The Legislature closed session on April 27.  Stats for this session:

Bills introduced: 1,953

Bills passed: 423

Budget for public health, as sent to the Governor, is:

• The operating budget adds nearly $9 billion in new revenue (less than what both the Senate and House Democrats proposed in their budgets). Big investments include housing, K-12 education, public safety (critical for Governor Ferguson), and behavioral health facilities. The budget also includes $6 billion in cuts. SB 5167  is now with the Governor. He has until May 20 to sign. As a reminder, the governor has line item veto authority.

• Foundational Public Health Services:
  • Funding for was reduced by a minimum of $24 million for the biennium. Final numbers are:

• General Fund contribution: $129,091,00 for both ‘26 and ’27
• FPHS account spending authorization: $42,048,000
• TOTAL: $300,230,000 for the biennium

• $5M reduction in 2025 general fund foundational public health contribution
• Snohomish STI Clinic Funding:

• 2026: $689,000
• 2027: $689,000
• Opioid Response/Support: This year’s budget made several reductions in opioid response and overdose prevention, focusing state support and investment on fulfilling state obligations.
• Community-based and harm reduction approaches to overdose prevention were removed. These include a naloxone stockpile, community education campaigns, and sustainable funding for a data dashboard.
• $2.7 million is dedicated to launching a tele-buprenorphine hotline that facilitates access to medications for opioid use disorder treatment.
• Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) are designed to ensure access to coordinated, comprehensive behavioral health care. CCBHCs are required to get people into care quickly and serve anyone who requests care for mental health or substance use, regardless of ability to pay, place of residence, or age. This includes developmentally appropriate care for children and youth. $886 thousand was dedicated to supporting CCBHCs.
• The Recovery Care Navigator Program, implemented locally by counties, is an intensive outreach and case management program that was reduced by 20%.
• School-Based Health Centers: Funding was included in both the Operating and Capital Budgets, including support for operating and maintaining school-based health centers. These facilities are becoming more critical access points for youth behavioral health services, dental clinics, and other preventative primary care services. The total budget included $2.4 million for the Operating Budget and $2.6 million for the Capital Budget.

On the policy side some big bills have been signed by the governor:

• HB 1531: This bill preserves the ability of public officials to address communicable diseases.

• HB 1946: This bill clarifies Tribal representation on Boards of Health.