HB 1187 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Protecting patients involved in motor vehicle accidents from delayed ambulance bills.

HB 1187 prevents ambulance services from selling or assigning patient debt related to motor vehicle accidents (including pedestrian or bicycle injuries) to debt collectors for at least 120 days after the initial bill is sent. It directly affects patients involved in such accidents by delaying debt collection efforts. The law requires ambulance providers to wait 120 days before transferring debt, and allows state officials to investigate repeated violations and impose fines. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Signed Mar 23, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Substitute Bill → Substitute Passed Legislature · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill adds formal certification pages to the document and refines the definitions and procedures regarding ambulance debt collection. Specifically, it clarifies that the 120-day waiting period applies to both the patient and any other responsible party, and it defines key terms like 'motor vehicle accident' and 'initial billing statement' to ensure consistent application.

Scope change

The scope of the definition for 'motor vehicle accident' was expanded to explicitly include incidents involving pedestrians or bicyclists.

TECHNICAL

Added certification pages to formally document the bill's passage by the House and Senate.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the debt collection restriction to apply to both the patient and 'other responsible parties' to ensure the waiting period covers all liable individuals.

DEFINITION

Added specific definitions for 'motor vehicle accident' (including pedestrians and bicyclists), 'initial billing statement', and 'other responsible party'.

Clarified that the initial billing statement can be provided electronically or by mail.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 28, 2026 · House Jan 22, 2026

How they voted

51–0

Passed

Total votes 51

Feb 28, 2026

D Democratic31

31 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

20 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 23, 2026

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 93; nays, 2; absent, 0; excused, 3.

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

House concurred in Senate amendments.

lower

Feb 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.

upper

Feb 28, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (51-0)

senate

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

HLTC - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 10:30 AM.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 8:00 AM.

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

lower

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

lower

Feb 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 1:30 PM.

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 1:30 PM.

lower

Jan 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 1:30 PM.

lower

1 primary · 8 co-sponsors