Legislative Updates Welcome to the First Day of the 2026 Legislative Session! January 12, 2026 Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Email In the next 60 days, our state representatives will be heading to Olympia to pass bills that can affect our day to day lives. The legislative session brings the perfect opportunity for all of us to raise our voices in support of equitable food access for all Washingtonians. This year, we’re setting bold priorities to eliminate barriers to food security and strengthen our food system. For a deeper dive into our 2026 legislative priorities, visit our Public Policy page. Things to know about the 2026 Legislative Session ➡️Washington state runs on a two-year budget cycle where the main operating budget is passed in odd-numbered years during a long 105-day session and the supplemental budget on even-numbered years during a shorter 60-day session. The 2026 session is a short, 60-day session where the Legislature will be passing a supplemental budget. What does this mean for advocates? The short session means bills will be moving a lot faster through the legislative process and a supplemental budget means there is a much smaller pot of money to draw from. The short session brings with it some challenges as advocates must respond faster to ensure bills make it through hard deadlines and obtaining funding will be very difficult. ➡️Washington is also facing a $7 billion budget shortfall, and revenue forecasts revealed that the state will be generating a lot less money than previously thought. This year, advocates will have to fight strongly to protect the food security funding included in last year’s 2025-27 Operating Budget. Let’s use our collective voices to ensure these vital funds do not get cut! ➡️In addition to budget constraints, Washington state is also reeling from the cuts to SNAP and Medicaid from HR1 (also known as Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill). Over 130,000 people may lose their SNAP benefits due to the new work requirements, and over 75,000 households are facing significant reductions to the monthly funds they receive. Ways to advocate during the Legislative Session 📝Write to your legislators and ask them to support Northwest Harvest’s Legislative priorities. Be sure to sign up for our Action Alerts to stay up to date on where bills are and to be notified when your voices are most needed to move a bill forward. 📣Share your lived experience story with lawmakers. Our state representatives want to hear from their constituents and how policies can affect them. Your story can win hearts and minds to gain stronger support for a more equitable food system. By filling out this form, we can help you share your story. 🎤Consider testifying at a legislative committee hearing. Constituent voices are even more essential when bills are heard in committee. Do you have a lived experience story that is relevant to one of Northwest Harvest’s priority bills? If so, would you consider sharing your story and testifying in support of the bill? You no longer have to travel to Olympia to testify as you can sign up to testify remotely. Please contact our public policy director, Anna Nepomuceno, if you are interested in testifying: annan@northwestharvest.org 🍏Join us at Hunger Action Days! Hunger Action Day (HAD) is hosted each year by the Anti-Hunger and Nutrition Coalition (AHNC), a lobby day to highlight the issues facing hungry families in Washington and bring their stories to legislators who are in the position to make changes to end hunger in Washington. When: Tuesday, February 10th from 8am to 4pm Where: United Churches of Olympia – 110 11th Ave SE Olympia WA 98501 and at the State Capitol! Our 2026 Legislative Priorities 🌽Building an equitable food system We’re advocating for statewide food security strategies that make nutritious food accessible to everyone, streamline the flow of food from farms to households, and dismantle barriers that keep families from thriving. 🍎Addressing food deserts When grocery stores close, entire communities lose access to healthy, affordable food. We’ll push for legislation that incentivizes grocers to open in high-need areas, ensuring no one is left behind. 💲Protecting emergency food funding and SNAP benefits Federal cuts to SNAP will leave thousands of Washingtonians struggling. We’ll fight to protect state emergency food funding and secure additional resources to offset these harmful impacts. ☀️Supporting broader anti-hunger efforts We’ll join with the Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition to protect vital nutritional support programs like SUN Bucks to keep kids fed through the Summer months and the Senior Nutritional Program for low-income senior citizens. We will also be working with other anti-poverty groups to advocate for new, fair revenue sources to protect Washington’s social safety net without burdening working families. Learn more about our 2026 Legislative priorities. If you haven’t already, please make sure you sign up for our advocacy alerts—it’s the best way to stay informed and take action when your voice matters most. Sign up here. Have questions or ideas? We invite you to contact Anna Nepomuceno, Director of Public Policy! You can reach her at annan@northwestharvest.org or 206-923-7431 Thank you for being part of the movement for food justice in Washington!
