Essential information on each bill is below. For more details, click on the bill number – e.g., “SB 5000.” The new page will show the progress of the bill, videos of debate, and the link to send a comment to your legislator about the bill.
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Health Care
Ensuring patient choice and access to care by prohibiting unfair and deceptive dental insurance practices.
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 5351 aims to reform Washington State’s dental insurance system by increasing patient protections and transparency. The bill seeks to improve access to care, reduce out-of-pocket costs, and prevent insurers from prioritizing profits over patient needs. Key provisions include mandating minimum medical loss ratios, allowing patients to choose their dentists, and ensuring fair reimbursement rates for providers. The bill also addresses regulatory requirements for insurers, including reporting and rate review processes. Ultimately, the legislation seeks to create a more equitable and fair dental insurance market in Washington.
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Health Care
Delaying the use of the ASAM 4 criteria, treatment criteria for addictive, substance related, and co-occurring conditions.
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 5361 amends existing laws regarding the implementation timeline for the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) 4 criteria, which are treatment guidelines for addictive, substance-related, and co-occurring conditions. Specifically, it extends the deadline for Medicaid managed care organizations and carriers to begin using the updated ASAM Criteria from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2028. The health care authority and the office of the insurance commissioner are tasked with jointly determining whether to adopt the updated criteria and will provide notice of their decision on their respective websites.
The bill emphasizes the importance of collaboration between the health care authority and the insurance commissioner in assessing the updated ASAM Criteria, ensuring that any changes are communicated effectively to relevant entities. By delaying the implementation date, the bill allows for additional time to evaluate the updated treatment criteria before they are mandated for use in the state’s Medicaid system.
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Safety
Modernizing, harmonizing, and clarifying laws concerning sheriffs, chiefs, marshals, and police matrons.
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 5364 seeks to modernize and clarify the laws governing law enforcement officials in Washington State, specifically targeting sheriffs, police chiefs, marshals, and police matrons. It establishes new eligibility requirements for the appointment of police chiefs and marshals, mandating that candidates be at least 25 years old, maintain peace officer certification, and undergo comprehensive background investigations. The legislation also reinforces the core responsibilities of sheriffs to enforce state laws and the Constitution, while addressing the roles of volunteers and specially commissioned officers, ensuring they are properly trained and identifiable, and limiting their authority to non-enforcement activities.
The concern with this bill lies in New Section; Section 15. Two specific RCW’s are repealed:
Authority to Establish (RCW 35.66.010)
There shall be annexed to the police force of each city in this state having a population of not less than ten thousand inhabitants one or more police matrons who, subject to the control of the chief of police or other proper officer, shall have the immediate care of all females under arrest and while detained in the city prison until they are finally discharged therefrom.
Persons Under Arrest – Separate quarters (RCW 35.66.050)
For the purpose of effecting the main object of this chapter, no member of one sex under arrest shall be confined in the same cell or apartment of the city jail or prison, with any member of the other sex whatever.
These repealed RCW’s effectually desegregate prisons, including staff. For this reason, this bill should be opposed. Please register CON.
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 5365 expands the definition of “recreational facilities” within park and recreation districts in Washington State. It introduces new language that allows for the inclusion of community centers that may house public libraries, provided that the library occupies less than 50 percent of the usable space within these centers. This change aims to enhance the availability of leisure and recreational activities by integrating library services into community centers.
Additionally, the bill clarifies that park and recreation districts are authorized to operate as municipal corporations, focusing on providing nonprofit leisure activities and facilities to residents. The inclusion of libraries within community centers is intended to promote greater access to educational resources while maintaining the primary function of these centers as recreational spaces. This change is intended to enhance the financial resources available to libraries, which have faced increasing budget constraints in recent years. The bill has overwhelming bipartisan support.
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 5370 proposes to lengthen the terms of office for port commissioners from four years to six years, contingent upon voter approval. A new section is added to chapter 53.12 RCW, which outlines the process for submitting a ballot proposition to the voters of a port district. This can occur either through a resolution by the port commissioners or via a petition signed by at least 10 percent of the voters from the last general election. If the petition is validated, the proposition will be placed on the ballot for the next general election occurring at least 60 days after the resolution or petition submission.
If the majority of voters approve the proposition, the commissioner elected during that election will serve a six-year term, while the terms of the other commissioners will remain unchanged. In cases where two commissioners are elected during that election or the following general election, the one with the highest votes will serve a six-year term, while the other will serve a four-year term. Future commissioners will be elected to six-year terms. However, this new provision does not apply to port districts that are mandated to maintain four-year terms under existing law. The bill has full bipartisan support in the Senate.