article

2025 Washington State Legislative Session Summary

By Aaron Czyzewski, Director of Advocacy & Public Policy | Wednesday May 7, 2025

Each year, Food Lifeline sets out to work with legislative champions in Olympia and Washington DC on policies to solve hunger problems, protect successful safety net programs, and secure new investments for hunger relief efforts. Despite unprecedented challenges, we can report progress in some of these areas during the 2025 Washington State Session.

Importantly, Food Lifeline recognizes our advocates and supporters, including partners that helped make this body of work possible: Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition, Balance Our Tax Code Coalition, Community Justice Alliance, Faith Action Network, Feeding Washington, Harvest Against Hunger, Northwest Harvest, Racial Equity Team, Second Harvest, Senior Citizens Lobby, Statewide Poverty Action Network, United Way of King County, Washington Anti-Poverty Advocates, Washington Food Coalition, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Working Families Tax Credit Coalition, Zero Waste Washington, and the Food Fighters Legislative Caucus.

Food Lifeline’s Advocacy & Policy Team: Aaron Czyzewski, Director of Advocacy & Public Policy, Alicya Pearson, Community Action Organizer, Rashell Lisowski, Political & Community Organizer; and Nora Burns Palattao, Lobbyist.

Food Lifeline’s Advocacy & Public Policy Committee: Ben Hill (Co-Chair), Derek Chaves, Cara Figgins, Etienne Patout, Kristina Herrmann, Angela Troy, Megan Blado Cooper, and Aaron Czyzewski (Co-Chair).

Highlights from the Regular (105 Day) Session

Even before the 2025 session began, members of the Washington State Legislature were aware of the looming $12 billion plus shortfall in the state’s four-year revenue outlook. This significant obstacle hindered any real potential for progress in problem-solving and state investments that lawmakers typically pursue. To complicate matters further, newly elected Governor Bob Ferguson made budget recommendations early in the session that included cuts to food bank funding, while the Trump administration and the newly controlled Congress were rolling out more than $1.5 billion in funding cuts to federal nutrition programs and proposing billions more.

Given this situation, Food Lifeline and hunger relief partners had to swiftly pivot advocacy efforts to forestall cuts to crucial state-level safety-net programs now at risk. This included championing progressive new revenue proposals. With new revenue, the state could limit harmful budget cuts (despite ~$6 billion in cuts being made) and improve Washington’s regressive, upside-down tax code, which leaves low- and middle-income families paying 4 to 6 times their share in state and local taxes compared to wealthy households.

Fortunately, strong leadership from hunger champions in the House and Senate ensured that most of our key priorities were shielded from cuts. Not making this list, however, was our priority to extend free school meals from K-4 to all grades. The budget shortfall was simply too large to accommodate this policy bill.

While the budget constraints posed significant challenges, the collaborative efforts of our advocates and legislative allies helped secure the following requested funding for the biennium:

Food Banks and Food Pantries – Dept. of Agriculture, $93.25 million budget proviso sponsored by Rep Liz Berry, Sen Liz Lovelett.
- Baseline funding for Emergency Food Assistance Program – $41.14 million
- Baseline funding for Farm to School program – $5 million
- Local Food Infrastructure and Market Access Grants funding – $8.34 million
Senior Nutrition Programs – Dept. of Social & Health Services-ALTSA, $27.96 million budget proviso sponsored by Rep My-Lihn Thai, Sen Mike Chapman.
SUN Bucks/Summer EBT – Dept. of Social & Health Services-ESA, $11.84 million.
Summer EBT State Match – $598,000 in funding is provide as a 50% state match for OSPI to serve as partnering Summer EBT agency with Dept. of Social & Health Services.
Basic Food Employment & Training Access for Food Assistance Program participants – $1.12 million
Fruit & Vegetable Incentive Programs – Dept. of Health, $2.95 million budget proviso sponsored by Rep Greg Nance, Sen Keith Goehner.
Continuing free school meals for K-4 students – Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Community Eligibility Provision, $17.9 million in new funding for implementation of Community Eligibility Provision, in addition to “Core” Community Eligibility funds of $83.62 million in 2026 and $83.62 million in 2027.
Supporting Summer EBT & Meals for Kids Act & School Meal Co-Pays – $23.4 million for state matching money for federal nutrition programs and support for the Meals for Kids program through the following allowable uses:
- Elimination of breakfast & lunch co-pays for eligible public school students in preK-12 (as required in chapter 74, laws of 2021 – reduced price lunch co-pays)
- Assistance to school districts and authorized public and nonprofit organizations for supporting summer food service programs including Summer EBT and Summer Meals
- Reimbursements to school districts for school breakfasts (pursuant to chapter 287, laws of 2005), and
- Assistance to school districts in initiating and expanding school breakfast programs
Mobile Markets for Farmers Market Nutrition Program, SB 5214 by Sen Sharon Shewmake – $55,000.

