Puget Soundkeeper is proud to announce its 2026 State Legislative Agenda for a vibrant, healthy Puget Sound.
State lawmakers are returning to Olympia on January 12th for a fast-moving short session, meaning critical decisions about clean water, salmon, orcas, and pollution prevention will be made within just a few weeks.
Our 2026 State Legislative Agenda presents strategic opportunities for the Washington legislature to advance our vision of a Puget Sound where clean water sustains vibrant ecosystems and fosters equitable, thriving communities.
Puget Soundkeeper’s team in Olympia is focused on passing legislation that would:
- Declare an annual “Puget Sound and the Salish Sea Day” to celebrate environmental progress throughout the Sound, the maritime communities who depend on the Sound, all the creatures who call it home, and our own commitment to protecting the Sound for generations to come
- Prevent PPDs, toxic chemicals found in tires that are extraordinarily lethal to coho salmon and several other species of salmonids, from entering our environment and waterways
- Provide tools that will help the Washington Attorney General hold polluters accountable
- Require the use of low-sulfur fuels by ships, which will reduce the amount of toxic heavy metal pollution entering our waterways
- Pass litter reduction legislation, including the Bottle and Cans Refund Act, or the ‘Bottle Bill,’ which will help incentivize bottle recycling
- Designate the sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus), which can be found in Puget Sound, as the official state shark of Washington
Click the link below to read our full 2026 State Legislative Agenda and take action today!
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With budget pressures and limited time, it’s critical that legislators hear from people who care about the Sound ASAP. Take 2 minutes today to tell your state legislators to prioritize Puget Sound in the 2026 session!