SB 5291 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Implementing the recommendations of the long-term services and supports trust commission.

SB 5291 strengthens the WA Cares long-term care program by implementing recommendations from the long-term services and supports trust commission. The bill allows individuals who have paid into the program for at least three years while working in Washington to continue their participation and eligibility for benefits even if they move out of state. It also establishes a clear process for how the program's benefit unit, currently up to $100, will be adjusted annually for inflation using a specific consumer price index. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of approved services to explicitly include long-term services and supports provided in nursing homes.
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 15, 2025 Signed May 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Substitute Bill Substitute Passed Legislature · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill strengthens the Washington state WACares program by updating eligibility rules for exemptions, clarifying refund procedures for employees, and correcting a reference to a different section of the act regarding inflation protection. It also adds new sections to the state code to establish a long-term care insurance partnership program and updates the effective dates for various parts of the legislation.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include new sections establishing a long-term care insurance partnership program and updating the referenced code sections to reflect these new additions.
ELIGIBILITY

Updated the list of eligible exemptions for the WACares program to include active duty service members engaged in off-duty civilian employment and clarified criteria for employees relocating outside Washington.

REQUIREMENT

Reorganized and modified the numbering of subsections regarding premium refunds and employer notification duties to improve clarity and consistency.

Corrected a reference from 'section 32' to 'section 31' regarding the unavailability of supplemental long-term care inflation protection options in insurance policies.

SCOPE

Added new sections to the code to create a long-term care insurance partnership program that allows for asset exclusion in Medicaid eligibility determinations.

TIMELINE

Adjusted the effective dates for various sections of the act to align with the new long-term care partnership program and other legislative changes.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 11, 2025 · House Apr 11, 2025

How they voted

4011
Passed
Total votes 51
Mar 11, 2025
D Democratic31
31 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican20
9 Yea 11 Nay
55% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
36
Key actions
20
Committee
15
May 20, 2025
Signed into law
Governor signed.
executive
Apr 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Speaker signed.
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
President signed.
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed final passage; yeas, 35; nays, 13; absent, 0; excused, 0.
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred in House amendments.
upper
Apr 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.
lower
Apr 11, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (80-16-4)
house
Apr 8, 2025
Committee
Referred to Rules 2 Review.
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Minority; without recommendation.
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Minority; do not pass.
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
APP - Majority; do pass with amendment(s) but without amendment(s) by Early Learning & Human Services.
lower
Apr 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 1:30 PM.
lower
Apr 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM.
lower
Apr 1, 2025
Committee
Referred to Appropriations.
lower
Mar 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
ELHS - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).
lower
Mar 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services at 8:30 AM.
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services at 1:30 PM.
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Floor amendment(s) adopted.
upper
Jan 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Minority; without recommendation.
upper
Jan 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Minority; do not pass.
upper
Jan 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 8:00 AM.
upper
Jan 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:30 AM.
upper
1 primary · 7 co-sponsors

Sponsors