SB 6094 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning facilities licensed to provide pediatric transitional care services.

Washington State's SB 6094 creates a framework for funding specialized pediatric transitional care facilities to replace extended hospital stays for infants exposed to substances like opioids during pregnancy. The bill directly affects substance-exposed infants and their parents, aiming to support bonding and recovery by providing non-hospital care in a nurturing environment instead of neonatal intensive care units. Key provisions require the Health Care Authority to study funding models using federal/state resources, submit a report by November 2026, and provide temporary grants to a pilot facility using opioid settlement funds until the study concludes. The bill expires December 31, 2028, and focuses on concrete policy changes to reduce costs and prevent foster care placement.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Feb 4, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill Substitute Bill · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was renumbered from S-3726.1 to S-4627.1 and updated to reflect its status as a substitute bill after committee review. The most significant change is the removal of a mandatory deadline for the health care authority to submit a state plan amendment by July 2027, replacing it with a requirement to first study the feasibility and costs of such a change and report findings by November 2026. This shift moves the legislation from an immediate implementation mandate to a phased approach that prioritizes financial and regulatory analysis before committing to federal funding mechanisms.
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding federal funding authorization changed from a direct mandate to a conditional study, delaying potential changes to federal payment rules until the feasibility report is complete.
TIMELINE

The deadline to submit a state plan amendment to CMS was removed and replaced with a requirement to submit a feasibility and cost report by November 1, 2026.

REQUIREMENT

The health care authority is now required to analyze statutory changes, IT needs, and anticipated costs before proceeding with facility-based payments.

SCOPE

Funding for the pilot project remains available until the new feasibility report is submitted, ensuring continuity of care for substance-exposed infants during the study period.

The original finding regarding the high success rate of the pilot project (88% of parents in recovery) was removed, likely due to updated data or a change in legislative intent.

TECHNICAL

The bill header was updated to reflect the new bill number (S-4627.1) and the sponsor's committee assignment.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
6
Key actions
2
Committee
4
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
Referred to Ways & Means.
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Committee
And refer to Ways & Means.
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 10:30 AM.
upper
Jan 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 8:00 AM.
upper
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors