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2026 Legislative Session

Focus areas for the 2026 Legislative session were decided by the Commission's Legislative Priorities Committee. The Commission is actively tracking and monitoring legislation that impacts 2SLGBTQIA+ Washingtonians.  The following are focus areas identified by our commissioners:

  • Data & Privacy

  • Education

  • Healthcare  

  • Housing

  • Justice

Please Note: Legislation listed here does not reflect the WA State LGBTQ Commission's support or opposition to any legislation. This is for educational purposes only.

 

Priority Legislation 

Legislation categorized as priority includes bills that the Commission has been informed about and engaged with prior to/during the legislative session or directly pertain to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Washington. These are presented in no particular order.

  • HB 1021: Promoting educational stability for children of military families. 
  • HB 1072: Preserving access to protected health care services.
    • Current Status: January 13 - First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness. (View original bill)
  • HB 1129: Concerning health plan coverage of fertility-related services.
    • Current Status:
    • Companion Bill: SB 5121
      • Current Status: 
  • HB 1195: Concerning compliance with siting, development permit processes and standards, and requirements for permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, indoor emergency housing, or indoor emergency shelters.
    • Current Status: January 12 - Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Referred to Health Care & Wellness.
  • HB 1262: Updating the governor's interagency coordinating council on health disparities.
    • Current Status: January 12 - Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Referred to Health Care & Wellness.
    • Companion Bill: SB 5228
      • Current Status: 
  • HB 1316: Expanding the scope of programs for postsecondary students experiencing homelessness and former foster youth.
    • Current Status: 
  • HB 1404: Increasing student access to free meals served at public schools. 
    • Current Status: 
    • Companion Bill:  SB 5352
      • Current Status: 
  • HB 1482: Health coverage access.
    • Current Status:
  • HB 2159: Establishing the pre-K promise account. 
    • Current Status: January 29 - Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Appropriations at 4:00 PM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)
    • Companion bill: SB 5872 
      • Current Status: February 3 - Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)
  • HB 2165: Concerning false identification as a peace officer. 
    • Current Status: January 22 - Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Community Safety at 8:00 AM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)
    • Companion Bill: SB 5876
  • HB 2168: Facilitating the rapid sharing of overdose mapping information for overdose prevention. 
    • Current Status: 
  • HB 2182: Improving access to abortion medications.
    • Current Status: January 23 - Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 8:00 AM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)
    • Companion bill: HB 5917
      • ​​Current Status: January 21 - Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Human Services at 8:00 AM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)
  • HB 2198: Improving regulatory efficiency by integrating executive order 25-03, concerning permitting and licensing processes, into chapter 43.42A RCW. 
    • Current Status: January 23 -Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations at 8:00 AM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)
    • Companion Bill: SB 5968
      • Current Status: January 23 - Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections at 10:30 AM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)
  • HB 2225: Concerning regulation of artificial intelligence companion chatbots. 
    • Current Status: January 23 - Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans at 10:30 AM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)
    • Companion Bill: SB 5984
      • Current Status: January 30 - Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 10:30 AM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)
  • HB 2227: Providing a real estate excise tax exemption for the sale of qualified affordable housing.
    • Current Status: January 27 - Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Finance at 8:00 AM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)
  • HB 2232: Improving system outcomes for time-sensitive emergencies.
    • Current Status: January 27 - Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 1:30 PM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)
  • HB 2242: Preserving access to preventive services by clarifying state authority and definitions. 
    • Current Status: January 28- Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 1:30 PM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)
    • Companion Bill: SB 5967
      • Current Status: January 20 - Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 10:30 AM (Subject to change). (Committee materials) 
  • HB 2324: Concerning tuition waivers for children of eligible veterans.
    • Current Status: January 27 - Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Postsecondary Education & Workforce at 1:30 PM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)
  • HB 2489: Establishing statewide standards for when local governments may enforce laws regulating the use of public space for life-sustaining activities.
    • Current Status: February 2 - Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Housing at 1:30 PM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)
      • February 3 - Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Housing at 4:00 PM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)
  • SSB 5082: Creating a housing assistance program for youth enrolled in extended foster care.
    • Current Status:
  • SSB 5121: Concerning health plan coverage of fertility-related services.
    • Current Status: 
  • SB 5123: Expanding protections for certain students to promote inclusivity in public schools. 
    • Current Status: 
  • SB 5177: Considering the experiences of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups when identifying professional development resources on certain topics.
    • Current Status: 
  • SB 5179: Establishing a complaint process to address willful noncompliance with certain state education laws.
    • Current Status: January 12 - Senate Rules "X" file.
  • SB 5272: Improving school safety by extending penalties for interference by, or intimidation by threat of, force or violence at schools and extracurricular activities and requiring schools to notify the public of such penalties.
    • Current Status: January 12 - Moved to Rules White Sheet.
  • SB 5490: Providing parameters for conducting searches of transgender and intersex individuals confined in a local jail in compliance with federal law.
    • Current Status: 
    • Companion Bill: HB 1604
      • Current Status: 
  • SB 5924: Expanding prescriptive authority for pharmacists. 
    • Current Status: January 30 - Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 8:00 AM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)
    • Companion Bill: HB 2302
      • Current Status: January 12 - First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness. (View original bill)
  • SB 5933: Facilitating the rapid sharing of overdose mapping information for overdose prevention.
    • Current Status: 
  • SB 5940: Creating a housing assistance pilot program for youth enrolled in extended foster care.
    • Current Status: 
    • Companion Bill: HB 2455
      • Current Status: January 28 - Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services at 1:30 PM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)
  • SB 5946: Expanding the income eligibility for the medical assistance program.
    • Current Status: January 12 - First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care. (View original bill)
  • SB 5955: Concerning the medicaid deprivatization act.
    • Current Status: January 12- First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care. (View original bill)
  • SB 6026: Concerning residential development in commercial and mixed-use zones. 
    • Current Status: January 28 - Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Housing at 10:30 AM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)
    • Companion Bill: HB 2480
      • Current Status: February 3 - Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Local Government at 10:30 AM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)
  • SB 6049: Protecting student and employee information from public disclosure.
    • Current Status: January 30 - Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections at 10:30 AM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)
      • February 3 - Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections at 1:30 PM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)
  • SB 6081: Protecting Washingtonians from invasion of privacy, including the unauthorized disclosure of sex designation information and historic sex designation changes in official government records.
    • Current Status: February 3 - Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Transportation at 4:00 PM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)
  • SB 6183: Concerning coverage for HIV antiviral drugs.
    • Current Status: January 27 - Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 10:30 AM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)
  • SJR 8206: Amending the Constitution to establish a right to affordable health care.
    • Current Status: January 29 - Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 8:00 AM (Subject to change). (Committee materials)

