SB 5947 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Establishing the Washington health care board.

SB 5947 establishes a 19-member Washington Health Care Board to design a universal health care plan for all state residents. The board must develop the plan, secure federal approval and funding through a waiver, and recommend legislative changes before implementation. It includes specific representation: employers, health providers (like primary care doctors and nurses), tribal leaders, labor, and health financing experts. The bill cannot take effect until federal law permits states to create such a plan with federal funding.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Dec 29, 2025 Last action Mar 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill Engrossed Bill · 2 edits · Feb 17, 2026
MINOR
The bill was reclassified from a Senate Bill to an Engrossed Bill, indicating it has passed its initial reading. The most significant policy change is the addition of a requirement for the health care board to consult with the universal health care commission when fulfilling its duties, replacing the previous rule that allowed the board to adopt rules independently. Additionally, the bill's effective date is now tied to federal authorization for state-based universal health care waivers.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include mandatory coordination between the health care board and the universal health care commission, altering the administrative structure for implementing the plan.
REQUIREMENT

Replaced the authority's independent rule-making power with a requirement to consult and coordinate with the universal health care commission.

Added a new section specifying that the act takes effect only upon federal approval of a waiver for state-based universal health care.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 17, 2026

How they voted

3219
Passed
Total votes 51
Feb 17, 2026
D Democratic31
31 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican20
1 Yea 19 Nay
95% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
14
Key actions
6
Committee
5
Feb 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
Floor amendment(s) adopted.
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Minority; without recommendation.
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Minority; do not pass.
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
HLTC - Majority; do pass.
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 10:30 AM.
upper
Jan 29, 2026
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 8:00 AM.
upper
1 primary · 5 co-sponsors

Sponsors