February 23-27
On February 22, the House and Senate released their 2026 Operating Budget proposals, with public hearings held the following day. Both proposals draw from the Rainy Day Fund and spend approximately $79 billion over the biennium.
The budgets respond to a projected shortfall driven by rising caseloads, increased state obligations under federal HR 1, and significant lawsuit settlements. (View an initial comparison of the House and Senate budget proposals.)
Child welfare investments
In child welfare, both budgets prioritize investments designed to strengthen families, improve safety, and prevent critical incidents. (View a side-by-side comparison of child welfare investments across the House, Senate and Governor budgets.)
While there are some differences between the Operating Budget proposals, both include the following priority investments:
- Expand the Parent Child Assistance Program (PCAP) by 32 slots to provide intensive case management and recovery support for pregnant and parenting individuals involved in child welfare due to substance use ($419,000).
- Expand pre-filing legal representation models, such as FIRST Clinic, a proven early intervention approach that helps pregnant and parenting families remain safely together and avoid formal child welfare involvement ($500,000).
- Integrate public health nurses into safety planning for families with children under age four affected by substance use ($876,000).
- Refer high-needs families with children up to age three in five high-need communities to Plan of Safe Care services ($252,000).
- Preserve the Family Impact Network, which connects families in Central and Eastern Washington to providers to ensure timely access to court-ordered services.
SSB 5911 update
SSB 5911, a key priority for Partners for Our Children, would end the practice of withholding federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits from youth in extended foster care who have a disability or who have experienced the death of a parent. The bill passed out of the House Early Learning and Human Services Committee on February 24 but is not on the schedule for a hearing in the Appropriations Committee. Fiscal committee deadline is March 2.
Funding for this bill is included in the Senate budget but not in the House proposal—a common dynamic, as each chamber typically prioritizes funding for bills that originated in its own body.
With the regular session scheduled to conclude on March 12, lawmakers will now focus on negotiating a final operating budget and advancing bills from the opposite chamber before adjournment.
Weekly bill tracker
The weekly P4C bill tracker highlights bills related to our priorities, particularly in child welfare. Please note that the inclusion of bills in the tracker does not reflect P4C’s position for or against the bill.
Other ways to stay informed
- TVW offers live and archived coverage of legislative committees and other events.
- The legislative website provides comprehensive information on bills, committee schedules, and contact information for legislators.