communities Step Up on Housing: Support for HB 1859

FAN’s network also showed up in strong support of HB 1859 – Affordable Housing on Faith Community Property, a bill that expands opportunities for affordable housing development on land owned or controlled by religious organizations through a zoning tool called a density bonus which allows more units of housing to be developed.

Rev. Shalom Agtarap of First United Methodist Church of Tacoma testified powerfully in favor of the bill, sharing how faith communities across Washington are actively discerning how to use their land to serve neighbors facing housing insecurity.

Churches, temples, mosques, and synagogues are uniquely positioned:

• Many have underutilized land.
• Many are located near transit and community services.
• Many feel a moral calling to respond to the housing crisis.

In a time of severe housing shortage, faith communities are stepping up as part of the solution. This bill recognizes their role and clears the path for action rooted in compassion and justice.

WAISN Training

WAISN's next Rapid Response Training: March 6 (6-8 pm)

Become part of WAISN's statewide Rapid Response network — learn how to document immigration enforcement activity, support families, and connect communities to resources. Register here and learn more about WAISN's approach to RR and the steps of becoming a volunteer here.

Protect Apple Health Care

Apple Health Expansion (AHE) provides vital healthcare coverage to nearly 9,000 low-income immigrants across the state who would be otherwise excluded. It represents a critical lifeline for thousands of Washingtonians and has begun to close long-standing gaps in access to care for immigrant and refugee communities. In these final days of budget negotiations, FAN has signed the latest organizational letter in support of fully funding AHE, and we encourage you to use WAISN's action network letter to send a personal message to budget writers as well. Thank you for your ongoing advocacy for Health Equity for Immigrants!

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