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.

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.