2026 Legislative Priorities

Tracking Kidney Care Priorities in Washington & Oregon

Stay updated on key bills affecting kidney patients, dialysis providers, and the broader healthcare community.

Below, you'll find real-time updates on legislation, where each bill is in the process, and how you can help support.

Washington State Priority Legislation

WA Priorities

The following is a list of bills that NWKC supported and were considered during Washington State’s 60-day session that just concluded on March 12. Note that legislation introduced in 2025 that did not pass, was considered active again when the 2026 Legislature convened on January 12—and that’s why those bills are listed below.

However, now that the 2026 session has concluded, bill introductions start over again in 2027—meaning that no legislation carries forward from 2025-2026 to the 2027-2028 biennium.

HB 1238 – Establishes a rare disease advisory council

Position: Support

Thank you, sponsors: Representatives Low, Davis

Status: Not enacted. This legislation creates an Advisory Council on Rare Diseases to provide information and recommendations to the Secretary of Health, the Governor, and the Legislature. It failed to pass due to fiscal concerns.

Testimony: Submitted 1/20/25

HB 1262 – Renames and expands the Council on Health Disparities

Position: Support

Thank you, sponsors: By request of Governor’s Interagency Council on Health Disparities; Representatives Santos, Thai, Doglio, Berry, Ryu, Obras, Ormsby, Scott, Parshley, Timmons, Pollet, Macri, Simmons, Hunt, Hill

Status: Not enacted. This legislation changes the name of the Governor's Interagency Coordinating Council on Health Disparities to the Governor's Council for Health, Justice and Equity (Council). It also increases membership on the Council and changes its responsibilities to include creating a statewide vision and universal goals for health and well-being. This legislation failed to progress due to a lack of consensus.

Testimony: Submitted 1/24/25

HB 1326 – Creates the Diabetes Prevention and Obesity Treatment Act

Position: Support

Thank you, sponsors: Representatives Thai, Ormsby, Salahuddin, Parshley, Taylor, Hill, Doglio, Pollet, Nance, Callan, Fosse

Status: Not enacted. This legislation requires health plans to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of the chronic disease of obesity. While its companion bill, SB 5353 received a hearing, this legislation did not.

HB 1404 – Providing Free Breakfast and Lunch for All Students

Position: Support

Thank you, sponsors: Requested by Governor Ferguson; Representatives Berg, Rude, Leavitt, Stonier, Simmons, Davis, Berry, Mena, Stearns, Thai, Walen, Rule, Ryu, Parshley, Peterson, Reed, Paul, Gregerson, Alvarado, Reeves, Goodman, Cortes, Obras, Fey, Salahuddin, Springer, Bernbaum, Fosse, Pollet, Street, Hill, Macri, Timmons, Scott

Status: Not enacted. This legislation requires public schools to provide breakfast and lunch each school day to any requesting student at no charge.

Caveat: While not enacted, funding for free breakfast and lunch for all students is expected to be funded from the millionaire’s tax bill beginning with the 2027-28 biennium.

Testimony: Submitted 1/31/25

HB 1603 – Requires guaranteed issue of Medicare supplemental coverage (Medigap) to an individual who voluntarily disenrolls from a Medicare advantage plan and enrolls in Medicare parts A and B

Position: Support

Thank you, sponsors: Representatives Berg, Parshley, Reed, Bernbaum, Thai, Kloba, Hill

Status: Not enacted. While the legislation received a hearing in 2025, it failed to advance due to the Office of the Insurance Commissioner and insurer concerns around increased Medigap costs.

In 2026, NWKC was part of a large coalition in support of HB 1603, and here is a link to what we shared with legislators.

HB 1754 – Requires Medicare supplemental insurance to be offered on a guaranteed issue basis during an open enrollment period

Position: Support

Thank you, sponsors: Representatives Thai, Parshley, Pollet

Status: Not enacted. While the legislation received a hearing in 2025, it failed to advance due to the Office of the Insurance Commissioner and insurer concerns around increased Medigap costs.

SHB 2088: Dietitian Licensure Compact

Position: Support

Thank you, sponsors: Representatives Leavitt, Keaton, Barnard, Timmons, Reed, Jacobsen, Ryu, Zahn, Richards, Doglio, Simmons, Reeves, Macri, Pollet, Bernbaum

Status: Enacted. This legislation was signed by Governor Ferguson on March 11, 2026. The legislation authorizes Washington State to join the Dietician Licensure Compact.

Testimony: Submitted 1/13/2026 to the House Committee on Postsecondary Education & Workforce

Submitted 2/17/2026 to the Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee

EHB 2211: Concerning Medically Tailored Meals

Position: Support

Thank you, sponsors: Representatives Reeves, Doglio, Parshley, Reed, Thomas, Gregerson, Berg, Macri, Fosse, Hill, Donaghy

Status: Enacted. This legislation was signed by Governor Ferguson on March 24, 2026. The legislation would require medically tailored meals be provided to medical assistance program enrollees.

ESHB 2238: Concerning Statewide Food Insecurity

Position: Support

Thank you, sponsors: Representatives Reaves, Gregerson, Doglio, Parshley, Ramel, Simmons, Peterson, Obras, Santos, Scott, Thomas, Stonier, Morgan, Ormsby, Berg, Goodman, Thai, Farivar, Fosse, Bergquist, Hill, Pollet, Donaghy, Bernbaum, Wylie, Zahn

Status: Enacted. This legislation was signed by Governor Ferguson on March 17, 2026. The legislation directs the Director of the Department of Agriculture to monitor food system performance and coordinate statewide food security and report to the Legislature every four years. In addition, it directs the Department to develop a strategy to enhance statewide food security and report to the Legislature by December 1, 2027.

Testimony: Submitted 1/13/2026 to the House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources

Submitted 2/17/2026 to the Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources

SB 5064 – Establishing a Rare Disease Advisory Council

Position: Support

Thank you, sponsors: Senators Liias, Holy, Stanford, Wagoner, Lovick, Gildon, Cleveland, Cortes, Fortunato, Harris, Nobles, Riccelli, Warnick

Status: Not enacted. This legislation creates an Advisory Council on Rare Diseases within the University of Washington’s School of Medicine to advise the Secretary of Health on research, diagnosis, treatment, and education related to rare diseases. The legislation did not progress due to cost of implementation.

Testimony: Submitted 1/20/25

SB 5228 – Renaming & Expanding the Council on Health Disparities

Position: Support

Thank you, sponsors: Senators Riccelli, Hasegawa, Conway, Nobles, Wilson, C.

Testimony: Submitted 1/24

SB 5326 – Ensures access to emergency supply of insulin

Position: Support

Thank you, sponsors: Senators Cleveland, Muzzall, Chapman, Hasegawa, Krishnadasan, Nobles, Trudeau, Valdez

Status: Not enacted. The legislation failed to progress due to cost of implementation.

Testimony: Submitted 1/24/25

SB 5352 – Provides free breakfast and lunch for all students

Position: Support

Thank you, sponsors: Requested by Governor Ferguson; Senators Riccelli, Nobles, Harris, Cortes, Slatter, Orwall, Chapman, Ramos, Trudeau, Kauffman, Muzzall, Lovelett, Valdez, Krishnadasan, Hasegawa, Lovick, Liias, Saldaña, Dhingra, Conway, Bateman, Holy, Christian, Cleveland, King, Frame, Salomon, Stanford, Wilson, C.

Status: Not enacted. This legislation requires public schools to provide breakfast and lunch each school day to any requesting study and at no charge.

Caveat: While not enacted, funding for free breakfast and lunch for all students is expected to be funded from the millionaire’s tax bill beginning with the 2027-28 biennium.

