SB 5351 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Ensuring patient choice and access to care by prohibiting unfair and deceptive dental insurance practices.

Senate Bill 5351 aims to ensure patient choice and access to dental care by regulating dental insurance practices. It prohibits dental-only plans from denying coverage solely because multiple procedures were performed on the same day, while still allowing denials for reasons like fraud or medical necessity. The bill also requires dental insurers to offer providers a fee-free alternative if they pay claims using credit cards. Additionally, it mandates annual public reporting of dental-only plan financial data and establishes a collaborative forum to study dental loss ratios and provider payment rates, with recommendations due by June 2026.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Signed May 12, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute Bill → Substitute Passed Legislature · 3 edits

MINOR

The document was updated from a draft 'Substitute Bill' to the final 'Substitute Passed Legislature' version, adding official certification of passage by both the Senate and House of Representatives. This change formalizes the bill's legal status, confirming it has successfully completed the legislative process and is now ready for the Governor's signature or other final steps.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a formal certificate of enrollment signed by the Secretary of the Senate, certifying that the bill passed both chambers on specific dates with unanimous votes.

TECHNICAL

Included the title of the presiding officers (President of the Senate and Speaker of the House) and the official filing status as 'Passed Legislature'.

Removed the draft bill number 'S-1819.1' and the draft header, replacing them with the official enacted title and session details.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 10, 2025 · House Apr 11, 2025

How they voted

51–0

Passed

Total votes 51

Mar 10, 2025

D Democratic31

31 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

20 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 12, 2025

Vetoed

Governor partially vetoed.

executive

Apr 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Apr 16, 2025

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Apr 11, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (96-0-4)

house

Apr 8, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Apr 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

APP - Majority; do pass.

lower

Apr 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM.

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 1:30 PM.

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to Appropriations.

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

HCW - Majority; do pass.

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 1:30 PM.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 1:30 PM.

lower

Mar 10, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (51-0)

senate

Feb 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Feb 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 8:00 AM.

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

1 primary · 14 co-sponsors