The 2024 Washington state legislative session ended March 7. This closed both the 2024 session and the 2023-2024 biennial legislative session.
2024 by the numbers as of March 5:
- House:
- 921 bills introduced
- Of these 202 passed both chambers and are heading to the Gov
- Senate:
- 846 bills introduced
- Of these 177 passed both chambers and are heading to the Gov
Key public health successes for the 2024 session include:
- SB 5982: Updating the definition of "vaccine" in RCW 70.290.010 to include all federal food and drug administration-approved immunizations recommended by the centers for disease control and prevention. This bill was co-sponsored by Senator Robinson.
- SB 5983: Allowing medical assistants with telehealth supervision to provide intramuscular injections for syphilis treatment. This bill was co-sponsored by Senator Liias.
- SB 6095: Establishing clear authority for the secretary of health to issue standing orders. This bill was co-sponsored by Senator Robinson.
- HB 1956: Addressing fentanyl and other substance use prevention education.
- Directs the Department of Health to develop, implement, and maintain a statewide drug overdose prevention and awareness campaign to address the drug overdose epidemic.
- Tasks the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) with developing and updating age-appropriate substance use prevention and awareness materials for school and classroom use aligned with the statewide campaign.
- Requires OSPI to adjust the state health and physical education learning standards for middle and high school students to add opioids to the list of drugs included in drug-related education.
- HB 2112: Concerning opioid and fentanyl prevention education and awareness at institutions of higher education.
- Requires institutions of higher education to provide opioid and fentanyl prevention education to all students.
- Specifies that naloxone and fentanyl test strips must be available at multiple locations on campus.
- Requires training and education for staff working in residence halls on the use of naloxone.
- HB 1012: Addressing the response to extreme weather events. Requires the Military Department to develop and implement an Extreme Weather Response Grant Program for the purpose of assisting with the costs of responding to community needs during periods of extremely hot or cold weather, or severe poor air quality due to wildfire smoke.
As of March 5, the 2024 operating budget has not been approved. Details will be presented at the Board meeting.