 March Updates
Governor Ferguson signs SHB 2475 on March 23, 2026. Office of Equity employees Carolyn Cole, Megan Matthews, & Patrick Stickney are also pictured in attendance.
The 2026 Legislative Session ended on March 12th. Near the end of March, Governor Ferguson invited community members and Immigration Subcabinet members to two bill signing ceremonies. These bills focus on immigration and help strengthen protections for people in Washington. These bills included:
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HB 6002 (driver privacy),
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HB 2411 (shared leave for workers affected by immigration detention),
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HB 2105 (protections for immigrant workers),
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SHB 2475 (language access),
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SB 5855 (limits law enforcement officers from covering their faces), and
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HB 2165: Prohibits the impersonation of a law enforcement officer.
Once signed, these laws will help people get services and protect the rights of Washington’s most vulnerable communities.
Representative Osman Salahuddin, the primary sponsor of HB 2411, makes some remarks at the March 30th, 2026, bill signing. Governor Ferguson signed HB 6002, HB 2411, & HB 210 on this day.
 Agency Standards Subcommittee
The Agency Standards Subcommittee recently submitted a draft to support the Keep Washington Working Act model policy. This was submitted to the Office of Financial Management and the Attorney General’s Office for review. The model policy will be used as a standard template for state agencies. The purpose of the policy is to clearly define legal requirements and agency roles/responsibilities.
The Subcabinet and agency designees will have an opportunity to review the model policies and provide feedback before they are finalized and shared broadly. Agency designees will be asked to help lead the implementation of the model policies in their agencies. The goal for May’s Subcabinet meeting is to share the draft Keep Washington Working Act model policy.
Language access was one of the top themes that community members identified in the listening sessions and surveys conducted by the Subcabinet and community subcommittees. To help the State’s language access efforts, the subcommittee is exploring how the Subcabinet can inform and support implementation of SHB 2475, which was signed into law this year. SHB 2475 requires the Office of Equity to create guidelines for more consistent language access efforts across state agencies and develop a proposal for addressing the interpreter and translator shortage in the state.
 Budget Subcommittee
This subcommittee has finalized its membership. This membership includes four representatives from state agencies, three community partners, and representatives from three different BRGs. Several staff from Office of Financial Management are also supporting the group. The focus for 2026 is to improve transparency and accessibility in the state government budget process.
The subcommittee will consult with OFM legal counsel regarding questions that have come up about establishing and using a theme code.
 Communications Subcommittee
This month the Communication Subcommittee moved forward with a document on how communication channels are used across the enterprise. The document was shared with all cabinet agencies and their communications teams. It will also be used to help onboard new communications professionals as they join state service. This will help establish a shared approach to communications channel usage. The subcommittee will check back in three months to see how the document is working. The team is also working to develop additional response messaging in between the monthly newsletters.
 Data Subcommittee
The Data Subcommittee has identified and prioritized several actions. They can act on these now, without waiting for new laws or funding. The team is developing guidance for agencies, with accountability measures. This is to protect state data and reduce risk to community members. The subcommittee is also looking for ways to work with other agency subcommittees. In addition, it is creating a plan for plain language notices about how data is used and shared.
 Disability Community Subcommittee
To inform next legislative session, the Disability Community Subcommittee created a survey. This survey gathers input about topics important to the Disability Community. The data collected will guide the priorities and direction of the Subcabinet. The survey will be especially useful as a tool to provide input if participants cannot attend meetings. The subcommittee leads are discussing ways to increase subcommittee membership.
 LGBTQ+ Community Subcommittee
The LGBTQ+ Community Subcommittee is meeting regularly. In the last meeting information was collected about LGBTQ and immigrant rights. Subcommittee members will use the data to host local listening sessions throughout the state. The subcommittee wants to keep the community safe and provide space for them to share issues without fear. Once the data is collected, the subcommittee will forward to the Legislature and the Governor.
 Policy Subcommittee
Now that the legislative session is over, the Policy Subcommittee is reviewing bills that did not pass in this legislative session. The subcommittee is working with the three community subcommittees to see which topics can be used for the next legislative session. It is also coordinating with other agencies on how to respond to new federal rules on immigration.
 Meet the Immigration Subcabinet
For this month’s newsletter we would like to give you a glimpse of the people doing the work on the Immigration Subcabinet. The Immigration Subcabinet brings together leaders whose lives and work reflect the diversity of Washington’s immigrant communities. Members include immigrants, refugees, and first-generation Americans who have built careers in public service, community organizing, nonprofit leadership, and local government. Many are also Washington State employees who bring critical perspective from their lived experiences. This helps ensure that policies and programs are informed by the realities immigrant communities face.
Who is Brimo?
My name is Brimo Nyinkuany. I am originally from South Sudan and a long-term resident of Spokane, Washington. I speak and write Swahili, Arabic, and Dinka. This helps me communicate with diverse refugee and immigrant communities. I am the Founder and Director of United Society Against Climate Melatonin, a nonprofit that supports and educates refugees and immigrants. Our work includes addressing issues such as bullying of refugee youth in schools and public spaces.
Why is Brimo a part of the Immigration Subcabinet?
I became interested in joining the Statewide Immigration Subcabinet because of my long-term experience working with refugees, immigrant communities, and humanitarian agencies. I currently serve on the board of Greater Spokane Action, a network of over 40 organizations supporting refugees. I also participate in the Immigrant Coalition led by the Spokane Mayor. I hope to bring community voices and lived experience to help strengthen statewide policies and support systems for immigrants and refugees.
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 Resources
Want to share resources with us? Submit through the Share Your Resources! link or email subcabinet@equity.wa.gov.
If you have experienced or witnessed a hate crime or bias incident, we encourage you to report it here.
Look through WA for All’s Refugee and Immigrant Resources page for health care resources, cultural centers, and response teams. Washington’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs (CHA) has put together a Rapid Response Hub for use. We also uplift the Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) and their work with the Family Separation Rapid Response Team.
If you are a Washington state employee needing support, we encourage you to reach out to the Employee Assistance Program. We also encourage you to get plugged into the Washington Immigrant Network, a Business Resource Group for state employees who are immigrants.
 Join the Journey
We’re thrilled to begin this work with you and to share updates through this newsletter as the Subcabinet’s efforts unfold.
- We ask that you encourage those who may be interested in receiving updates to sign up for the Subcabinet Support Newsletter. Subscribe to Office of Equity email updates.
- You can reach the Subcabinet by emailing us at subcabinet@equity.wa.gov.
Together, we’re turning commitment into action. We’re building systems rooted in dignity, trust, and equity for all.
Need translation of Office of Equity materials? Email access@equity.wa.gov
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