Our 2026 Just Transition Agenda for Washington State

Описание: The 2026 legislative session is unlike most others. A decreased state revenue forecast, an affordability crisis, and budget cuts at the federal level are making it difficult for families to afford basic necessities.

The Front and Centered coalition, composed of diverse communities of color and low-income communities across the state, has been instrumental in advocating for policies that prioritize the involvement of frontline communities in developing environmental justice solutions. Our coalition will advocate for policies and investments that protect community members from environmental harm and build up the resilience of our communities.

While we will continue to fight for environmental justice initiatives this year, our top priority will be protecting existing low-income assistance programs along with the funding of a statewide energy assistance program to help bring relief to Washingtonians who need it most.

Front and Centered helped envision and lead advocacy around the creation of the Healthy Environmental for All (HEAL) Act. Signed into law in 2021, HEAL embeds environmental justice into state agency policies, budgets, and plans. This session, one top priority is our CURB (Cumulative Risk Burden) Pollution campaign. As part of CURB, House Bill 1303 would take HEAL a step further by requiring that environmental justice be directly applied in pollution permitting.

During this briefing, held on January 6, 2026, we highlighted our priorities for the 2026 legislative session, from CURB (HB 1303) to ensuring that everyone in the state has a right to sufficient energy through a statewide assistance program (HB 1903).

SPEAKERS:
• Guillermo Rogel, Jr., Political Manager, Front and Centered
• Lianna Kressin, Policy and Field Campaign Manager for Statewide Poverty Action Network
• Aqsa Mengal, FC Climate and Clean Energy Policy Lead
• Martha Lucas, Executive Director for the Washington State Coalition of African Community Leaders
• State Representative Sharlett Mena (D-Tacoma)
• Maiko Patschke, FC Environmental Justice Analyst
• Debolina Banerjee, Senior Policy Manager for Puget Sound Sage
• Jamie Hearn, FC Climate and Community Planning Lead
• Mia Ayala-Marshall, Clean Air Program Manager for the Duwamish River Community Coalition

INTERPRETATION:
• Humberto Gonzalez

Front and Centered is a coalition of over seventy groups representing and serving frontlines communities in #WashingtonState. We advocate for equity and climate and environmental justice, guided by the principles of a #JustTransition.

#EnvironmentalJustice #ClimateJustice