Week 3 Recap: Keep Kids Safe, 32-Hour Week, Respect Rangers
Return to the 2026 landing page here.
Week 3 of the 60-day 2026 legislative session is in the books. Here's the latest:
Sign in Pro on the Millionaires Tax TODAY!
The Hearing is on Friday February 6 at 1:30pm.
Click here to send your legislators a message and sign in PR) (when available) on House Bill 6346 to fix our upside-down tax code and fund vital services. Under Organization, put WFSE member or leave it blank.
This proposal would tax individual earnings over $1 million a year at 9.9% and generate $3.7 billion in revenue to fund the critical our members and other public servants provide.
Millionaire's Tax would fund tax cuts for working families
The proposed tax wouldn't only increase taxes for the richest 20,000 Washingtonians; it would also lower taxes for working families:
- No sales tax on grooming and hygiene products like shampoo and deodorant.
- Tax relief for small businesses (65% of businesses in the state)
- Expand the Working Families Tax Credit
With one of the most upside-down tax codes in the country, this tax would be an important step in rebalancing our tax code and stabilizing our state budget.
Households with income in the bottom 20% pay 13.8% of their total income in taxes, while those with income in the top 1% pay only 4.1%. Only Florida has a more regressive tax structure than Washington.
Download the Millionaires Tax Info Sheet
Tell Your Elected Official to Pass the Millionaires Tax!
Testimony from the Week
Yes, public workers too! A 32-hour work week with HB 2611
HB 2611 would reduce the workweek to 32 hours for workers in Washington state, including public employees, saving the state money and improving morale and productivity.
If passed, it could play an important role in overcoming persistent issues facing Washington State, like poor employee retention, burnout, and recurring budget shortfalls.
Find hearings, sign in PRO, and learn more here: HB 2611
Respect and Retain dedicated State Park Rangers: Pass HB 1182 and SB 5379
Unfortunately, like many positions in the public sector, State Park rangers have become a jumping-off point for higher paying jobs in the private sector.
Despite the complicated and unique demands of their job, rangers are also underpaid by 30% compared to other law enforcement professions in the state.
HB 1182 and SB 5379 would grant interest arbitration rights to WFSE members at State Parks, allowing them to submit disputes during contract negotiations to a neutral third party that issues a final and binding agreement.
Find hearings, send your legislators a comment, sign in PRO when available, and learn more here: HB 1182 and SB 5379
Keep Kids Safe! Amend "Imminent Physical Harm": Pass HB 2511
There should be a high bar for removing a child from their home and their family. Right now, that bar is too high say WFSE members working on the frontlines.
The current standard for removal is that the child must be in "imminent physical harm." The result has been that when our members see cases of intense long-term neglect, emotional abuse, medical abuse, or educational neglect, they have no ability to ensure the safety of a child.
Find hearings, send your legislators a comment, sign in PRO when available, and learn more here: HB 2511
Let Child Welfare Workers Protect Children: PassHB 2660
Sometimes, DCYF child welfare workers have to make the decision to remove a child from their home if they could die or be seriously harmed.
But the court system has made what was already a challenging part of their jobs even harder by interpreting the law, which requires "imminent physical harm" to the child," to the strictest possible extent.
Workers are left unable to help when they see active safety threats.
Find hearings, send your legislators a comment, sign in PRO when available, and learn more here: HB 2660
Click here to see testimony from WFSE Lobbyist Kati Durkin on House Bill 2455 which would make it easier for DCYF employees to serve on the DCYF Oversight Board.
Click here to see testimony from WFSE Lobbyist Kati Durkin on House Bill 6170 which would adjust monetary limits regarding contracting rules for WSDOT state highway construction work and procurement.
Reminders and Action Items
- RSVP for our Legislative Update on Teams
Every Thursday at 5pm with our Legislative and Political Action Team on Teams. This call is for dues-paying members only and the link to RSVP is sent to members via email. If you're not a member, you can join our union here.
If you are not receiving WFSE emails, you can subscribe here.
- Sign our petition
Demand that our elected officials avoid cuts to vital services and ask the rich to pay their fair share. Sign the petition.
- RSVP for your lobby day
Come talk to your legislators face-to-face in Olympia for your lobby day. Find your lobby day.