Notably this year, Food Lifeline’s Community Justice Alliance actively lobbied for our agenda and its own priorities. CJA members contributed to public hearing testimonies, legislative meetings, and participated in Hunger Action Day, as well as their own lobby day on April 7.

Lastly, we are greatly encouraged by two “Food Security” work sessions held by the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee. One result of these meetings is a bill introduced by House Ag Committee Chair, Rep Kristine Reeves, that calls for the development of a statewide food security strategy.

Equity & Social Justice

Food Lifeline Platform: Food Lifeline will consider policy measures which focus on racial equity & social justice for vulnerable and low-income children, adults, and seniors, with emphasis on families of color, immigrant, and under-resourced communities.

Civic Engagement—SUPPORT measures supporting civic engagement for incarcerated and institutionalized individuals in state custody to promote inclusion and rehabilitation.

Outcome: LOSS. SHB 1147, Rep Darya Farivar. This bill died in committee.

Poverty

Food Lifeline Platform: Food Lifeline will consider policy measures that end conditions of poverty, especially concerning household stability, affordable housing, living wage employment, and related essential needs.

Working Families Tax Credit—SUPPORT improvements and expansion of Washington’s tax credit program for households with low and moderate incomes.

Outcome: LOSS. HB 1214, by Rep My-Lihn Thai. SB 5769, by Sen Rebecca Saldana. HB 1214 died in committee. SB 5769 died in Rules. The bills would have expanded eligibility for the working families’ tax credit to everyone age 18 and older.

Guaranteed Basic Income—ACTIVELY SUPPORT legislation creating a pilot program for direct cash assistance to help Washington residents struggling under unprecedented income inequalities.

Outcome: TBD. No bill introduced. Budget proviso included in House & Senate operating budgets to fund GRIT 3.0 (GBI pilot funding).

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)—SUPPORT measures to improve access and strengthen TANF program benefits.

Outcome: LOSS. HB 1463, Rep Julio Cortes. Died in committee. This bill would have extended TANF time limit exemptions.
Outcome: LOSS. HB 1845, Rep Shaun Scott. Died in committee. This bill would have tied TANF cash grants to 16% of the needs standard.

State Housing Trust Fund & Rental Assistance—SUPPORT measures to increase affordable housing and assistance for renters at risk of eviction.

Outcome: WIN. SSB 5195, Capital Budget includes $605 million for the Housing Trust Fund, plus an additional $9 million for youth and young adult projects.

Outcome: WIN. HB 1217, Rep Nicole Macri, SB 5222 Sen Jasmine Trudeau & Emily Alvarado. HB 1217 was amended to limit rent cap to 7% + CPI or 10% (whichever is less) for all rentals except manufactured homes (their cap is 5%); no exemptions for landlords of single-family homes; exempts new development for 12 years, law sunsets in 15 years.

Food Systems

Food Lifeline Platform: Food Lifeline will consider measures that improve food justice, food systems resiliency, and operational capacity for hunger relief.

Emergency Food Assistance Program – Funding—ACTIVELY SUPPORT measures to secure funding for food & operational expenses at local food pantries and food bank distribution centers.

Outcome: WIN. Operating budget| $93.25M for biennium

Community Food Hubs—SUPPORT measures to direct funding to shared regional facilities for community agencies and local growers to aggregate/store/process food intended for hunger relief, local school systems and other markets.

Outcome: LOSS. $2.5M request for the South Seattle Community Food Hub.

Washington Commodities Donation—SUPPORT measures to help fund large-scale procurement of donated Washington commodities for hunger relief efforts statewide.

Outcome: LOSS. | Budget proviso was not accomplished.

