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
Making improvements to transparency and accountability in the prior authorization determination process.
Bill Summary
Washington State Senate Bill 5395 aims to improve transparency and accountability in the prior authorization determination process for health insurance carriers, health plans, and managed care organizations. The bill introduces several key provisions to regulate how these organizations make decisions about medical treatments, prescription drugs, and services.
Specifically, it requires carriers to provide faster and more transparent prior authorization processes, with specific time frames for electronic and non-electronic requests. The bill places significant emphasis on limiting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical decision-making, mandating that AI tools cannot be the sole means of denying, delaying, or modifying health care services. Instead, medical necessity determinations must be made by licensed physicians or health professionals who consider the patient’s individual clinical history and circumstances.
The bill also requires carriers to provide more detailed information about prior authorization decisions, including the credentials of the reviewing physician, and allows for peer-to-peer reviews in cases of adverse determinations. Additionally, the legislation introduces reporting requirements for carriers, mandating quarterly reports on prior authorization requests, approvals, and denials, with specific attention to the role of AI in these decisions. The bill aims to ensure that medical decisions remain patient-centered, clinically sound, and free from potential algorithmic bias.
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 5400 from Sen. Marko Liias, D-Edmonds, would see the state provide up to $20 million in state grants for Washington news media of every stripe—print, digital, etc. The money would come from a B&O surcharge on tech giants like Facebook and Google. According to those supporting this bill, social media helped “cripple journalism”. In actuality, journalism has crippled itself by becoming a propaganda machine for progressive liberals (with a few notable exceptions).
In 2023, lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to eliminate the B&O tax on those companies still in the newspaper business. Now, these proposed grants would be doled out by the Department of Commerce starting in mid-2026 for newsrooms employing three full-time journalists working 30 hours a week or more for the past year.
What do newspapers need to do to be eligible for this money? They need to fact-check their stories with liberal “fact checkers” (you see how well that has worked), have a process for “corrections”, and report on stories of public interest to Washingtonians 25% of the time. How much grant money each newsroom could collect would depend on the hours its staff submits. Exactly how those hours would be reported will be determined by the Department of Commerce.
The newsrooms in Washington State have made their own beds, now let them sleep in it. When they return to factual, non-partisan, relevant, timely, investigative reporting, perhaps citizens will reconsider. Until then, please reject this bill. At a time when cutting the budget is a priority, bailing out the “news” media falls to the bottom of the list.
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 5410 is a bipartisan bill that modifies Washington state law regarding disability parking permits. Amendments clarify eligibility criteria, including adding veterans with a 70% disability rating and a service animal. The bill details requirements for applications, permit types (temporary and permanent), and renewal processes. It also addresses verification procedures and penalties for providing false information. Finally, the bill updates the definition of “veteran” for eligibility purposes.
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 5418 amends several sections of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) specifically related to charter school contracts. Key provisions include the requirement for charter schools to comply with local, state, and federal laws, including health, safety, and nondiscrimination laws, while also providing a basic education program that meets state learning standards unless exempted by the charter contract. The bill introduces new reporting requirements for charter schools regarding noncertificated instructional staff and mandates that charter contracts clearly outline performance expectations and measures for evaluation. Additionally, it allows for the possibility of waivers from certain educational provisions for both school districts and charter schools to enhance educational programs.
The bill also specifies that the charter contract must be executed within 90 days of the approval of a charter application and establishes that the initial contract term is five operating years. It emphasizes the need for authorizers to monitor the start-up progress of newly approved charter schools and ensures that no charter school can commence operations without an executed charter contract. Furthermore, the bill expands the authority of the state board of education to grant waivers to both school districts and charter schools, allowing for flexibility in implementing local educational plans. This bill has very strong bipartisan support.
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Freedom
Ensuring access to state benefits and opportunities for veterans, uniformed service members, and military spouses.
Bill Summary
Senate Bill 5420 seeks to improve access to state benefits and employment opportunities for veterans, uniformed service members, and military spouses in Washington State. The legislation highlights the sacrifices of these individuals and ensures they receive equitable benefits when pursuing public service jobs. Key amendments include the inclusion of “uniformed services” in various contexts, the extension of licensing provisions to military spouses, and the establishment of hiring preferences for veterans in public employment. The bill also clarifies definitions related to military service and expands eligibility for service credit in retirement systems for those who have served honorably.
Additionally, the legislation enhances employment preferences for veterans and military spouses in both public and private sectors by broadening the definition of “uniformed services” to include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration commissioned officer corps. It removes previous limitations on preferences based on specific wars or military campaigns, thereby expanding eligibility. The bill ensures that individuals returning from active military duty are treated as being on furlough, preserving their seniority and benefits, and emphasizes that these preferences comply with state and local equal employment opportunity laws. Overall, the bill aims to create a more supportive environment for veterans and military families in the workforce.