SB 6296 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning involuntary treatment.

SB 6296 amends Washington's involuntary treatment laws to require courts to review a person's criminal history, treatment records, and firearms data before approving outpatient treatment orders. It lowers the evidence standard from "clear, cogent, and convincing" to a "preponderance of the evidence" for determining eligibility for assisted outpatient treatment. The bill allows specific providers (like hospital directors, crisis responders, or emergency physicians) to petition for treatment, with orders lasting up to 18 months, and mandates courts to consider outpatient care as the least restrictive option. This directly affects individuals with behavioral health disorders who may face involuntary outpatient treatment instead of hospitalization.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Feb 6, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill → Substitute Bill · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Washington's involuntary treatment laws to expand protections for peace officers and law enforcement by allowing them to decline assistance in detentions if using force would cause greater harm than the risk posed by the individual. It also updates terminology to refer to 'adolescents' rather than 'minors' in certain contexts and clarifies the legal process for surrendering firearms upon release from commitment.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of protections for law enforcement officers involved in involuntary treatment detentions and clarifies the applicability of certain provisions to adolescents and individuals with pending criminal charges.

REQUIREMENT

Added a 'rare circumstances' exception allowing peace officers and law enforcement to decline assistance in detentions if documented evidence shows the force required would cause greater harm than the risk posed by the individual's condition.

Required officers who decline assistance to file a report with the authority and the region's behavioral health administrative services organization.

Revised the definition of 'intimate partner' to remove the specific exclusion regarding children conceived through sexual assault.

DEFINITION

Changed the term 'minor' to 'adolescent' in specific sections regarding assisted outpatient treatment and juvenile proceedings.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded the definition of who may receive information disclosure to include individuals detained under both Chapter 71.05 and 71.34 RCW when subject to pending criminal charges.

TIMELINE

Adjusted effective dates and expiration dates for various sections of the act, with some provisions now expiring on June 30, 2027, and others taking effect on June 30, 2027.

ENFORCEMENT

Changed enforcement language from 'shall take enforcement action' to 'may take enforcement action' regarding hospitals that fail to summon designated crisis responders.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

Referred to Ways & Means.

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Committee

And refer to Ways & Means.

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 8:30 AM.

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor