by Kirk Kirkland

This is the critical time to contact your legislators and let them know which of these issues are important to you. In the last few weeks the 2026 state legislature has voted these important bills out of committee and now go to the floor of each house..

Before the cutoff date I notified Pierce County Legislative Delegation that these issues were important to the Environmental Coalition and our readers.  These issues are also important to some of our allies like the state office of the National Audubon Society and Futurewise.

On the agenda are issues that deal with federal agents that would prevent tragedies where federal agents open fire in residential zones during enforcement.  Email your county legislators and tell them why these issues are important to you and encourage them to make them into law..

The SAFE Act (SB 5906) blocks federal agents from using nonpublic areas of schools and hospitals for civil immigration enforcement.  Victims killed by ICE in Minnesota were in high-traffic areas near their homes where state-level sensitive-space protections might have de-escalated the presence of armed federal officers. This bill ensures the rule of law applies to all agencies.

Federal enforcement actions in sensitive areas creates a chilling effect that discourages families from seeking medical care or sending children to school.  This legislation would ensure that judicial warrants are required. This bill would uphold constitutional rights and preserve public trust in local institutions.

When passing the ICE-related bills last week, the testimony was some of the most heated of the year. While the SAFE Act (SB 5906) survived because it focuses on “sensitive spaces” like schools, three other bills failed because it was too politically “radioactive” for an election year.

 

HB 2421 the 6PPD, a tire-derived chemical linked to salmon mortality in urban waterways .The bill remains alive but has not yet advanced to a floor vote. It cleared required policy and fiscal committee hurdles and is currently waiting in the Rules process for potential placement on the House floor calendar. This legilslation is important to restoring salmon in Clover Chambers Bay watershed.

 

2 Legislation sponsored by Futurewise

 The Supportive Housing and Density bills (HB 2266 / SB 6069) Removes local regulatory barriers to create more permanent supportive housing and emergency shelters. These bills require cities to allow transitional housing in urban zones already permitted for residential use, preventing local “noise” from blocking essential services for the unhoused.

By streamlining the permit process, these bills ensure that vulnerable residents find stability faster within existing urban infrastructure.

The Housing Choice and Forest Protection acts (HB 1245 / HB 2160) focus on lot splitting and transit-oriented development to provide “gentle density” in our neighborhoods. These policies allow homeowners to divide their properties to create smaller, more affordable “starter homes”, while encouraging high-density housing near major bus and rail stations to reduce car dependency.

These bills work together to protect our forest canopy by focusing new residents in existing urban centers rather than destroying green space for new subdivisions.

The Growth Management Act update (HB 1181) mandates that counties prioritize forest canopy health and carbon reduction in their long-term planning. Counties like Chelan and Kittitas have proven that thinning forests reduces “crown fire” intensity while allowing healthy trees to sequester up to 25% of local carbon.

 

3 Legislation sponsored by Audubon Washington:

 The Bird-Friendly Building Standards (SB 6272) champion programs to implement “Lights Out” initiatives during peak migration to prevent deadly bird strikes against glass. They are also seeking a $400,000 budget increase for Washington Department and Wildlife (WDFW) to close the “funding gap” created when the state raised biologist salaries but failed to increase the overall operating budget. This funding is critical for land stewardship and biodiversity studies that have been stalled due to lack of resources.

 

How You Can Participate?

Send your legislator an email with your priorities.

A list of our legislator’s e-mails is provided below 

These Pierce County State Delegates are on the important committees to keep these bills alive and to pass by the full House and Senate next month.

To receive follow-up information about this legislation as it progresses through committees, contact:

 Futurewise: Marcella Buser, Futurewise State Organizer, action@futurewise.org, or <marcella@futurewise.org> or https://futurewise.salsalabs.org/2026legupdates/index.html

3. Audubon Washington: Trina Bayard, Director of Bird Conservation (tbayard@audubon.org)
4. Environmental Coalition at kirkkirkland5.com if you are interested in ICE bills or other state legislation and 6ppd

Democracy lives and dies by giving legislation your attention.  Start now to build relationships with your county legislators.

Email addresses for Pierce County Delegation

Address your email to Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins, then put the remaining names of the County Delegation in the BBC address.

“Pierce County Delegation ”   <(laurie.jinkins@leg.wa.gov>,

Add these names to BCC

Rep. Matt Marshall (matt.marshall@leg.wa.gov),

Rep. Michelle Valdez (michelle.valdez@leg.wa.gov),

Sen. Yasmin Trudeau (yasmin.trudeau@leg.wa.gov),

Rep. Laurie Jinkins (laurie.jinkins@leg.wa.gov),

Rep. Jake Fey (jake.fey@leg.wa.gov).

Sen. T’wina Nobles (t’wina.nobles@leg.wa.gov),

Rep. Mari Leavitt (mari.leavitt@leg.wa.gov),

Rep. Dan Bronoske (dan.bronoske@leg.wa.gov).

Rep. Melanie Morgan (melanie.morgan@leg.wa.gov),

Rep. Sharlett Mena (sharlett.mena@leg.wa.gov).

Sen. Phil Fortunato (phil.fortunato@leg.wa.gov),

Rep. Drew Stokesbary (drew.stokesbary@leg.wa.gov),

 

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