Week 1 in Olympia: Title protection hearing and more

The 2026 legislative session kicked off with a bang on Monday, January 12. This year is a short, 60-day session, which means the pace will be fast and furious as this last week proved for many.

The Governor’s supplemental budget opened the week, highlighting the financial woes lawmakers face in balancing the state’s two-year budget. Governor Ferguson gave his first State of the State address, calling for “bold action” on making the state’s tax system fairer, addressing the housing crisis, and investing in infrastructure. He took an optimistic tone despite the state’s budget challenges.

Policy committees packed their agendas, knowing there’s not enough time to hear all the bills introduced thus far, let alone the bills that remain alive for consideration from the 2025 session. With less than three weeks to the policy committee cutoff on February 4th, the clock is ticking (loudly).

WSNA has FIVE ACTIONS to take this week – see below and please be sure to take action on all 5! 

SB 5904 had a hearing on Friday, January 16 in Senate Health & Long Term Care. 939 individuals and organizations signed in support or "pro" for the bill compared to just 6 individuals with "other" or "con". WSNA thanks you for responding to our action alert and showing just how strong nurse power is in Olympia!

Justin Gill, DNP, ARNP, RN testified before the committee stating, “As we enter this new era it is essential that we protect the title “nurse” to protect patients. We are human beings, nurses are, that are caring for other human beings. AI cannot and must not replace the judgement, expertise and accountability and human connection that are central to the nursing profession. We all share a responsibility to ensure that the use of AI in healthcare is responsible,  transparent and accountable.” You can view the public hearing here.

Next steps: SB 5904 is expected to be scheduled for executive session and to be voted out of committee in the coming days, after which it will move to the floor for a vote out of the House chamber and then along to the Senate.

ACTION ALERT: HB 2155 has been rescheduled for a hearing in the House Healthcare & Wellness committee on Tuesday, January 20th at 1:30pm. Click the link below and select “PRO” under the dropdown menu and leave “organization” blank no later than 1/20 at 12:30pm.

Reliable access to albuterol for children experiencing breathing difficulty at school is a challenge. This bill would establish a statewide standing order through the Department of Health (DOH) for albuterol in K-12 schools so that schools may keep an inhaler on hand for those types of scenarios. Every student should have access to life-saving medications. This bill is being championed by the School Nurse Organization of Washington (SNOW).

This bill is scheduled for TWO hearings next week! Click the links in the red boxes below on HB 2360 and SB  5951 and select “PRO” under the dropdown menu and leave “organization” blank.

Follow the instructions below to SIGN IN PRO on HB 2360 and SB 5921.

ACTION ALERT: HB 2360 is scheduled for a hearing in the House Committee on Education on Monday, January 19 at 1:30pm. Click the link below and select “PRO” under the dropdown menu and leave “organization” blank no later than 1/19 at 12:30pm.

ACTION ALERT: SB 5951 is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday, January 21 at 10:30am in the Seante Committee on Early Learning and K-12 Education. Click the link below and select “PRO” under the dropdown menu and leave “organization” blank no later than 1/21at 9:30am.

Governor Bob Ferguson’s 2026 Supplemental Operating Budget proposal set the stage for legislative debate about how to address the looming $2.3 billion, 2-year state operating budget shortfall. Governor Ferguson’s proposal, which balances the budget in part through $797 million in spending cuts, includes many cuts to programs that will have both direct and indirect impacts to nurses and patient access to care.

The Legislature is now tasked with developing their own budget proposal which happens a little later in session. They are also expected to consider several new revenue options in an effort to reduce the amount of cuts necessary to balance the budget and impact Washingtonians. You can learn more about the state of budget and revenue conversations here. Revenue proposals typically come forward through the regular bill process so stay tuned for hearings and updates as it relates to revenue.

WSNA Government Affairs will be closely monitoring these proposals to assess impact to nurses and patient access to care. Please stay tuned for more updates as session continues.

In recent months, changes at the federal level have held back unions’ ability to properly fight for their members’ rights and effectively halted many of the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB)normal functions. This bill will create a state-based structure to secure basic collective bargaining rights for private sector workers if federal courts continue to undermine bargaining rights.

This bill is scheduled for TWO hearings next week. Follow the instructions below to SIGN IN PRO on HB 2471 and SB 6117.

ACTION ALERT: SB 6117 is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce on Monday, January 19 at 1:30pm. Click the link below and select “PRO” under the dropdown menu and leave “organization” blank no later than 1/19 at 9:30am.

ACTION ALERT: HB 2471 is scheduled for a hearing in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards on Wednesday, January 21 at 8am. Click the link below and select “PRO” under the dropdown menu and leave “organization” blank no later than 1/21at 7:00am. 

The legislature considers hundreds of bills outside our own legislative priorities. Here is a list of bills we’re watching as they move through the legislative process that may impact members. We will continue adding bills to this list as we move through the legislative session. You may click on any of the links below to learn more about each bill and where it is at in the legislative process.

