Public Health is Essential

Megan, Gloria, and WSPHA Board member, Anthony Maldonado, record the first ever live taping of the Public Health is Essential Podcast! We debrief WA Legislative session as well as talk about how to stay engaged in the interim.

It's one week after the Washington State Legislative session has ended and we wrap up some items that we couldn't talk about last week. It's the last episode of season 5! Join us at www.wspha.org.

It's the last day of the 2026 Legislative Session! And we have a very special guest joining us for this episode: our very own Gloria Rogers. We catch Gloria up on the last 60 days and talk about our interim plans to protect public health.

Resources:

1. Send thank you emails to these legislators for supporting public health funding: Senators Braun & Robinson, Representatives Ormsby & Macri

It's the 8th week of the WA State legislative process and Megan talks about all the loose ends that need to get tied before the end of the legislative session on March 12th at 5pm. Are we going to have a special session?

Resources:

1. Budget Universe. Where does our budget go to?
2. SB 6346 - The Millionaire's Tax
3. Watch House or Senate Floor Debate

We're back for week seven of the WA State Legislative Process after taking two weeks off. Megan talks about all the steps we have missed and goes into detail about the budget writing process.

Resources:

1. Legislator Emails
2. House Budget proposal
3. Senate Budget proposal

It's week 4 of the 2026 WA State Legislative Process! We talk about Fiscal cutoff, bills noted as NTIB, and the very controversial Millionaire's Tax.

Resources:

1. Session Cutoff Calendar
2. Overview of the Process

It's week 3 of the 2026 WA legislative session! Megan goes to Olympia and gets a boost of hopoe just from the energy there. We talk about priority bills and where what actions need to happen before the next two cutoffs.

Resources:

• Public Health Legislative Education Day - Feb 18th
• House Finance Committee members

It's week two of the 2026 WA legislative process and Megan defines all the terms that you will need to know throughout session. Resources:

• Definitions of Legislative Terms
• Free recorded classes about the WA Legislative Process
• Sign up for WSPHA Newsletter for action alerts
• Sign in PRO to SB 6129 before 3pm 1/22
• Sign in PRO to SB 6116 before 3pm 1/22

Welcome back to season 5 of the Public Health is Essential Podcast, hosted by the Washington State Public Health Association. It's the first week of the 2026 WA Legislative Session, but things feel remarkably like deja-vu. We hear a message from our friend, Gloria!

Resources:

1. TVW.org
2. www.leg.wa.gov
3. Register for Public Health Legislative Education Day Feb 18th!

The 2025 Washington State Legislative Session is officially over! Megan and Gloria talk about what happened over the last week to wrap things up and talk about what's next! We're going to take a break for a while. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay involved!