Healthcare

signed · Washington · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 2548: Strengthening health care market standards.

HB 2548 amends Washington state law to require 60-day advance notice to the Attorney General for significant healthcare entity transactions. It directly affects hospitals, hospital systems, and provider organizations (like physician groups or accountable care organizations) when they plan mergers, acquisitions, or changes in ownership structure. The bill mandates this notice for transactions involving entities generating $10 million+ in Washington patient revenue, or for conversions from nonprofit to for-profit status. This procedural requirement aims to increase transparency before major market shifts, without altering healthcare coverage or costs. The bill is currently pending in committee after failing to pass in the House.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates transparency for healthcare mergers to prevent anti-competitive practices, directly strengthening market standards as stated in title and summary.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Washington · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 2360: Expanding access to albuterol in public and private schools.

HB 2360 allows Washington public and private schools to maintain a stock supply of albuterol (a medication for asthma symptoms) for student use, without requiring individual prescriptions for each instance. Schools must obtain a prescription and standing order from a health professional, and only school nurses or trained staff can administer it according to existing asthma management protocols. The bill protects school staff from liability when following proper procedures and gives employees the option to decline managing albuterol without job penalties. It does not change current rules for students who already have personal albuterol prescriptions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands student access to asthma medication via school stockpiles and standing orders, improving emergency care access without individual prescriptions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Washington · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 2475: Concerning language accessible public programs, activities, and services conducted, operated, or administered by state agencies.

HB 2475 requires Washington state agencies to provide language-accessible public programs, activities, and services in individuals' primary languages (including sign language) across all communication methods. It directly affects non-English speakers, particularly those with limited English proficiency, by mandating consistent service delivery for state benefits, health care, emergency response, and other programs. The bill requires the state office of equity to develop uniform guidelines by December 2027, address interpreter shortages for less common languages, and update guidelines every three years. This law clarifies existing language access obligations under state law without creating new rights or expanding protected classes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates language access for health care services, improving access for non-English speakers in state health programs per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationMandates language-accessible state services for non-English speakers, including immigrants with limited English proficiency, enhancing access to benefits and healthcare.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Washington · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 2385: Concerning the medicaid access program.

HB 2385 creates a Medicaid Access Program requiring Washington State to increase reimbursement rates for specific medical services (like anesthesia, surgery, behavioral health, and maternal care) that are currently paid at or below Medicare rates. These rates must be raised uniformly to match Medicare rates from the prior year, using funds collected in a dedicated account, and adjusted annually using the Medicare Economic Index after federal approval is secured. The bill mandates a study starting in 2032 to evaluate if these rate increases improve Medicaid access, tracking metrics like provider participation and patient access surveys. It also sets a 2032 deadline for federal approval, after which the program expires if approval isn't granted.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates increased state funding for Medicaid services by requiring uniform reimbursement rate hikes to Medicare levels using dedicated funds.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases Medicaid reimbursement rates to Medicare levels for key services (anesthesia, surgery, behavioral health, maternal care), improving provider access and patient care through enhanced funding.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Washington · House Mar 23, 2026

HB 1634: Providing school districts and public schools with assistance to coordinate comprehensive behavioral health supports for students.

HB 1634 establishes regional school safety centers in Washington state to help public school districts coordinate behavioral health support for students. The centers will provide training for school staff on suicide prevention, facilitate partnerships between schools and community health providers, offer Medicaid billing assistance, and support school-based threat assessment programs. This bill directly affects all public school districts, their staff (including counselors and psychologists), and students needing behavioral health services by improving access to existing resources through coordinated planning. It amends state law to require these centers to work with tribes and community partners to ensure culturally responsive support. The bill focuses on strengthening existing systems rather than creating new programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes regional centers for school behavioral health support, training, and partnerships - directly strengthening student mental health services in schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes regional centers to coordinate student behavioral health services, including suicide prevention training, Medicaid billing assistance, and school-community health partnerships, directly advancing mental health support in schools.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 14, 2026

SB 5917: Improving access to abortion medications.

