The 2026 Washington Legislative Session began this week and we are already hard at work advocating for stronger protections for animals across our state. This year is a shorter 60 day session and things will move quickly. There are several bills below that need your support now to keep them moving forward. Share your voice here and take meaningful action to help protect animals!
ADDRESSING LARGE-SCALE SYSTEMS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY
HB 1904 – Ban on Declawing Cats: would protect cats statewide by prohibiting the painful and unnecessary practice of declawing, while allowing an exemption when a veterinarian deems the procedure medically necessary to protect a cat’s health.
HB 1608 – Banning the Sale of Farmed Octopus: would prohibit the sale, possession, transport and distribution of farmed octopus products in Washington state, ensuring this inhumane and environmentally harmful industry never takes root in our state.
HB 1735 – Prohibiting Force-Feeding Birds: would prohibit the cruel practice of force-feeding of birds to produce foie gras and ban the sale, possession, transport, and distribution of products produced through that process.
KEEPING PETS & PEOPLE TOGETHER
HB 2247 – Expanding Vet Telehealth Access: would expand access to timely veterinary care by allowing veterinarians to diagnose and treat animals they have not previously examined through virtual appointments, ensuring animals can receive needed care when in-person visits are not immediately possible, when clients face significant transportation barriers, or when delays for urgent conditions would cause unnecessary suffering.
HB 1078 – Pet Insurance Cancel & Nonrenewal Restrictions: would strengthen pet insurance protections by limiting insurers’ ability to cancel or refuse to renew coverage based on a pet’s age or health conditions, restricting waiting periods, and ensuring fairer terms for pet owners so more pets can get the care they need.
See all bills and track their progess here!
As this session moves quickly, your support is crucial for ensuring these bills progress on behalf of animals. Whether you share your voice or donate to support all of our lifesaving work, you are making our legislative advocacy possible and helping us push lifesaving, pro-animal legislation forward in 2026.
We will keep you updated on ways you can support these efforts throughout this session and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
