SB 5226 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Establishing funding for physician residency positions dedicated to international medical graduates.

SB 5226 establishes a state grant program to fund physician residency positions specifically for international medical graduates (IMGs) in Washington. It requires at least 75% of funded slots in approved specialties (like family medicine, pediatrics, and psychiatry) to be filled by IMGs, with programs needing a national residency matching program waiver and accreditation. Residency programs receiving funds must report demographic data and usage details annually, and the program expires on July 1, 2032. This directly affects Washington state residency programs and IMGs seeking U.S. medical training opportunities.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare ✓ Immigration

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Jan 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill → Substitute Bill · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to reflect its progression from a Senate Bill to a Substitute Bill, updating the bill number and sponsor attribution. The most significant substantive change is the extension of the funding deadline from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2027, providing a longer window for the legislature to appropriate necessary funds before the act becomes null and void.

Scope change

The scope of the bill's applicability remains unchanged; it still establishes a grant program for residency positions dedicated to international medical graduates in Washington state.

TIMELINE

The deadline for specific funding appropriation was extended from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2027, delaying the potential nullification of the act if funds are not secured.

The reading date was updated from January 13, 2025, to February 12, 2025, reflecting the bill's movement through the legislative process.

TECHNICAL

The bill header was updated to reflect the new bill number (S-0581.1) and the sponsor was formally attributed to the Senate Health & Long-Term Care committee.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Referred to Ways & Means.

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

And refer to Ways & Means.

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 10:30 AM.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 8:00 AM.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 8:00 AM.

upper

1 primary · 5 co-sponsors