 

Anti-2SLGBTQIA+ Legislation 

The Commission remains vigilant in tracking and responding to anti-LGBTQ legislation that poses a threat to the rights, safety, and well-being of LGBTQ individuals and communities.

HB 1027: Concerning housing of inmates in state correctional facilities.

  • Current Status: 
HB 1038: Prohibiting puberty blocking medications, cross-sex hormones, and gender transition surgeries for minors.
  • Current Status: 
HB 1176: Concerning greater consistency in the provision of health care services for minors under the age of 17.
  • Current Status: 
SB 5012: Concerning the organization of interscholastic athletics.
  • Current Status: 
SB 5097: Safeguarding competitiveness in girls' interscholastic athletic activities.
  • Current Status: 
SB 5135: Concerning school districts' authority to establish their curriculum. 
  • Current Status: 
SB 5136: Protecting the rights of parents and guardians by using students' given names in public schools.
  • Current Status: 
SB 5137: Requiring parental or legal guardian approval before a child participates in comprehensive sexual health education.
  • Current Status: 

 

 

Are you looking to get involved this legislative session? Wanting to learn how to testify on bills that matter to you, or how to keep track of everything happening?

Look no further! The Washington State LGBTQ Commission has created a Legislative Toolkit full of helpful resources to understand all sorts of different ways to engage, so you can find what works best for you. We hope you find this is a helpful document if you are new or returning to session!

Click this link to Download the 2026 LGBTQ Commission Legislative Toolkit!

In addition to reaching out to your state legislators (which you should absolutely do!), you are always welcome to reach out to contact@lgbtq.wa.gov to share your feedback on legislation. It is very helpful for us to hear your thoughts so that we can best advise the Governor and the Legislature on what is most important to our community. Please reference the bill number in the subject line of the email.

Interested in following along with the Commission's priorities this session? Make sure you are following our social media pages for timely updates on legislation progress and more information on legislative session! Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, LinkedIn

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2026 LGBTQ Commission Legislative Toolkit