State budget, 2026 policy priorities, free and low-cost health care resources, and more

All eyes are on the budget, as the Legislature faces an ongoing multi-billion dollar shortfall due to federal cuts, economic instability, and a regressive tax code. Governor Ferguson’s budget proposal reveals the human toll if Washington fails to act boldly. While the Governor avoided some cuts and signaled greater openness to revenue, his budget still slashes $676 million from health & human services – including cutting $60 million from Apple Health Expansion coverage for immigrants and underfunding Cascade Care Savings premium assistance.

The Governor’s proposal also does little to mitigate federal cuts that will strip health coverage from over 400,000 Washingtonians and chop billions in federal health funding. These cuts have already begun – tens of thousands of Washingtonians lost affordable coverage January 1.