2025 WA Legislative Session Wraps-up

The Washington State Legislature adjourned on April 27th, concluding a session marked with the passage of several tax bills and a new state budget that depends on those revenues. Governor Bob Ferguson signed the state budget and related funding bills on May 20th, issuing only a few limited partial vetoes.

Here’s a look at some of our key accomplishments from this legislative session:

 

✅ Preserving 12-Month Medicaid Postpartum Coverage

With a projected $16 billion budget shortfall, many critical programs were at risk of being cut. One of the most important victories was protecting 12-month postpartum Medicaid coverage. This coverage is vital for pregnant individuals, especially those managing complications like high blood pressure or diabetes. Research shows that heart disease and stroke—leading causes of preventable pregnancy-related deaths—are most likely to occur between six weeks and one year after childbirth.

In 2022, nearly half (46%) of all births in Washington were covered by Apple Health. Cutting this coverage would have deepened existing health disparities and undermined maternal health equity. Thanks to strong advocacy and collective effort, this essential healthcare coverage was preserved in the final budget.

🌱 Maintaining Farm to School Funding

Many Washington schools benefit from partnerships with local farms, allowing students to enjoy fresh, locally grown food in their cafeterias. These programs not only teach students about food systems and nutrition but also provide farmers with reliable contracts and income.

Amid budget pressures, we fought to ensure that baseline funding for the Farm to School program remained intact. This win helps sustain a program that supports both student health and local agriculture.

📽️Learn more in the video below:

🚭 Minimizing Cuts to Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Funding

The House and Senate proposed different levels of cuts to tobacco cessation and prevention funding. While we couldn’t avoid reductions entirely, we successfully advocated for a smaller cut—16% instead of the proposed 20%. While not ideal, this compromise helps preserve more of the resources needed to prevent tobacco-related illness and death.