Congressional Republicans recently introduced the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act), H.R. 7757, which purportedly aims to protect youth from the harms of addictive online platforms and artificial intelligence (AI). In reality, the KIDS Act would undermine protections for youth online and insulate Big Tech from taking accountability for the harms caused by their products. 

The 2026 Legislative Session came to a close last week. Children’s Alliance is proud to have worked alongside many powerful advocates and partners to create positive change for kids and families this session.

The three new data briefs focus on some of the most pressing issues children’s health advocates are faced with today. By providing accessible data we aim to equip advocates, policymakers, and community leaders with the information they need to pursue equitable, impactful change.  

Children's Alliance is committed to protecting key programs, advocating for progressive revenue solutions that compel corporations and the ultra-wealthy to pay their fair share, and fighting against efforts to balance the budget on the backs of Washingtonians with low or middle incomes.

Our 2026 legislative agenda prioritizes the communities most impacted by systemic racism and economic exclusion, advancing policies that sustain early learning, health equity, and economic justice.

We’re excited to reintroduce legislation that will ensure addictive online platforms make changes to their design and data gathering practices to enable young users to develop a healthy relationship with their products.

House Bill 1834 and Senate Bill 5708 remain a top priority for Children’s Alliance. This legislation was developed in collaboration with the Washington Attorney General’s Office and our partners in the Legislature and aims to guarantee safety for children and youth on social media.

In Washington state, a child’s chance to thrive still depends on their family’s race and income. Now, federal policy decisions threaten to widen existing disparities and opportunity gaps, cutting off lifelines families rely on to survive and succeed. 

We are outraged by this morning’s passage of the Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA). This bill includes devastating cuts to vital programs that many kids and families rely on, while simultaneously giving exorbitant tax breaks to the nation’s wealthiest individuals and corporations.  

Over the weekend, Senators debated and advanced a massive spending and tax bill that could drastically cut funding for Medicaid and other vital federal programs that millions of Americans rely on for health care, food, housing, and economic stability.

Congress is currently considering a budget reconciliation bill that proposes $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid. We spoke to Ari from Spokane, a Medicaid enrollee worried that they may lose access to vital care if the program is cut.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2025 KIDS COUNT® Data Book show’s that Washington leaders must do more to provide the support and resources children need to thrive in school and life.

Despite a $16 billion budget shortfall, we were able to celebrate some victories for kids and families this year. Read our full legislative report to learn more about the progress we made.

 The federal government is seeing unprecedented cuts to program funding and staff, and there are drastic cuts proposed that would make it harder for families access early learning, health care, and nutrition. 

Our bill aimed at protecting kids online (SB 5708) has missed cutoff, meaning it did not receive a committee hearing in time to move forward this session.

New legislation was introduced this week to help address the youth behavioral health crisis. HB 2038 would establish the Youth Behavioral Health Account and fund it with a 0.4% tax on the gross income of social media platforms.

We are 43 days into the 2025 legislative session, with 62 days left.  A lot has happened so far, including some major successes that we are thrilled to share with all of you. 

Children’s Alliance collaborated with the State Attorney General’s Office and Representative Lisa Callan to introduce legislation which will hold digital media companies accountable for creating a safer online environment for kids.

The recent actions of the new Administration have already begun to have a negative impact on Washington’s kids. This is unacceptable and we must resist.

At Children’s Alliance, we see a future in which all of Washington's children have an abundance of what they need to grow up to be the people they dream of becoming.  Our 2025 legislative agenda highlights policy priorities in our three primary issue areas: early learning, health equity, and economic justice.

Exploring the expansion, improvement, and promotion of school-based behavioral health solutions to address the youth behavioral health crisis.