Funding health care access by imposing an excise tax on the annual compensation paid to certain highly compensated hospital employees.

HB 1560 imposes a 7.5% tax on the portion of annual compensation exceeding 10 times the state's average wage for the five highest-paid hospital employees without direct patient care, plus the hospital's lead administrator if not included. It directly affects nonprofit hospitals in Washington that pay certain executives excessive compensation, as defined by the bill. The tax revenue will fund programs to improve healthcare access, particularly for vulnerable populations and reproductive care. The tax applies to compensation reported under state health reporting rules, beginning in 2027 for the 2026 tax year.