Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The 2026 Legislative Session is officially underway, and we have already begun work in our committees, hearing public testimony on bills and meeting with constituents. In this newsletter, I want to share some highlights from the first week and some thoughts on what this upcoming session holds for us all. 
To start, the Opening Day of session was particularly special this year. I was proud to nominate Pastor Shannon Thomas of This Rock Church in Bremerton to offer the Opening Day prayer.
In addition to being an excellent representation of our district, he and I also share a lived experience as formerly incarcerated community members. Since being released from prison in 2011, Pastor Thomas has built a powerful story of redemption. He and his wife, Amanda Thomas, are deeply committed to serving our community and started their own church just two years ago. I’ve known them for decades, and they played a meaningful role in my own success and service by supporting me during my reentry. I’m deeply grateful they joined us to offer the Opening Day prayer, alongside several members of This Rock Church.
Moments like this ground me in why I’m here: to serve, to lead with love, and to fight every day for the people and communities who too often get left out of the process. This was a special blessing — and a confirmation that everyone in welcomed in this space no matter where they come from.
Legislative Priority Highlight: Health Care
This session, I am continuing to build on the work I have done, supported by community, to improve health care access and affordability for all Washingtonians. These include:
🩺 Requiring insurance carriers cover treatment for pediatric disorders: House Bill 2196 mandates health care providers cover IVIG treatments for PANDAS/PANS pediatric disorders, ensuring Washington’s children can get the recommended care they deserve without sending their families into debt or forcing them to seek health care away from their home.
🩺 Maintaining a stable health care system: House Bill 2106 requires health insurance carriers to give enough notice to providers and health care facilities about significant contract changes, protecting patients from unexpected changes in coverage and maintaining the stability of our health care system.
🩺 Improving healthcare in jails: House Bill 1743 creates more opportunities for community-based health care providers to provide services inside jails, improving outcomes for our incarcerated community members and helping counties save money.
Finally, I am deeply honored to share I received the Behavioral Health Champion award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness – Washington. It recognizes my work to pass HB 1432 last year, a truly transformational bill that helps ensure parity in insurance coverage for behavioral health conditions.
Behavioral health is health. And Washingtonians deserve coverage that treats mental health and substance use care with the same seriousness as physical health.
I’m proud of what we accomplished, grateful to everyone who shared their stories and helped move this forward, and I’ll keep fighting to make sure people can actually access the care they need — when they need it. Thank you to NAMI for this wonderful honor.
Looking Ahead
We are facing some significant challenges: a $2-3 billion budget deficit, a cost-of-living crisis in our communities, and instability from the federal government. We will have to make some difficult decisions, but with your help and perspectives, I will continue to fight to preserve life, health, and shelter for our community and Washingtonians all over the state.
Sincerely,
Rep. Tarra Simmons