2026

For the Washington State Legislative Session of 2026, NARN is actively working on a bill, in collaboration with the Animal Rights Initiative, that would require the use of alternatives to animal testing methods in drug development. We will share updates and information about what you can do to support this bill!

Additionally, Pasado’s Safe Haven has created a Companion and Farmed Animal Welfare Bill Tracker for 2026 that you can use to track the status of other bills relating to animals.
See below for NARN’s Washington State Legislative Session Tracker from 2025 so you can see the progress and challenges leading up to the 2026 session.

 

2025

Animal Welfare

SUPPORT HB 1201!

THIS BILL HAS PASSED

Location:  Passed

Schedule: Passed

Take Action: Passed
Summary: Recommends that cities and counties to include plans for evacuation and/or shelter with companion animals in local comprehensive emergency management plans.
 SUPPORT HB 1046!

THIS BILL HAS PASSED

Location:  Passed

Schedule: Passed

Take Action: Passed
Summary: People who rescue companion animals or vulnerable persons from dangerous vehicles (think a hot car) are given civil immunity for damage to the vehicle.
SUPPORT SB 5065!

THIS BILL HAS PASSED

Location: Passed

Schedule: Passed

Take Action: This bill has passed the legislature
Summary: Prohibits bears, elephants, felines (excluding domesticated house cats), and nonhuman primates from traveling circuses.
SUPPORT HB 1149! 

THIS BILL HAS PASSED

Location: Passed

Schedule: Passed

Take Action: This bill has passed the legislature.
Summary: Bringing animal cruelty laws in line with national best practices and stronger deterrents against animal fighting, see full one pager here.
OPPOSE SB 5343!

THIS BILL HAS PASSED

Location:  Passed

Schedule: Passed

Take Action: Passed
Summary: Removes funding from programs designed to prevent wolf-livestock conflict using non-lethal measures.

Environment and Climate Change

SUPPORT HB 1631!

THIS BILL HAS PASSED

Location: Passed

Schedule: Passed

Take Action: This bill has passed the legislature
Summary: Establishes a bull kelp state marine forest.

To see more bills on the environment, check  out Washington Conservation Action’s tracker here!

Social Justice

SUPPORT SB 5104!

THIS BILL HAS PASSED

Location:  Passed

Schedule: Passed

Take Action: Passed
Summary: Protects workers  (for example, farm workers), from workplace coercion on the basis of immigration status.
SUPPORT SJM 8004!

THIS BILL HAS PASSED

Location:  Passed

Schedule: Passed

Take Action: Passed
Summary: Petitions the federal government to remove barriers to the state implementing its own universal healthcare or to create its own universal healthcare program.
SUPPORT HB 1052!

THIS BILL HAS PASSED

Location: Passed

Schedule: Passed

Take Action: This bill has passed the legislature
Summary:  Clarifies a hate crime offense.
SUPPORT SB 5101!

THIS BILL HAS PASSED

Location: Passed

Schedule: Passed

Take Action: Passed
Summary:  Expands access to leave and safety accommodations to include workers who are victims of hate crimes or bias incidents.

Bodily Autonomy/Reproductive Justice (in partnership with Puget Sound Mobilization for Reproductive Justice)

SUPPORT SB 5181!

THIS BILL HAS PASSED

Location:  Passed

Schedule: Passed

Take Action: Passed
Summary: Keeps student medical and counseling records private and requires student consent to share with parents.
SUPPORT HB 1296!

THIS BILL HAS PASSED

Location:  Passed

Schedule: Passed

Take Action: Passed
Summary: Amends I-2081, strengthens students’ rights, extends protections for trans youths.
SUPPORT HB 1213!

THIS BILL HAS PASSED

Location:  Passed

Schedule: Passed

Take Action: Passed
Summary: Expands paid family leave protections, grants money to small businesses to help cover costs of hiring temporary employers.
SUPPORT SB 5632!

THIS BILL HAS PASSED

Location:  Passed

Schedule: Passed

Take Action: Passed
Summary: Prohibits government from cooperating with or providing information to other entities attempting to enforce the laws of another state that asserts criminal or civil liability. Safeguards a person’s healthcare information who travels out of state to Washington for a medical procedure, such as an abortion.  Strengthens the Shield Law.
SUPPORT SB 5557!