Use Food Well Washington—SUPPORT measures to implement the UFWW Plan recommendations to meet Washington’s 2030 food waste reduction goals and a more resilient food system.

Outcome: WIN. HB 1487 by Rep Beth Doglio. This bill increased the number of UFWW recommendations enacted into law, particularly those related to schools. OSPI must develop or identify open educational resources to help schools integrate food waste-reduction into their curricula and leverage existing programs to identify best practices and overcome barriers. Additionally, the WSDA Farm-to-School program must assist schools in connecting with local producers, specifically informing them about Washington-grown food that might be going to waste.

Food Security Strategy—SUPPORT measures to develop a statewide food security strategy.

Outcome: LOSS. HB 1987, Statewide Food Security Strategy, by Rep Kristine Reeves. The policy bill died in committee; however, its introduction this session ensures continued conversation about plan development with goals to end hunger, reduce environmental health disparities, and increase agricultural sustainability and resilience.

Hunger, Health, and Wellbeing

Food Lifeline Platform: Food Lifeline will consider measures that positively impact the health of people experiencing hunger in community, educational, work, and healthcare settings.

Fruit & Vegetable Incentives—SUPPORT increasing state funding to help families on limited budgets afford more fruits and vegetables through DOH’s SNAP Produce Match, SNAP Market Match, and Fruit and Vegetable Prescriptions (Rx) programs.

Outcome: WIN. Operating budget proviso sponsored by Rep Greg Nance and Sen Keith Goehner | $2.95M (one-time)

Nutrition Assistance

Food Lifeline Platform: Food Lifeline will prioritize measures that seek to fund and improve equity, access, adequacy, and participation across state and federal nutrition assistance resources.

School Meals—ACTIVELY SUPPORT measures to expand access to school meals at no student cost (Universal School Meals) and improve access and availability of related school nutrition programs.

Outcome: LOSS. SB 5352 by Sen Marcus Riccelli, HB1404 by Rep April Berg. | Bills died in committee

Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)—ACTIVELY SUPPORT measures to expand access to school meals at no student cost and improve access and availability of related school nutrition programs using CEP, a federal school meal program.

Outcome: WIN. Operating budget | $17.9M to ensure schools have sufficient funding to cover costs incurred under previous legislation that expanded free school meals using CEP. “Core” Community Eligibility funds of $83.62 million in 2026 and $83.62 million in 2027.

Military Family Hunger—SUPPORT measures to improve food security among veteran and military households.

Outcome: WIN. HB 1943, Postsecondary Education Grant Program, Rep Mari Leavitt

Outcome: WIN. SB 5180, Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, Sen Sam Hunt

Tax Policy

Food Lifeline Platform: Food Lifeline will consider measures that promote equity and fairness in Washington’s tax code and create more opportunity for community investment.

Tax Code Equity—SUPPORT measures to rebalance Washington’s regressive tax code while providing more revenue for poverty reduction and community investments.

Lawmakers passed five revenue bills to help balance the state budget. Over the next four years, the tax package is expected to net around $9.4 billion in new revenue. Bills considered to be progressive include:

Financial Intangibles Tax.

Outcome: LOSS. SB 5486, Sen Noel Frame | Died in Committee

Capital Gains Tax. SB 5813 adds a 2.9% tax on gains over $1 million, in addition to the existing 7% tax on gains over $270,000. About 900 taxpayers will be affected.

Outcome: WIN. SB 5813, Sen Claire Wilson

Estate Tax. SB 5813 increases rates, but the property tax exemption value would rise to $3 million from $2.1 million.

Outcome: WIN. SB 5813, Sen Claire Wilson

Nonprofits—Monitor legislation impacting tax or regulatory environments for nonprofits.

Food Lifeline’s mission is to feed people experiencing hunger today while working to end hunger for tomorrow.

We believe access to nutritious, culturally relevant foods is a basic human right.

We are called to address the immediate food needs of our neighbors experiencing hunger today and to address hunger’s root causes to solve it in the future.

Poverty is the primary root cause of hunger, and we recognize systemic racism, wealth inequity, and social injustice as leading drivers of poverty and food insecurity.

People facing hunger are best positioned to identify its solutions.

Driving change via public policy and advocacy is required to disrupt norms and dismantle the political systems and structures that cause and perpetuate hunger.