SB 5262 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Correcting obsolete or erroneous references in statutes administered by the insurance commissioner.

Senate Bill 5262 updates various state laws administered by the Insurance Commissioner to remove obsolete references and improve consistency. The bill repeals defunct statutes, makes technical corrections, and aligns existing insurance policies with current federal law and interpretations. It adjusts timelines for requesting refunds of insurance taxes and modifies provisions regarding the public disclosure of certain insurance-related information. Additionally, the bill includes measures to protect patient data by ensuring that specific identifying information collected by the Commissioner remains confidential.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Signed May 12, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute Bill → Substitute Passed Legislature · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Washington state insurance laws to align with federal requirements, protect patient privacy by withholding provider names and addresses from public records, and streamline reporting deadlines. It also renumbers sections and repeals outdated statutes related to health insurance stability and disaster work groups.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on insurance regulation, but applicability changes regarding public access to data, as provider names and business addresses are now explicitly excluded from public disclosure in certain reports.

REQUIREMENT

Public disclosure of provider names and business addresses was removed from exempt data lists in insurance and direct practice reports to protect patient privacy.

TIMELINE

Deadlines for submitting closed claim reports and annual financial data were adjusted, with some sections renumbered from Sec. 12/13/14 to Sec. 12/13/14.

TECHNICAL

Outdated statutes regarding health insurance market stability programs and natural disaster work groups were repealed.

Section numbers were reorganized throughout the bill, shifting from Sec. 12-17 to Sec. 11-16.

Bill → Substitute Bill · 22 edits

MAJOR

This bill updates Washington state insurance laws to modernize statutes, align them with federal regulations, and correct outdated references. It removes several repealed sections that are no longer needed and adjusts specific rules regarding insurance rates, refunds, and reporting requirements.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on insurance regulation, but it clarifies the applicability of certain sections by removing references to repealed acts and updating effective dates for new provisions.

TECHNICAL

Removed the original bill title and sponsor list, replacing them with the updated substitute bill title and committee assignment.

Deleted Section 4 regarding motor vehicle insurance rate considerations for anti-theft devices and lighting, as this section was renumbered or consolidated.

Deleted Section 6 regarding market conduct actions, which was renumbered to Section 5.

Deleted Section 7 regarding charitable gift annuities, which was renumbered to Section 6.

Deleted Section 8 regarding charitable gift annuity net assets, which was renumbered to Section 7.

Deleted Section 9 regarding health plan discrimination and gender-affirming treatment reporting, which was renumbered to Section 8.

Deleted Section 10 regarding maternity care standards, which was removed entirely and not renumbered.

Deleted Section 11 regarding hearing instrument coverage, which was renumbered to Section 9.

Deleted Section 12 regarding dental plan data reporting, which was renumbered to Section 10.

Deleted Section 13 regarding fraud program funding, which was renumbered to Section 11.

Deleted Section 14 regarding closed claim statistical summaries, which was renumbered to Section 12.

Deleted Section 15 regarding medical malpractice annual reports, which was renumbered to Section 13.

Deleted Section 16 regarding direct practice reporting, which was renumbered to Section 14.

Deleted Section 17 regarding guaranteed asset protection waivers, which was renumbered to Section 15.

Deleted Section 18 listing repealed acts, which was renumbered to Section 16.

TIMELINE

Deleted Section 19 regarding the effective date of Section 7, which was renumbered to Section 17.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the refund timeline for insurance fees from 13 months to a specific timeframe of 13 months from the date paid.

Adjusted the age threshold for senior driver discounts in auto insurance from 55 to 55 years old.

Updated the definition of fire alarms to include radio-controlled devices and clarified smoke detection device definitions.

Revised the reporting deadline for charitable gift annuity financial reports to within 60 days of the fiscal year end.

Extended the deadline for the gender-affirming treatment access report from biannually to biennially.

Increased the minimum coverage amount for hearing instruments from $3,000 to $3,000 per ear (no change in amount, but clarified frequency).

Floor votes · Senate Apr 18, 2025 · House Apr 16, 2025

How they voted

48–2

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 51

Apr 18, 2025

D Democratic31

30 Yea 1

96% Yea

R Republican20

18 Yea 2 Nay

90% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 12, 2025

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Apr 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Apr 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 46; nays, 2; absent, 0; excused, 1.

upper

Apr 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate concurred in House amendments.

upper

Apr 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

lower

Apr 16, 2025

Amended

Committee amendment not adopted.

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.

lower

Apr 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM.

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Committee

Referred to Appropriations.

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

CPB - Majority; do pass.

lower

Apr 2, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business at 1:30 PM.

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business at 1:30 PM.

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Business, Financial Services & Trade at 8:00 AM.

upper

Jan 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Business, Financial Services & Trade at 8:00 AM.

upper

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors