SB 5240 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning anaphylaxis medications in schools.

Senate Bill 5240 allows public and private schools in Washington to maintain a supply of epinephrine, including autoinjectors, for use in emergencies. Licensed health professionals can prescribe this medication in the school's name, accompanied by a standing order for administration by school nurses or trained personnel. The bill clarifies that epinephrine can be administered to students experiencing anaphylaxis, even if they do not have a personal prescription on file, and extends its use to field trips and school buses. It also provides liability protection for those involved in prescribing and administering the medication.

Issues: ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Jan 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Mar 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill → Substitute Bill · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to update administrative details, including the bill number, sponsor attribution, and reading date. The most significant substantive change is the expansion of liability protection for school employees; the substitute bill clarifies that immunity applies when actions comply with either a student's prescription or the school's written policies, whereas the original text required compliance with both simultaneously. A minor clarification was also added to the reimbursement section to specify that costs must be paid back if the epinephrine is not owned by the school or the student receiving it.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill number from S-0537.1 to S-1336.1 and changed the reading date from January 14, 2025, to February 12, 2025.

Changed the sponsor attribution from a list of individual senators to the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education committee.

ENFORCEMENT

Expanded liability protections for school employees by clarifying that immunity applies if they act in compliance with a prescription OR school policies, rather than requiring compliance with both simultaneously.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified reimbursement requirements by explicitly stating that the school must pay back the owner if the epinephrine is not owned by the school or the student who received it.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 21, 2026

How they voted

51–0

Passed

Total votes 51

Jan 21, 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

Feb 25, 2026

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Feb 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Education at 1:30 PM.

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (51-0)

senate

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

upper

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Education at 4:00 PM.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 8:00 AM.

upper

Jan 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 10:30 AM.

upper

1 primary · 7 co-sponsors