Week of March 2 – March 6, 2026
The Washington State Legislature worked long hours this week as lawmakers rushed to meet the Opposite House Cutoff on Friday, March 6. This key deadline requires most bills to pass out of the opposite chamber to remain alive this session. With Sine Die scheduled for March 12, floor debates stretched late into the evening as legislators worked to move priority legislation forward.
Despite the fast pace and ongoing budget negotiations, several of Faith Action Network’s priority bills advanced this week! They address housing, immigrant rights, food security, privacy protections, and police accountability.
Advocates Rally at the Capitol for Immigrant Health Care
Amid budget negotiations, advocates gathered on the Capitol steps Tuesday, March 3, urging lawmakers to protect health care access for immigrants. The rally, organized by SEIU 775, brought roughly 100 caregivers, union members, and community advocates from across the state carrying signs reading “Care Cuts Kill,” and “Care Has No Borders.”
Speakers highlighted concerns about funding for the Apple Health Expansion program, which Washington launched in 2024 to provide health coverage for low-income immigrants who do not qualify for federal Medicaid. Unlike traditional Apple Health, the program is funded entirely by the state.
Advocates warned that current operating budget proposals could leave as many as 30,000 Washington residents without access to health care. Legislators including Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self and Sen. Rebecca Saldaña spoke at the rally, reaffirming their commitment to protecting immigrant communities.
Faith Action Network continues to support a moral budget that protects health care access and ensures immigrant and refugee communities are not left behind.
Bills Passed This Week
Several important bills passed the opposite chamber this week and continue moving forward.
HB 1859 — Affordable Housing on Religious Land
Expanding affordable housing development on property owned by faith communities
HB 1859 expands opportunities for affordable housing development on property owned by religious organizations by allowing density bonuses and regulatory flexibility when at least half of the housing units serve low-income households. Faith communities across Washington have increasingly sought to use their land to help address the housing crisis, and this legislation removes barriers that have slowed these projects. FAN has strongly supported this bill because it empowers faith communities to respond directly to housing needs in their communities.
HB 2105 — Immigrant Worker Protection Act
Protecting immigrant workers from unlawful immigration enforcement
HB 2105 requires employers to notify workers if federal officials request employment eligibility records and prohibits employers from voluntarily granting immigration agents access to non-public workspaces without a warrant. This legislation strengthens protections for immigrant workers and helps ensure workplaces remain safe and free from intimidation.
HB 2238 — Statewide Food Security Strategy
Establishing a coordinated statewide strategy to combat hunger
HB 2238 directs Washington state agencies to develop a statewide food security strategy to improve coordination between state agencies, local governments, food banks, and agricultural partners to address rising food insecurity.
HB 2266 — Expanding Permanent Supportive Housing
Preventing local governments from blocking housing solutions
HB 2266 strengthens statewide efforts to expand housing and shelter options by preventing local jurisdictions from denying or delaying permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, or emergency shelters based on zoning barriers. The bill helps ensure communities cannot block urgently needed housing and services for people experiencing homelessness.
SB 5855 — Ban Masking of Law Enforcement Officers
Ensuring transparency in public policing
SB 5855 prohibits most law enforcement officers from wearing face-concealing masks during routine public interactions, except when necessary for safety or specialized operations. Supporters say the bill promotes transparency and accountability by ensuring officers can be identified by the communities they serve.
SB 5982 — Requiring that data centers comply with Washington’s 100% clean electricity law.
SB 5982 expands the types of entities subject to the Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) to include port districts that distribute electricity and data centers that generate electricity for their own consumption.
SB 6002 — Regulating Automated License Plate Readers
Protecting civil liberties and data privacy
SB 6002 establishes statewide standards governing how public agencies may collect, store, and share data gathered by Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs). The legislation sets limits on how long data may be retained and creates safeguards to prevent misuse of the technology, particularly against immigrant communities or those engaged in constitutionally protected activities. The bill is close to becoming law and reflects growing bipartisan concern about balancing public safety technology with privacy protections.
Major Floor Debate: SB 5974 Law Enforcement Leaders Standards
One of the most dramatic moments of the week came during the House debate on SB 5974, which lasted nearly eight hours on the House Floor before the bill finally passed.
The bill strengthens and modernizes professional standards and eligibility requirements for law enforcement leaders, including sheriffs, police chiefs, and marshals. It establishes consistent qualifications statewide and clarifies that leaders must uphold the U.S. and Washington Constitutions and enforce state law. Key provisions include:
- Minimum eligibility requirements for law enforcement leaders
- Mandatory background checks and certification standards
- Requirements that leaders maintain certification or vacate office
- Clear limits on the use of volunteers in roles requiring certified officers
The legislation builds on reforms adopted by the Legislature in 2021 to strengthen police accountability and certification standards.
Still Awaiting Action
Three important bills remain pending as the session approaches its final days:
SB 5906 SAFE Act. This bill strengthens protections around immigration enforcement in sensitive locations such as schools, health care facilities, and other community institutions.
HB 2464 Reporting Requirements for Private Detention Facilities.
SB 5436 Interfering with access to a place of religious worship
Unfortunately HB 2515, which began to address transparency, environmental impacts, and consumer affordability related to data centers passed the House but did not make it past the Senate Committee on Ways & Means.
The Biggest Debate Still Ahead: The Millionaires Tax
The Millionaires Tax remains the most consequential policy proposal of the session.
Legislative leaders recently introduced a revised version of the bill that has received support from the Governor. The proposal would tax extremely high levels of income to generate revenue for public services such as education, health care, and the Working Families Tax Credit.
Importantly, the bill has been designated NTIB (Necessary to Implement the Budget), meaning it can continue moving forward even after legislative policy deadlines.
FAN supports the Millionaires Tax because it would make Washington’s tax code more equitable and sustainable, asking those with the greatest wealth to contribute more toward the common good while supporting essential programs that families rely on.
Looking Ahead
With Sine Die just days away on March 12, the Legislature now enters the final and most intense stretch of the session. Lawmakers must:
- Resolve differences between House and Senate versions of bills
- Advance budget negotiations
- Decide the fate of remaining policy proposals
For advocates and faith communities across Washington, these final days will determine whether the Legislature delivers a budget and policies that reflect our shared values of justice, dignity, and care for our neighbors. | 
