2026 Legislative Priorities That Protect Public Lands

 
The Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust coalition advocates for programs that protect public lands, waters, and access to landscapes in the Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area.
 
These key legislative priorities protect the quality of our public lands and our connection to it. They also work to protect human and environmental health. From wildfire resilience to protection against ecotoxicity, these key legislative priorities address issues that impact people and wildlife. By speaking up for these programs, we ensure Washington State is a place where all can thrive. January 2026 begins a 60-day supplemental session for the Washington State Legislature. The full session, where lawmakers craft the state’s budget for two years, occurs in odd-numbered years. The aim of even-year sessions is to adjust the budget in response to emergencies and developing issues. 

Here are our top funding priorities for this session that we will be tracking and advocating for across the Greenway NHA.  

Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Trust Land Transfer Program (TLT) 

2026 special session capital budget request: $31 million to fund nine planned projects  

The innovative Trust Land Transfer program is a tool that allows the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to transfer under-performing state trust lands to be managed for ecological and public benefits. The Legislature provides funding for the value of the lands, and DNR uses that revenue to purchase more suitable replacement lands for trust beneficiaries, including local governments and schools across the state.  
 
This year’s request will transfer 95 acres of critical low-elevation wildlife habitat in the Middle Fork Snoqualmie into conservation status and protect more than 12,000 additional acres across the state.  

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Sustain Funding for Recreation Land Maintenance Across Washington’s Natural Resource Agencies

State recreation lands have large maintenance backlogs that inhibit public access to recreation and cause ecological damage to public lands. The 2025-2027 operating budget provides $7.5 million per state land management agency to invest in facilities and protect public access to the outdoors. This was a 25 percent drop from the 2023-2025 budget. The Governor’s proposed budget contains significant additional cuts to Recreation Lands Maintenance: slashing $1.5 million from WDFW, $750,000 from DNR, and $500,000 from State Parks. As Washington’s population is projected to grow to 9.9 million by 2030, we ask the legislature to ensure our public lands are well managed and safe to enjoy by maintaining funding at the existing level for each of the three land management agencies. 

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Restore Funding for Wildfire Resilience 

Request: Fully fund the Wildfire Response, Forest Restoration and Community Resilience Account 

In 2021, the Legislature passed HB 1168, committing $125 million each biennium over eight years to mitigate wildfires. That commitment to treating this growing crisis is working. To date, investments from the Wildfire Response, Forest Restoration, and Community Resilience Account have treated 90,000 acres of forests, expanded firefighter capacity. These investments have also supported 178 local organizations in community-led resilience projects. 
 
A $60 million cut in the 2025–2027 state budget threatens to reverse hard-won progress. Without the funding outlined by the 2021 commitment, agency efforts stall, community grants vanish, and the momentum built under HB 1168 erodes. Funding for wildlife prevention is the most cost-effective path forward.  

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Preventing Ecotoxicity by Removing 6PPD From Tires

Support HB 2421 and SB 119 to prohibit the sale of tires containing 6PPD beginning in 2035. Establish a temporary per-tire fee as an incentive to adopt a substitute 

A chemical called 6PPD, used in car tires to prevent cracking, transforms into 6PPD-quinone (6PPD-Q) when exposed to ozone. While 6PPD is an important safety component of tires, 6PPD-Q is lethal to Coho salmon. It poses a serious threat to other aquatic species that are vital to Washington’s ecosystems, Tribal treaty rights, and both recreational and commercial fisheries. Studies have also detected 6PPD-Q in humans, with potential links to harmful health effects. Although awareness of these dangers is growing, tire manufacturers cannot stop using 6PPD without a safe and viable alternative. Clear market incentives or regulatory timelines are needed to support a timely transition to safer options.

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Recreation and Conservation Office | Community Forest Program Funding 

2026 request: $9 million for the Community Forest Grant program to fund three projects in the 2025-2027 Supplemental Capital Budget 

Community forests give local stakeholders a voice in the management of important working forest lands . They ensure they are protected forever, providing jobs, recreation, climate, and habitat benefits in the process. Since 2020, our state has become a leader in community forestry. This is thanks to a state grant program supporting this innovative model. 

During the 2025 full session, the legislature provided $6 million for two projects in the Community Forest Grant Program. However, eight important projects on the Recreation and Conservation Office’s ranked list for 2025-2027 remain unfunded. $9 million would fund the next three projects on the list. This would create the Carbon Canyon and Green Mountain Community Forests and expanding the Nisqually Community Forest. Each project provides our state with natural climate solutions while supporting rural jobs and spaces for public recreational access. Securing funding for at least five projects this biennium is critical for the proposed projects. It will maintain a strong baseline for future budgets, as well as more community forest projects.

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 2026 Priorities from Partner Organizations

Washington State Department of Natural Resources 2026 Legislative Agenda

Washington State Parks and Recreation 2026 Legislative Agenda

Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife 2026 Legislative Agenda

Ready to Take Action?

Sign up for a lobby day or contact your representatives to advocate for these important issues. Lobby days are easy ways to engage in the legislative process and support issues you care about. Together, we can ensure that Washington’s public lands, trails, and natural wonders continue to thrive for generations to come.

Upcoming Lobby Days:

• Parks and Great Outdoors Legislative Day (virtual) on January 27, 2026 – hosted by Washington Wildlife & Recreation Coalition and Washington Recreation & Park Association 
• Trout Unlimited lobby day (in Olympia), January 27, 2026, focusing on stopping the use of 6PPD in tires to protect salmon 
• Trust Land Transfer lobby day (in Olympia), January 28, 2026, hosted by Stewards of Washington State Lands 
• Restore Funding for Wildlife Resilience (in Olympia), January 29, 2026, hosted by the Nature Conservancy 
• WRIA 8 Salmon Day in Olympia, Wednesday, February 4, 2026 
• Arts, Heritage and Science Week (in Olympia) February 2-6, 2026 – hosted by Inspire Washington, Washington Museum Association, Washington State Historical Society, and ArtsWA 
• Bike lobby days (in Olympia) February 20 and 21, 2026, hosted by Washington Bikes 
• Transportation Choices Coalition 2026 agenda
• Environmental Priorities Coalition 2026 agenda: Environmental Priorities Coalition – Washington Conservation Action  
• The Nature Conservancy 2026 agenda

Want to support these important investments in public lands? Contact your state legislators and make your voice heard!