By the Numbers | Audubon

With the 2026 legislative session behind us, we wish to make sure you understand how a lot your voice makes a distinction. Though it was a difficult session on many fronts, we’re right here to have a good time some successes.  So, how did we do? Allow us to rely the methods! 

Along with our community of over 30,000 statewide advocates, we efficiently supported the passage of a key clear vitality invoice, stopped a invoice weakening shrubsteppe protections, and constructed momentum towards hen and habitat safety.  

What it took to go insurance policies for birds and other people: 

• 8 motion alerts despatched  

• 1,162 advocates mobilized  

• 6,699 messages despatched to legislators  

• 1 oral and 3 written testimonies submitted throughout key hearings 

• 3 rounds of letters to legislators on pure useful resource finances points 

A Main Clear Vitality Win 

SB 6355, establishing a state transmission authority, handed with bipartisan assist. Transmission authorities are widely known as one of the vital efficient instruments states have to enhance vitality affordability, reliability, and decarbonization. We offered written testimony in assist of SB 6355, and advocates despatched 1,154 messages to legislators. 

Shrubsteppe Protected 

We offered written testimony that helped cease HB 2316, a invoice that might have stripped protections from shrubsteppe habitat in City Development Areas. Solely 20% of Washington’s authentic shrubsteppe stays and remnant habitats in populated areas are important for birds, pollinators, and habitat connectivity. 

What Didn’t Cross… But 

Not each precedence invoice made it by this session, largely as a consequence of compressed timelines. 

Key payments that stalled included: 

• SB 6272 The Lights Out and Chicken-Pleasant Buildings invoice  

• SB 5519 A invoice closing a loophole that permits poisonous discharges from ocean-going vessels 

• SB 5203 A invoice supporting protected wildlife passage in key crossing areas fragmented by main roads 

However the efforts we made will assist these payments sooner or later. We despatched: 

• 234 messages to legislators supporting Lights Out for birds  

• 1043 messages and written testimony to cease air pollution from ocean-going vessels 

• 1482 messages to legislators in assist of protected wildlife passages 

Investing in Conservation and Local weather Resilience 

State budgets for wildlife, biodiversity, and local weather resilience noticed vital cuts, and Local weather Dedication Act {dollars} have been as soon as once more diverted to fill unrelated finances gaps. These outcomes remind us how important our work is to domesticate environmental champions, and the work we have now forward of us to proceed to activate public assist for investments in nature. 

Audubon Washington continued its work throughout the Environmental Priorities Coalition, which incorporates 27 organizations, targeted on wildfire resilience, plastic air pollution discount, and defending environmental funding. 

Audubon introduced our advocacy community to the coalition, delivering 2,256 messages to legislators in assist of those priorities and serving to restore funding for wildfire response and resilience. 

We all know that passing insurance policies and sustaining funding for conservation requires persistence and partnership. Along with your continued engagement, we’re assured we are able to construct the momentum wanted to guard birds and their habitats for generations to return. 

Ask a birder close to you to enroll in our Action Network and be a part of the motion so we are able to begin constructing momentum for birds subsequent 12 months!