THIS BILL HAS PASSED

Location:  Passed

Schedule: Passed

Take Action: Passed
Summary:  Codifies rules protecting pregnant people’s access to emergency treatment
SUPPORT SB 5093! 

THIS BILL HAS PASSED

Location:  Passed

Schedule: Passed

Take Action: This bill has passed the legislature
Summary: Repeals crime of concealing birth, removes county coroner and medical examiner jurisdiction over deceased persons whose death resulted from abortions, premature births, or still births.
OPPOSE HB 1121!

THIS BILL HAS PASSED

Location: Passed

Schedule: Passed

Take Action: This bill has passed the legislature
Summary:  Concerns restrictions on working conditions and hours of 16-17 year-olds.

The Following WA State Bills Are NOT Moving Forward This Year

SUPPORT HB 1617!

Location:  Postsecondary Education & Workforce

Schedule: First reading

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary: Stronger transparency measures will be implemented at the University of Washington’s National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC).
SUPPORT SB 5482! 

Location:  Agriculture & Natural Resources

Schedule: Public hearing, Feb 17th, 1:30pm

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary: Would limit the amount of cougars who may be hunted by dogs by county officials and their posses.
SUPPORT HB 1078!

Location:  Consumer Protection & Business

Schedule: Executive session, Feb 5th, 1:30pm

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary: Pet insurers may not cancel or refuse to renew insurance based on an animal’s preexisting condition.
OPPOSE HB 1311!

Location:  Agriculture & Natural Resources

Schedule: Executive session, Feb 21st, 10:30am

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary: Reverses the WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Commission decision to keep wolves listed as endangered.
OPPOSE SB 5590!

Location:  Agriculture & Natural Resources

Schedule: Public hearing, Feb 17th, 1:30pm

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary: Allows for the killing of a wolf attracted to the site of a livestock predation.
OPPOSE HB 1442 / SB 5354! 

Location: 

House: Agriculture & Natural Resources

Senate: Agriculture & Natural Resources

Schedule: 

House: Public hearing, Feb 5th, 8am

Senate: Public hearing, Feb 17th, 1:30pm

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary: Removes endangered species protections for wolves who are not listed under the Endangered Species Act (a large portion of the wolf population in the state).
SUPPORT SB 5376 (companion to HB 1149)

Location: 

Senate: Law & Justice

Schedule:

Senate: SB 5376 – First reading; HB 1149 – First reading

Take Action: check back soon!
Summary: Bringing animal cruelty laws in line with national best practices and stronger deterrents against animal fighting, see full one pager here.
SUPPORT HB 1735! 

Location:  Agriculture & Natural Resources

Schedule: Executive session, Feb 18th, 10:30am

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary: Prohibits force-feeding of domestic “poultry,” including chickens, ducks, turkeys, and geese. Prohibits the sale of any foie gras products that has been produced using force-feeding practices.
SUPPORT HB 1608! 

Location:  Agriculture & Natural Resources

Schedule: Executive session, Feb 18th, 10:30am

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary: Bans the sale of octopuses for food if the octopuses were raised on a farm.
SUPPORT HB 1904!

Location: Health Care & Wellness

Schedule: First reading

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary: Implements a ban on declawing cats.
OPPOSE HB 1930!

Location:  Agriculture & Natural Resources

Schedule: Public hearing, Feb 19th, 8am

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary: Stacks the WA Fish & Wildlife Commission with hunters and anglers.
SUPPORT HB 1630! 

Location: Environment & Energy

Schedule: Public hearing, Feb 6th, 8am

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary: Requires Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) to report methane emissions.
OPPOSE SB 5171!

Location:  Ways & Means

Schedule: Executive session, Feb 28th, 1:30pm

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary: Pays ranchers and producers for wolf depredations of livestock.
OPPOSE HB 1775!

Location: Appropriations

Schedule: Executive session, Feb 19th, 8am

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary: Bans fur farms and manufacturing in Washington state. UPDATE: an amendment completely changed this bill and now allows fur farming, negating the bill. Please oppose!
SUPPORT SB 5203!