Testimony: Submitted 1/31/25

SB 5353 – Creates the Diabetes Prevention and Obesity Treatment Act.

Position: Support

Thank you, sponsors: Senators Cleveland, Muzzall, Riccelli, Bateman, Frame, Hasegawa, Krishnadasan, Nobles, Valdez, Wilson, C.

Status: Not enacted. This legislation requires health plans to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of the chronic disease of obesity. This legislation did not progress due to cost concerns raised by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner and the Health Care Authority.

Testimony: Submitted 1/31/25

Oregon Priority Legislation

Oregon Priorities

HCR 202 – Declaring a State Policy Goal that by 2033 Oregon's Health Care System Will be More Affordable and Accessible

Position: Monitor

Thank you, sponsors: At the request of John Kitzhaber for Health System Sustainability Group.

Status: Passed.

SB 966 – Enacting the Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact

Position: Monitor

Thank you, sponsors: Senator Smith, D.

Status: Failed.

SB 1181 – Expanding access to Medigap insurance policies for Oregonians

Position: Support

Thank you, sponsors: Senators Campos, Gelser Blouin, Patterson; Representatives Chotzen, Munoz, Nelson

Status: Failed.

Testimony: Submitted 3/19/25

SB 1529 - Directing OHA to Study Health Care

Position: Monitor

Thank you, sponsors: Requested of Senate Interim Committee on Health Care

Status: Failed. This legislation would have requires the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to study health care. Directs the authority to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to health care no later than September 15, 2027. Sunsets on January 2, 2028.

SB 1559 - Directing OHA to Study Health Care

Position: Support.

Thank you, sponsors: Representatives Pham, H., Diehl, Javadi, McDonald, McIntire

Status: Failed.

Testimony: See patient group letter

HB 2457 – Establishes the Rare Disease Advisory Council

Position: Monitor

Thank you, sponsors: Senator Lieber

Status: Failed. This legislation would establish a statewide Rare Disease Advisory Council.

HB 2554 – Enacting a Social Worker Licensure Compact

Position: Support.

Thank you, sponsors: Representative Diehl

Status: Failed.

Testimony: Submitted 02/13/25

HB 2955 – Ensuring Coverage of Continuous Glucose Monitoring

Position: Support.

Thank you, sponsors: Representative Tran, Javadi

Status: Failed.

Testimony: Submitted 03/03

HB 3435 – Free Breakfast and Lunch for Oregon Students

Position: Monitor.

Thank you, sponsors: Representatives Neron, Pham H, Javadi, Bowman, Munoz, Owens, Chaichi, Chotzen, Dobson, Fragala, Gomberg, Hudson, Isadore, Nguyen H, Nosse, Osborne, Ruiz; Senators Reynolds, Meek

Status: Failed.

HB 3517 – Obesity Treatment Coverage Mandate

Position: Monitor.

Thank you, sponsors: Representative Tran

Status: Failed.

HB 3942 – Expedited Licensure Process for Health Care Facilities

Position: Monitor.

Thank you, sponsors: Representatives Javadi, Diehl, Wright; Senator Gelser Blouin

Status: Failed.

HB 4038 – Relating to Health Care cost Growth

Position: Monitor.

Thank you, sponsors: At the request of House Interim Committee on Health Care for Representative Rob Nosse

Status: Failed.

HB 4115 – Caregiver Criminal Background Checks

Position: Monitor.

Thank you, sponsors: Representatives Nathanson, Scharf, Pham H, Andersen, Gamba, Harbick, Javadi, Rieke Smith, Walters, Wise; Senator Gelser Blouin

Status: Passed.

Now Take the Next Step

Engaging in the legislative process is easier than ever, with virtual testimony options and opportunities to contact lawmakers directly. Your voice can make a real impact.

Submit Testimony – Click the bill links above to share your voice with lawmakers. You can feel free to use the points included in our testimony!
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