SB 6325 aims to fix Washington's higher education funding system by ending the "fund split" methodology, which forces public colleges and universities to use tuition revenue to cover mandatory costs like faculty raises and benefits instead of state funds. This change would restore state funding for these costs, allowing institutions to use tuition revenue to improve educational quality rather than cover fixed expenses. The bill also requires a study by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to define essential student services (like academic support, mental health resources, and career counseling) and determine the per-student cost needed to provide them. This study, due by June 2027, will create a "student service adequacy index" to guide future budget decisions. The bill directly affects public four-year colleges, community colleges, and students through improved program access and faculty stability.
This bill allows public hospital districts in Washington to form cooperative agreements without competing with each other, enabling shared services, combined equipment purchases, and joint contracts to support their public mission. It specifically amends laws to permit these arrangements for serving vulnerable populations, including low-income and uninsured patients. Additionally, the bill creates a new $0.75 annual assessment per insurance coverage month for insurers, with penalties for late payment, to fund public hospital infrastructure. The policy directly affects public hospital districts, publicly owned health care entities, and health insurers in Washington.
SB 6138 requires that dental procedures involving deep sedation or analgesia must be performed using a "multiprovider system," meaning two distinct licensed professionals: one dentist performing the dental work and another licensed health care provider solely responsible for administering and monitoring the sedation. This directly affects dentists who perform sedated procedures and the sedation providers (such as anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists) who must work under this specific role separation. The bill amends Washington’s dental regulations to mandate this dual-provider requirement, ensuring the sedation provider is licensed and focused exclusively on patient monitoring during the procedure. It does not apply to routine dental work without sedation.
HB 2425 clarifies when registered nurses in Washington can delegate tasks to certified nursing assistants or home care aides. It allows delegation of "simple care tasks" like blood pressure monitoring or insulin device setup in community-based or in-home settings, but prohibits delegation of medication administration (except specific insulin monitoring), sterile procedures, or tasks requiring nursing judgment. Nurses must verify staff competency, evaluate patient stability, and supervise delegated tasks, with strict limits on what can be delegated based on patient condition. The bill applies directly to nurses, nursing assistants under Chapter 18.88A, and home care aides under Chapter 18.88B in non-acute care settings.
HB 2412 amends state law to add one additional superior court judge in Yakima County, increasing the total from eight to nine judges. This change directly affects Yakima County's court system by expanding judicial capacity to handle case loads. The bill modifies existing statute (RCW 2.08.063) to update the authorized number of judges for Yakima County. The measure is procedural, adjusting judicial staffing levels without creating new legal requirements.
HB 2437 allows Washington's Department of Health to establish fees for accrediting opioid treatment programs, which must cover the department's costs for this service. The bill directs the department to set initial and renewal fees after gaining federal approval to accredit such programs under federal rules (42 C.F.R. Part 8). These fees will be used to offset expenses, with the department permitted to draw from opioid abatement settlement funds to cover costs. The bill directly affects opioid treatment programs seeking federal accreditation and the department managing the process.
HB 2267 requires Washington's Department of Commerce to create voluntary model ordinances for local governments to manage urban tree canopy. It directs cities and counties to prioritize avoiding tree removal (especially for single-family homes), minimizing impacts when removal is needed, and compensating through replanting or tree banks for larger developments (two+ homes). The model includes incentives like density bonuses, reduced parking requirements, or lower lot size rules to encourage developers to retain trees without limiting housing. Local governments can choose to adopt these models, which also provide guidance on scientific tree selection, cost estimates for maintenance, and measuring benefits like stormwater reduction. The bill does not mandate adoption but aims to standardize tree protection while balancing development needs.
HB 2566 requires Washington counties to use competitive bidding for most local government purchases of supplies, equipment, and public works projects (excluding county hospitals, road funds, and equipment rentals). It sets a $40,000 threshold where simplified bidding may apply for smaller public works contracts and mandates clear advertising, written specifications, and bid deposits for larger projects. The bill limits counties to having public employees perform no more than 10% of annual public works construction (excluding emergencies) and establishes rules for "unit priced contracts" for recurring work like maintenance. These changes aim to standardize procurement processes while providing limited flexibility for small projects and recurring maintenance needs.
This bill requires all public Washington universities to provide medication abortion access through student health centers by the 2027-28 academic year, or offer referral services if they lack a health center. It mandates three specific pathways: connecting students to reproductive health programs, partnering with safety-net abortion providers for telehealth, or using other cost-effective methods. Additionally, all institutions must create a dedicated webpage with clear resources for reproductive health services, including appointment scheduling, academic accommodations, and direct links to state abortion care information. The law directly affects over 196,000 college students at Washington's public institutions who face significant travel and wait-time barriers to abortion care.
HB 2159 creates a dedicated "preK promise account" managed by the state treasurer to fund Washington's state-funded early childhood education programs. The account receives and tracks donations, grants, and gifts separately from each source, and funds can only be used for eligible children in the existing early childhood education program (RCW 43.216.510). Unlike typical state funds, this account does not require annual appropriations for spending, and any leftover funds accumulate rather than returning to the general fund. The bill directly affects early childhood education programs and the children they serve, establishing a new funding mechanism for these services.
HB 2135 extends and modifies a tax exemption for disabled veterans who use federal grants to adapt their homes. It raises the maximum tax refund per project from $2,500 to $5,000 and increases the annual state funding cap from $125,000 to $250,000, with future adjustments tied to Seattle-area inflation starting in 2028. The bill applies exclusively to veterans who received U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs grants for specially adapted housing or special housing adaptations. It expires on January 1, 2039, and requires the state to track usage to ensure funds stay within annual limits.
HB 2141 freezes new building code updates for 10 years after the 2024 adoption cycle, preventing the state council from initiating or implementing further code editions until 2034. After 2036, substantive code updates would occur no more than every six years, rather than the previous three-year cycle. The bill directly affects the State Building Code Council, local governments implementing codes, and construction professionals by altering the timeline for adopting new safety and accessibility standards. Key provisions include prohibiting local code amendments during the freeze period and requiring emergency code changes only for public health/safety emergencies or federal compliance.