Location:  Ways & Means

Schedule: Executive session, Feb 27th, 1:30pm

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary: Provides for safe passage for wildlife (think wildlife overpasses).
SUPPORT HB 1129 / SB 5121!

Location:  

House: Appropriations

Senate: Ways & Means

Schedule: 

House: Executive session, Jan 24th, 8am

Senate: Executive session, Feb 21st, 8am

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary: Concerning health plan coverage of fertility-related services.
SUPPORT HB 1128!

Location: Appropriations

Schedule: Executive session, Feb 7th, 10:30am

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary:  Establishes a child care workforce standards board.
SUPPORT SB 5474!

Location: Ways & Means

Schedule: Executive session, Feb 20th, 1:30pm

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary: Expands opportunities provided to organic, regenerative, climate-smart, and sustainable producers.
SUPPORT  HB 1652 / SB 5519!

Location:  

House: Environment & Energy

Senate: Environment, Energy & Technology

Schedule: 

House: executive session canceled

Senate: Public hearing, Feb 7th, 10:30am

Take Action:  Check back soon!
Summary: Ocean-going vessels must use low-sulfur fuels when approaching shore.
SUPPORT  SB 5364 (companion to HB 1399) 

Location:  

Senate: Law & Justice

Schedule: 

Senate: First reading

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary: Limits the use of volunteers in law enforcement, all peace and corrections officers must maintain certification as condition of employment. Professional standards for law enforcement leadership are updated and uniformed across the state.
SUPPORT SB 5180!

Location:  Early Learning & K-12 Education

Schedule: Public hearing, Jan 21st, 8am

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary: Ensures students have the right to be referred by their preferred pronouns/names, participate in sports aligned with their gender.
SUPPORT HB 1082 / SB 5279!

Location:  

House: Early Learning & human Services

Senate: Early Learning & K-12 Education

Schedule: 

House: Public hearing, Jan 22nd, 1:30pm

Senate: Public hearing, Feb 4th, 8am

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary: Concerning qualifications for child care providers.
OPPOSE SB 5012!

Location:  Early Learning & K-12 Education

Schedule: First reading

Take Action: check back soon!
Summary: Would require student athletic teams only be comprised of students of the same biological sex.
OPPOSE HB 1038! 

Location:  Health Care & Wellness

Schedule: First reading

Take Action: check back soon!
Summary: Prohibits gender affirming care for minors.
OPPOSE SB 5135! 

Location: Early Learning & K-12 Education

Schedule: First reading

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary:  Repeals requirement that public schools provide comprehensive sexual health education to students.
OPPOSE SB 5137!

Location: Early Learning & K-12 Education

Schedule: First reading

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary:  Requires parental permission before a student may participate in comprehensive sexual health education.
SUPPORT HB 1303!

Location: Rules Committee

Schedule: Executive session, Feb 28th, 9am

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary: Reduces disparities in environmental and health impacts for communities. Learn more from the champions of the bill at Front and Centered here.
SUPPORT  HB 1399! 

Location:  Rules Committee

Schedule: Second reading

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary: Limits the use of volunteers in law enforcement, all peace and corrections officers must maintain certification as condition of employment. Professional standards for law enforcement leadership are updated and uniformed across the state.
SUPPORT SB 5123!

PASSED THE SENATE

Location:  House Appropriations

Schedule: Executive session, Apr 7th, 1:30pm

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary: Adds additional protected classes to the nondiscrimination provisions applicable to public schools, including ethnicity, citizenship status, and neurodivergence.  Sexual orientation, gender expression, and gender identity are separated into distinct protected classes.
SUPPORT HB 1090! 

Location: Rules Committee

Schedule: Second reading

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary:  Concerns contraceptive coverage.
SUPPORT SB 5179!

PASSED THE SENATE

Location:  House Education

Schedule: Executive session pending

Take Action: Check back soon!
Summary: Requires school boards follow the state anti-discrimination polices to expand student protections.

Contact your members of congress today! See NARN’s Action Alerts!

Policy & Legislation

Interested in a NARN Policy Internship/Externship? See HERE!