Washington Bills

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1849: Expanding the drugs eligible for the unexpired prescription drug donation program.

HB 1849 expands Washington's unexpired prescription drug donation program by removing the requirement that donated drugs must have more than six months until expiration. This change allows pharmacies to accept a wider range of eligible drugs, directly affecting donors (like patients or healthcare providers), pharmacies participating in the program, and individuals receiving donated medications. Key provisions include updated safety checks by pharmacists, mandatory recall notifications for all parties involved, a prohibition on reselling donated drugs, and clarification that donated drugs cannot be reimbursed by health insurers. The bill aims to increase access to unused medications while maintaining safety standards through revised expiration timing and enhanced recall protocols.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1168: Increasing transparency in artificial intelligence.

HB 1168 requires commercial developers of generative AI systems (like text or image tools) to publicly document the data used to train their systems by January 1, 2026. This includes disclosing sources, types, and handling of training data - such as whether personal information or artificially created data was used - before releasing the AI to Washington users. Developers must post this documentation on their websites, with exemptions for AI focused solely on security, aircraft operations, or national defense. Violations carry $5,000 daily fines enforceable by the state attorney general, aiming to increase public awareness of AI development practices.

Topics ✓ Technology

passed · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1230: Requiring that experience-rated group disability income insurers include all applicable rating factors and credibility formulas in rate manual filings with the insurance commissioner.

House Bill 1230 requires experience-rated group disability income insurers in Washington state to include all applicable rating factors and credibility formulas when they file their rate manuals with the Insurance Commissioner. These filings must be detailed enough to allow the Commissioner to confirm if a group is credible and to replicate the premium rates for that group based on its experience and demographics. This bill aims to provide greater transparency and oversight for how these specific disability insurance rates are calculated.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5479: Providing tax relief for certain incidental uses on open space land.

SB 5479 clarifies that certain incidental uses - like wetlands preservation - on agricultural land do not disqualify the land from tax relief, as long as these uses don’t exceed 20% of the classified land. It affects Washington farmers and landowners who qualify as "farm and agricultural land" under existing tax classification rules. The bill amends definitions to explicitly include compatible incidental activities (e.g., habitat protection) alongside farming operations, ensuring these uses don’t trigger higher property taxes. This change prevents unintended tax increases for landowners maintaining conservation practices integral to farming. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1521: Supporting caregivers who provide complex care services to children with heightened medical needs.

This bill requires Washington's health authority to pay home health agencies for complex medical care provided by family caregivers to children under 18 with significant medical needs. It mandates that caregivers (parents, guardians, or close family) complete 75 hours of training from an accredited agency, receive care supervision from a registered nurse, and work for a licensed home health agency. The program, effective September 2026, limits eligibility to the child's income only (not household income), prohibits caregivers from repaying training costs, and requires a 2029 report on the program's effectiveness. It covers specific medical tasks like medication administration, tracheostomy care, and feeding support provided under nursing supervision.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5216: Concerning green energy community funds to support school districts and nonprofit organizations that service the communities where renewable energy projects are located.

SB 5216 creates a program requiring renewable energy companies (wind/solar projects) to contribute 75% of their eligible tax credits to local school districts or community nonprofits where projects are located. This directly affects qualifying energy businesses and the communities hosting new renewable projects, with contributions due by October 1 each year. Key provisions include a $5 million statewide annual cap on contributions and a $250,000 annual limit per company, with credits available only for projects built after the bill’s effective date through 2034. The program expires December 31, 2036, ensuring local communities benefit from tax revenues generated by nearby renewable energy facilities.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5481: Providing access to behavioral health services to children using licensed clinicians colocated within the school.

SB 5481 requires Washington state managed care organizations to reimburse schools for behavioral health services provided by licensed clinicians directly within school settings to Medicaid-enrolled students. This applies even if the service provider is not part of the managed care organization's network, unless equivalent in-network services are already available at the school. The bill aims to address barriers like transportation and stigma by making these services more accessible, particularly for children in rural or underserved communities. It updates state law (chapter 71.24 RCW) to mandate this reimbursement structure for school-based care.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

passed · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5178: Protecting public health and safety by regulating the transfer of sodium nitrite.

Senate Bill 5178 regulates the sale and transfer of sodium nitrite to protect public health and safety. The bill restricts the sale of products containing over 10% sodium nitrite to only verified commercial businesses, which must provide an employer identification number for purchase. It also mandates specific warning labels, including a skull and crossbones symbol and a clear statement about the dangers of ingestion, on product packaging, advertising, and shipping materials. These measures aim to limit general public access to concentrated sodium nitrite.

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1458: Reducing embodied carbon emissions of buildings and building materials.

HB 1458 requires large new construction, additions, and renovations (50,000+ square feet) to reduce embodied carbon emissions from building materials. It offers three compliance paths: reusing 45% of existing structures, demonstrating a 90% reduction in emissions for covered materials, or conducting a whole-building life-cycle assessment. Projects must report data through a public database managed by the Department of Commerce, including material choices and compliance methods. The law applies to all covered projects under the International Building Code and mandates verification by licensed design professionals.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1125: Providing judicial discretion to modify sentences in the interest of justice.

HB 1125 allows judges to modify lengthy prison sentences in Washington state when a person's original sentence no longer serves justice. It directly affects incarcerated individuals who meet specific criteria, such as having served 7+ years for an offense committed as a juvenile (starting July 2026), 10+ years for offenses committed as young adults (starting July 2031), or having a terminal illness. The bill requires petitioners to show rehabilitation or low recidivism risk, and courts may only reduce sentences (not increase them), must maintain mandatory minimums, and mandate a 6-month minimum wait after a hearing before release. The law also requires new sentences to include five years of community supervision.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Tarra Simmons (D) · 35 co-sponsors

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5119: Concerning collective bargaining for certain employees who are enrolled in academic programs at public institutions of higher education.

SB 5119 expands collective bargaining rights to student-employees enrolled in academic or certificate programs at Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Western Washington University, and The Evergreen State College. It allows these employees to collectively bargain over specific workplace issues like compensation and tuition remission waivers, but excludes topics such as tuition rates, academic calendars, class sizes, and termination for academic reasons. The bill specifies that bargaining units must cover only one institution and cannot include employees already covered under other state labor laws. This legislation directly affects student-employees working at these four public universities who are simultaneously enrolled in academic programs.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1893: Concerning the establishment of liability standards for superior, district, and municipal court judges.

HB 1893 creates a new legal right for victims injured by individuals released before trial to sue judges who failed to properly assess public safety risks related to violent offenses. The bill requires judges to conduct written risk assessments analyzing the defendant’s violent history, potential victims, and alternatives to pretrial detention before releasing someone charged with a violent offense. It removes judicial immunity for such cases, making judges personally liable for damages if they recklessly ignored public harm risks, though the state may still cover defense costs unless the judge intentionally disregarded risks. The law directly affects victims of violence, judges making pretrial release decisions, and state/local governments handling legal defense costs. It applies only to cases arising after the bill’s effective date.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill results