The 60-day, 2026 legislative session feels like a bit of a blur, but now that it’s come to a close, we can take a moment to look back on everything that happened.
This might not come as a surprise to those who have been following along in the last few weeks, but unfortunately none of our priority bills made it to law. Short legislative sessions are notoriously difficult for passing significant legislation, and, with Washington state’s current budget shortfall, anything with a price tag was a nonstarter. Only 265 bills passed this year—out of the 1628 that were introduced—the fewest in a short session since 2000.
The Bottle Bill (SB 5502/HB 1607), which would have established a deposit and refund system for metal, glass, and plastic beverage containers in an effort to boost recycling rates and reduce litter, came very close thanks to the efforts of many, yet ultimately did not make it to the Governor’s desk. We heard lawmakers cite affordability as an issue with this bill, thinking the deposit would be just one more rising cost at the grocery store. However, with 75 percent of the public’s support in Washington and the ability to recoup this deposit through recycling, this didn’t seem to be as much of a holdup for voters. While seeing this bill stall was certainly a disappointment, we can be certain it will return next year with ardent support.
Our Legislative Action Team also took actions to support:
- Closing the “reusable” plastic bag loophole (HB 2233/SB 5965)
- Finding a substitute for 6PPD in tires (HB 2421/SB 6119)
- Reducing environmental impacts from marine vessels (SB 5519/HB 1652)
- Holding data centers accountable for increasing energy demands (HB 2515/SB 6171)
- Valuing climate solutions and ecosystem services as revenue generation (HB 1508)
- Designating the sixgill shark as Washington’s state shark (HB 2447)
- Expanding Washington’s postconsumer recyclables (SB 6156/HB 2271)
- Increasing penalties for environmental crimes (SB 5360)
A few bills we are glad to see pass
Millionaire’s tax (HB 2724/SB 6346)
After a lot of hype this year, the millionaire’s tax is on its way to Governor Ferguson’s desk. Intended to help address wealth inequality, this bill places a 9.9% tax on household incomes of more than $1 million—less than 1 percent of the Washington’s wealthiest people (or some 20,000 households). The tax is expected to generate about $3 billion per year, beginning in 2029, which will be allocated to general fund programs, tax offsets, and the Working Families Tax Credit. We believe generating new revenue in equitable ways is critical to creating community resilience. Learn more from the Washington State Budget & Policy Center.
Cleaning up derelict boats (HB 2199)
Abandoned boats that have sunk or washed up on shore pollute Washington waterways and can be a serious challenge to clean up. This bill will make it easier to remove derelict vessels by removing the requirement that the owner is known, able to be located, and exerts control of the vessel. It also allows vessels to be removed if they have been out of compliance with registration requirements for at least two annual registration periods and are prioritized for removal by DNR or another authorized public entity. RE Sources staff and volunteers report derelict vessels quite frequently when out on pollution patrols, so we fully support these changes that will help keep our waterways clean!
Supporting community scaled weatherization projects (HB 2338/SB 6223)
Scaling up community weatherization programs will help more low-income households save energy and money. By utilizing local knowledge and existing data, weatherization agencies can support more households, better identify priority communities as project recipients, and streamline the eligibility process.
Eliminating preferential treatment for TransAlta (HB 2367/SB 6172)
The federal government illegally ordered the TransAlta coal plant to remain in operation beyond its December 31, 2025 planned closure. This closure was negotiated under a Memorandum of Understanding, which expired at the end of 2025. This bill clarifies that, should it remain in operation, the coal power plant must comply with our state climate laws and not receive tax incentives. Read more from our friends at Climate Solutions: What part of “no more coal” doesn’t Trump understand?
So what’s next?
With less than 20 percent of bills actually making it into law any given year, it’s inevitable (and pretty standard) that priority bills still come up short. Take the bottle bill, for example: It was perhaps the number one priority for numerous environmental and waste coalitions this year, and riding on the success of the Washington Recycling Reform Act (SB 5284), which was passed in 2025. Yet it still had its challenges rooted in the current context of everyday folks feeling the pressure of already inflated consumer prices.
We take a deep breath and… begin thinking about next year. Puget Soundkeeper and the Washington Waterkeepers will also be hosting a virtual End of Session Recap on April 1 at 1:00 PM (register here) if you’d like to learn more. They’ll dive into what happened in Olympia this session and ways build momentum for stronger clean water protections moving forward. It’s a good time to talk about emerging issues we want to see addressed by the legislature, educate the public on these topics, and work with local coalitions to craft policy. This cycle allows for time to incorporate feedback from lawmakers, build relationships, and make sure we’re relying on the best available science for technical issues.
But for now, we’ll celebrate the wins, enjoy some sunshine (eventually), and begin working toward the things we want to make happen next year. This year’s efforts were not for nothing, though, as establishing coalitions and building foundations is an essential—yet often behind-the-scenes—aspect of creating policy. If you’d like to learn more or get involved with advocacy, sign up for our Legislative Action Team!