• HB 2289 /SB 5998 - Making 2025-2027 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations.
• HB 2264 - Concerning unemployment insurance benefits for workers separated from employment because of employer-initiated layoffs or workforce reductions.
• HB 2110 - Concerning personnel for ambulance service interfacility specialty care transports.
• HB 2113 - Concerning the supervision of diagnostic radiologic technologists, therapeutic radiologic technologists, and magnetic resonance imaging technologists.
• HB 2122 - Requiring hospitals to offer immunizations for influenza in certain cases.
• HB 2152 - Permitting the medical use of cannabis by qualifying patients in specified health care facilities.
• HB 2144 - Requiring notices to employees when electronic monitoring is used to assist employers conducting performance evaluations.
• HB 2303 - Prohibiting employers from microchipping employees.
• HB 2345 - Concerning contributions in the state paid family and medical leave program.
• HB 2157 - Regulating high-risk artificial intelligence system development, deployment, and use.
• HB 2225 - Concerning regulation of artificial intelligence companion chatbots.
• SB 5956 - Addressing artificial intelligence, student discipline, and surveillance in public schools.
• HB 2106 - Requiring carriers to provide substantive notice to health care providers and health care facilities about significant contract modifications.
• HB 2329 - Concerning midwife supervision of medical assistants and lactation consultants.
• HB 2339 - Concerning the regulation of nursing.
• HB 2148 - Creating the pay it forward program.
• SB 5967 / HB 2242 - Preserving access to preventive services by clarifying state authority and definitions.
• SB 5826 - Concerning access at public postsecondary educational institutions to medication abortion.
• SB 5904 / HB 2155 - Concerning the use of nursing titles.
• SB 6025 - Updating the definition of fetal death.
• SB 5981 / HB 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.
• SB 5990 - Expanding the qualifications of those who may serve as a local health officer in rural counties.
• HB 1496 - Strengthening patients' rights regarding their health care information.
• HB 2182 - Improving access to abortion medications.
• HB 2196 - Expanding access to PANDA PANS treatment.
• HB 2105 - Concerning immigrant worker protections.
• SB 6117 - Concerning collective bargaining for employees not covered by the national labor relations act.
• HB 2360 / SB 5951 – Expanding access to albuterol in public and private schools.
• SB 5923 - Concerning critical access hospital designations in Skagit county.
• SB 5845 - Modernizing and clarifying timely payment requirements for health carriers.
• SB 6071 - Standardizing overpayment recovery requirements.
• SB 5852 - Concerning immigrant worker protections.
• HB 2372 / SB 6067 - Concerning workers' compensation benefits.
• HB 2439 - Enhancing public health by modifying cigarette, vapor product, and tobacco product policy.
• SB 5984 - Concerning regulation of artificial intelligence companion chatbots.
• HB 1828 - Authorizing certain health professions to act as physician substitutes for plasma source donation centers.
• SB 6031 - Enhancing public safety and enforcement of crimes that impact insurance.
• HB 2548 - Strengthening health care market standards.
• SB 5652 - Reducing environmental and health disparities and improving the health of Washington state residents in large port districts.
• SB 5917 - Improving access to abortion medications.
• HB 2471 - Concerning collective bargaining for employees not covered by the national labor relations act.
• HB 2261 - Ensuring transparency in credentials and communications between patients and health care professionals.
• HB 2425 - Concerning nursing delegation.
• HB 2098 - Adjusting higher education funding.
• SB 5985 - Concerning endometriosis.
• SB 5993 - Prohibiting interest charges for new and unpaid medical debt.
• HB 2100 - Enacting an excise tax on large operating companies on the amount of payroll expenses above the minimum wage threshold of the additional medicare tax to fund services to benefit Washingtonians and establishing the Well Washington fund account.
• HB 2198 - Improving regulatory efficiency by integrating executive order 25-03, concerning permitting and licensing processes, into chapter 43.42A RCW.

Interested in learning more about the legislative process? See below for resources.

• How does a bill become a law? Find out here.
• How do I read a bill? Click here to learn.
• To view the Washington State Labor Council’s 2026 Legislative Priorities: click here.

6. Graduate school loan cap rule expected soon

The Department of Education is expected to publish its proposed rule on post-baccalaureate federal student loan caps soon. Once the proposed rule has been released, a public comment period will open and WSNA Government Affairs will amplify ANA’s advocacy tools to advocate on behalf of nurses.  Sign up for RN Action Alerts to receive urgent calls to action as they arise.

7. Washington receives $181 million from the Rural Health Transformation Program

Washington state was recently awarded $181 million as part of the Rural Health Transformation Plan. The federal program invests $50 billion nationwide to support rural hospital infrastructure, with an emphasis on technology improvements and support for chronic disease management, behavioral health care, maternal health care, addressing rural workforce shortages and improving access to emergency services. Washington state received more funds that initially expected, and presents on opportunity for some of these funds to be used to offset other losses related to implementation of H.R. 1. To learn more about Washington’s plans to implement the program click here.

• January 29, 2026 – WSNA Lobby Day in Olympia (registration closed, WSNA members only event)
• Feb 4-5 - Washington State Labor Council (WSLC) Legislative Reception and Conference in Olympia
• February 17, 2026 – House of Origin Cutoff
• March 12, 2026 – Last day of legislative session