OLYMPIA, Wash. – Lawmakers in Washington are returning to Olympia on Monday as the 2026 legislative session officially begins. The 60-day session will run from January 12 through March 12 and will address several significant issues.
A key focus of the session will be the governor’s proposed 2026 supplemental budget. This budget includes a net increase of about $2.5 billion in spending with investments in human services, healthcare programs including Medicaid quality improvements and state operations. Lawmakers will also consider potential cuts that could affect nursing homes, assisted living facilities, higher education and some public school programs.
Online safety for children is another major topic. House Bill 1834 aims to place new limits on online platforms likely used by minors, including restrictions on addictive features and stronger privacy protections. In addition, House Bill 2112 proposes requiring age verification for websites with large amounts of adult content and enforcing penalties for companies that fail to comply.
The session may also see heated discussions over Initiative 638, which seeks to change eligibility rules for girls’ sports based on biological sex. If passed and signed into law, this initiative would require students participating in girls’ sports to provide medical verification of biological sex.
Climate policy will continue to be a prominent issue with renewed focus on the Climate Commitment Act and its potential impact on gas prices.
These discussions set the stage for a closely watched session in Olympia.
