Inside Olympia: First policy cut off with some priorities moving forward toward a floor vote.

Bills still alive after session’s first cutoff 

This week marks the first major milestone for the 2026 legislative session, with the committee of origin policy cut off on Tuesday, Feb. 4. Bills that are still alive will move to the House Appropriations or Senate Ways and Means Committees if they will cost the state or local governments money to implement. If a bill does not have a fiscal impact, it will be referred to the Rules Committee to be eligible to be pulled to the floor for a vote. 

WSHA priority bills that have made it past this first hurdle include the bill requiring health insurers to pay claims timely, protections for 340B entities, and flexibility for nurses to participate in EMS inter-facility transports. 

The full list of bills WSHA is tracking is included below. The next cutoff is Friday, Feb. 9, when most bills with a budget impact need to pass out of fiscal committees to continue advancing. 

This week’s top bills with hearings in Olympia  
 

HB 2145 SB 5981 Protecting patient access by preventing manufacturer limitations on the 340B drug pricing program.  

WSHA strongly supports HB 2145/SB 5981 which would prohibit for-profit drug manufacturers from interfering with distribution of 340B drugs through unfavorable terms or conditions on 340B providers and their contract pharmacies. This bill is supported by 340B covered entities, including FQHCs, HIV/AIDs clinics, critical access hospitals and other safety net hospitals that qualify for the program.  

Both bills passed through their respective health care committees with the addition of transparency and reporting language. WSHA is working with legislators and other 340B entities to refine the reporting requirements.  

HB 2145 is scheduled for public hearing in the House Appropriations Friday at 10:30 a.m. SB 5981 is scheduled for public hearing in Senate Ways and Means Thursday at 1:30 p.m. (Andrew Busz and Remy Kerr) 

SB 6296 Concerning involuntary treatment  

SB 6296 updates and expands statutes governing involuntary behavioral health treatment. The bill strengthens requirements for courts to consult judicial databases before granting relief under involuntary treatment laws and adds new language relating to mental health services and hospital regulation. While attempting to clarify the role of law enforcement to detain persons under an involuntary detention court order, the bill creates worrying uncertainty about law enforcement use of force and office discretion in detention decisions. These new requirements will negatively affect emergency departments, psychiatric units who manage civil commitments, including what happens if law enforcement declines engagement with a patient. (Remy Kerr) 

SB 5395: Making improvements to transparency and accountability in the prior authorization determination process  

WSHA strongly supports SB 5395, which passed out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee Jan. 27 and has been referred to the Rules Committee. The bill requires that final prior authorization care determination decisions be made by a qualified clinician rather than through artificial intelligence and establishes standards for how AI tools can be used in the process. It also clarifies that previously authorized services cannot be retroactively denied on the basis of medical necessity and are not subject to the carrier’s adverse determination/appeals process. The bill was originally introduced during the 2025 legislative session but stalled due to state budget concerns. WSHA successfully worked with legislators, state agencies, and other interested parties to reduce the state cost to implement the bill. (Jennifer Brackeen) 

Bills still alive after cutoff

Bills WSHA supports

Bills WSHA worked to amend to address concerns 

Bills with which WSHA has concerns and is working to amend

Bills WSHA opposes

Notable bills no longer moving forward 

Bills aimed at all businesses on which WSHA is neutral 

WSHA is weighing in on the following bills Feb. 2-6: 

Monday, Feb. 2
Senate Law & Justice
SB 6296 Concerning involuntary treatment (Remy Kerr) 

Tuesday, Feb. 3 
House Local Government
HB 2573 Concerning community access to food, medicine, and health services (Mary Storace)

House Health Care & Wellness
HB 2658 Concerning the truth in mental health coverage act (Jennifer Brackeen) 
HB 2683  Promoting transparency and efficiency in health carrier relations with health care providers and facilities (Andrew Busz) 

House State Government & Tribal Relations
HB 2661 Establishing the legislative task force on public records act modernization consisting of eight voting members (Zosia Stanley)

Wednesday, Feb. 4 
House Postsecondary Education & Workforce
HB 2498 Concerning nursing education program standards (Mary Storace)

Thursday, Feb. 5
Senate Ways & Means
SSB 5981 Protecting patient access to discounted medications and health care services through Washington’s health care safety net by preventing manufacturer limitations on the 340B drug pricing program (Andrew Busz and Remy Kerr) 
2SSB 5387 Corporate practice of health care  (Katerina LaMarche) 

Friday, Feb 6
House Appropriations
SHB 2145 Protecting patient access to discounted medications and health care services through Washington’s health care safety net by preventing manufacturer limitations on the 340B drug pricing program  (Andrew Busz and Remy Kerr) 

Thank you for testifying!

Thank you to everyone who testified in support of WSHA’s legislative efforts last week:   

• Eric Moll, Mason Health
• Andy Nelson, Jefferson Healthcare