HB 1946 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Clarifying tribal membership on local boards of health.

House Bill 1946 clarifies the process for tribal membership on local boards of health in Washington state. The bill mandates that local boards of health must allow a representative from each federally recognized Indian tribe or qualified urban Indian organization with a presence in the county to serve as a member. These representatives are selected by their respective tribe or organization, and the local board of health must notify the American Indian Health Commission. This ensures that tribal and urban Indian organization perspectives are formally integrated into local public health governance.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Feb 11, 2025 Signed May 13, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Substitute Bill → Substitute Passed Legislature · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill adds a formal certification of enrollment to confirm its passage by both legislative chambers. The most significant substantive change restricts the eligibility of tribal representatives on local health boards, requiring that tribes and organizations must have a specific geographic presence within the county or health district to qualify for a seat, rather than just holding land or having usual and accustomed areas nearby. This change also standardizes the language regarding the appointment of other members across different sections of the bill.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding who can serve on local health boards has narrowed to require a direct geographic connection (lands or services) within the specific jurisdiction, whereas previously a broader connection like 'usual and accustomed areas' was sufficient.

REQUIREMENT

Added a Certification of Enrollment page to formally document the bill's passage by the House and Senate with vote counts.

Standardized the language for appointing non-elected members and specifying board procedures across multiple sections of the bill to ensure consistency.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified the eligibility criteria for tribal representatives on health boards to require that reservation or trust lands be located 'within the county' or 'within the health district,' removing the previous allowance for 'usual and accustomed areas' to qualify a tribe for representation.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 14, 2025 · House Mar 12, 2025

How they voted

42–9

Passed

Total votes 51

Apr 14, 2025

D Democratic31

31 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

11 Yea 9 Nay

55% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 13, 2025

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Apr 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Apr 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 59; nays, 38; absent, 0; excused, 1.

lower

Apr 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

House concurred in Senate amendments.

lower

Apr 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

LGV - Majority; do pass.

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Local Government at 1:30 PM.

upper

Mar 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Local Government at 1:30 PM.

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

lower

Feb 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Local Government at 8:00 AM.

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Local Government at 10:30 AM.

lower

1 primary · 8 co-sponsors