SB 5917 authorizes Washington's Department of Health to operate a program distributing abortion medications (like mifepristone and misoprostol) to healthcare providers and entities offering reproductive health care, including abortion services. The bill requires medications to be sold at cost - capped at list price plus a $5 fee per dose for secure storage and delivery - and prioritizes bulk distribution to clinics and hospitals. It exempts the state from needing a wholesaler's license for this program under existing law and mandates that medications only be used for reproductive health care. The policy directly affects healthcare providers and facilities that offer abortion or pregnancy-related care in Washington State.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes state program to distribute abortion meds at cost, prioritizing clinics to improve access to reproductive healthcare services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

passed · Washington · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2196: Expanding access to PANDAS PANS treatment.

This bill requires most health insurance plans (excluding public employee plans) to cover intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for children diagnosed with PANDAS (pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections) or PANS (pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome) starting January 2027. It mandates coverage for three initial monthly treatment courses and ongoing care as medically necessary, after less intensive treatments fail or aren't tolerated. The law prohibits insurers from denying coverage based on prior treatment history, diagnostic name changes, requiring ineffective symptom-only therapies first, or restricting coverage inconsistent with medical guidelines. It also ensures coverage for out-of-state treatment when local care isn't available.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for PANDAS/PANS treatment, expanding patient access to necessary medical care per bill's explicit requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

Track

passed · Washington · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 1574: Protecting access to life-saving care and substance use services.

HB 1574 expands "Good Samaritan" protections for individuals seeking or experiencing medical assistance during a drug-related overdose. The bill prevents these individuals from being arrested, charged, or prosecuted for drug possession if the evidence was obtained due to the overdose. It also protects them from civil forfeiture of property (with exceptions) and penalties for certain violations, such as probation or restraining orders, if these were discovered as a result of the overdose. Furthermore, it clarifies that these overdose protections can override mandatory arrest requirements for other offenses when the evidence is linked to the overdose and the need for medical assistance.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents criminal prosecution for drug possession during overdose response, aligning with criminal justice reform by reducing barriers to seeking medical help and protecting civil rights.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands access to life-saving care by removing legal barriers for overdose assistance, protecting patient rights during substance use treatment, aligning with healthcare access and protection indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

Track

signed · Washington · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 2492: Requiring state registered apprenticeships in the building and construction trades to provide behavioral health and wellness training.

HB 2492 requires state-registered plumbing apprenticeships in Washington to include four hours of approved behavioral health and wellness training as part of their continuing education requirements. This applies directly to apprentices in the plumbing construction trade who need to maintain their certification. The training must cover topics like destigmatizing mental health, recognizing distress, suicide prevention, substance use awareness, and connecting to resources. It modifies existing certification rules (RCW 18.106.070) to allow these hours to count toward the required 24 hours of annual continuing education. The bill does not create new licensing standards but integrates mental health support into existing apprenticeship training.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates 4 hours of behavioral health training covering mental health destigmatization, suicide prevention, and resource access for apprentices, directly advancing mental health services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare

signed · Washington · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 2242: Preserving access to preventive services by clarifying state authority and definitions.

HB 2242 clarifies and preserves access to preventive health services covered by most Washington health insurance plans. It requires plans issued after April 1, 2026, to cover evidence-based services like vaccinations, cancer screenings, and other preventive care without cost-sharing, based on current U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) ratings and CDC recommendations. The bill updates coverage requirements to align with federal guidelines as of June 30, 2025, and allows the state Department of Health to issue immunization guidance without standard rulemaking. This directly affects Washington residents using health insurance and insurers offering new or updated plans, ensuring consistent access to preventive care without adding new requirements for patient consent or immunization mandates.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates no cost-sharing for preventive services (vaccinations, screenings) per USPSTF/CDC, preserving access to evidence-based care without restricting coverage.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Healthcare