SB 5998 Making 2025-2027 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations.
This bill establishes the biennial budget. If amended following the upcoming committee hearing, it will be the Senate’s version of the final biennial budget from which the Seante, House and Governor will negotiate a final budget.

There is a proposal to amend it to cut funding from $71.4 million to $50.4 million in FY 26 and $71 million to $32 million in FY 27 for coverage to individuals ineligible due to immigration status for federal Medicaid or federal subsidies through health exchange who are 19+ and up to 138% of federal poverty level. These cuts to balance the budget will take benefits away from the most vulnerable: poor immigrants. While about 6% of Washingtonians lack health insurance, immigration status is the leading characteristic of those lacking health insurance: about one-third of all immigrants and over half of all undocumented residents in the state lack health insurance. It is estimated that at least 100,000 immigrants in Washington State are without health insurance.

In 2025, $153M was allocated for the Apple Health Expansion (AHE) program, ensuring that 13,000 low-income people who obtained coverage under the program could keep that coverage for at least the next two years. The proposed cuts will remove healthcare coverage of vulnerable immigrants.

HB 2173  Use of face coverings by law enforcement officers.
To protect our communities, particularly the immigrant community it is vital to ban the wearing of face masks by all law enforcement, including local, state, and federal law enforcement, and requiring law enforcement to have identification while conducting operations in the state. HB 2173 would ensure transparency, maintain public safety, promote accountability for potential misconduct, and prevent criminals from impersonating officers.

HB 2105/SB 5852  Immigrant Worker Protection Act.
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown has teamed up with Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle) and Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self (D-Mukilteo) to propose the Immigrant Worker Protection Act. The proposed legislation would:

• Require employers notify employees when the federal government has requested their employment eligibility information.
  
  
• Remind employers that they are not required to give federal immigration officials access to their non-public places of business unless agents have a warrant.

How To Be Involved

•  Local Leagues in Washington have action chairs who coordinate action teams. Some local Leagues have health care teams to take action locally. Contact your local League action chair to find out and join.

• Respond to Action Alerts in the Legislative Action Newsletter. These will primarily appear in the section of the newsletter related to transportation.
  
  
•  If you are interested in a particular bill, use the links above to go to the webpage for that bill. These pages include staff summaries and reports including who testified PRO, CON, or OTHER on the bill, if there has been a public hearing. There is also information about how to access videos of hearings that have been held. 

• You may also express your opinion on legislation with the LWVWA Issue chairs. We will take your perspectives under consideration as we determine our support for legislation and prepare testimony. Please direct any questions or suggestions to Lydia Zepeda, Immigrants Issue Chair