Creating an advisory council on rare diseases.

HB 1238 creates a 12-member advisory council within the University of Washington School of Medicine to address rare disease challenges in Washington. The council advises the state health secretary on research, diagnosis, treatment, and education, directly impacting the estimated 30,000 Washington residents living with rare diseases (affecting fewer than 200,000 people nationally). Key provisions require balanced geographic representation (east/west Cascades), include patient advocates and medical experts, and mandate biennial reports starting in 2026 on improving care access, diagnosis, and public awareness. The council will develop strategies to coordinate disease prevalence studies, identify effective treatments, and recommend a centralized online resource for patients and caregivers, without overriding local health authority during outbreaks.