For years, Public Health in Washington State has been chronically underfunded due to its reliance on precarious funding sources tied to our state’s upside down tax code. In the last decade, clinics and services throughout the state have had to shut their doors due to deep cuts, which has impacted PROTEC17 members and jobs, as well as the communities they serve. 

In early 2024, funding in King County – the state’s largest public health network – reached a critical point where clinics that serve some of our most vulnerable neighbors were under threat of complete closure. At that time, PROTEC17 created and led a coalition of unions and community groups, under the moniker ‘Save Public Health’, to secure the funding needed to keep the clinics open through a temporary tie to funds at Harborview Medical Center.  

Knowing that this was not a permanent solution, PROTEC17 partnered with State Representative Janice Zahn (D-41) in 2025 to try to push through more firm funding during last year’s legislative session. While it didn’t go anywhere at that time, the bill set the stage for the 2026 session and a new bill, again sponsored by Zahn, that would give Counties the ability to increase property taxes in support of public health funds. 

As written, House Bill (HB) 1870 would provide a practical, locally driven solution by allowing counties greater flexibility in how public health clinic funding is structured and sustained, meeting on-the-ground needs without requiring new state appropriations. In working with Zahn to sponsor this bill, PROTEC17 aimed to strengthen long-term stability of clinics, protect jobs to ensure continuity of care, improve counties’ ability to respond quickly to emerging public health threats, and reduce reliance on emergency funds. 

While the bill moved through session, it became part of an omnibus funding package (HB 2442) under the sponsorship of State Respresentative April Burg (D-44) with a companion bill in the Senate sponsored by Sen Noel Frame (D-36) that addressed other critical funding shortcomings, and passed both the House and Senate. On March 25, Gov. Bob Ferguson signed the bill into law.  

Robin Ginnis, PROTEC17 King County Chapter President and a Social Worker at the Eastgate Public Health clinic said:

“Securing legislation to create new avenues for funding public health services is more than just a boon to the community – it is operationalizing our values. Public Health intentionally and dependably serves those who have the least options and most barriers. It is also a relief to our members who have been navigating tenuous local and federal landscapes. This gives us room to breathe and more confidently focus on honing foundational services and building programs that are responsive to changing community needs.”

PROTEC17 Executive Director Karen Estevenin praised members for all of their work to get this to the finish line: 

“Thank you to all of the PROTEC17 Public Health members who have contributed to this huge effort over the last many years! From signing petitions to testifying in the legislature, your solidarity and persistence has helped to create much needed stability in this crucial work.”