SB 5762 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Increasing the statewide 988 behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention line tax.

SB 5762 increases a tax on certain phone services - including radio access lines, VoIP, and switched access lines - to fund Washington's 988 behavioral health crisis hotline. The tax rate will gradually rise from 24 cents to 80 cents per line over time, with all proceeds deposited into a dedicated account for crisis services. Funds must support 988 hotline operations, mobile crisis response teams, and community-based mental health services, while prohibiting use for replacing existing mental health funding. The bill is currently under review in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Feb 26, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill → Substitute Bill · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to update the legislative session from 2025 to 2026 and renumbered as a substitute bill. The substantive policy content was completely replaced, shifting the focus from establishing a new tax on phone lines to funding 988 crisis hubs and updating response time requirements. The new version removes the tax on radio, VoIP, and switched access lines entirely, instead focusing on funding mechanisms and operational standards for crisis centers.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from imposing a statewide tax on telecommunications services to focusing on funding and operational requirements for 988 crisis contact hubs.

FISCAL

Removed the imposition of a tax on radio access lines, interconnected VoIP lines, and switched access lines.

REMOVED

Deleted the specific tax rates (24, 40, 60, and 80 cents) and the schedule for increasing these rates over time.

TIMELINE

Updated the legislative session from the 2025 Regular Session to the 2026 Regular Session.

Changed the deadline for establishing in-state call response rates from 2022 to 2026.

REQUIREMENT

Replaced tax collection provisions with requirements for the Department to adopt rules for designating crisis call centers and establish standards for 988 contact hubs.

Added requirements for data-sharing agreements between 988 contact hubs, the department, and regional partners to track call dispositions and dispatch times.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Feb 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 10:30 AM.

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.

upper

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.

upper

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors