2026 Legislative Session
Legislative Session Wrap-Up
Although our Youth Development Fund bill (SB 5992) did not pass during the 2026 Legislative Session, we made great progress raising awareness among legislators, engaging new and returning advocates across the state, and building support for investments in youth development.
Session Highlights:
- Our legislative champion, Senator Krishnadasan, helped pass our Youth Development Fund bill through the Senate in its first year being introduced to the Legislature
- Our bill had strong support from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), general support from Senators and many House members, and initial positive reception from the Governor’s Office
- The Millionaires Tax (SB 6346) passed, a promising step toward more progressive revenue in Washington
- We engaged new and returning advocates through our virtual Kick-Off, Advocacy Day, and Youth Development Strategy Table (YDST) coalition meetings throughout session
Looking ahead, we will:
- Re-evaluate our legislative pathways, explore new strategies for future sessions, and identify opportunities to target strategic legislators during the 2026 session interim with the YDST leadership committee
- Engage more philanthropic partners and garner support for our youth development vision for the state
- Continue building out opportunities for youth advocacy
- Run the bill again in 2029, revisiting bill language and revising as needed
Want to get involved during the interim? Sign up for the YDST newsletter to learn about upcoming opportunities and stay updated on our legislative priorities and progress.
Resources
We offer a variety of downloadable resources for you to use while speaking with legislators, funders, and policy makers, including one-pager documents focusing on geographic equity in Washington state and issue areas such as mental health and juvenile justice.