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Committee advances revisions to Washington shield law to limit out‑of‑state probes of protected health care
Summary
The Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee voted 8‑5 to report Senate Bill 5632 out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation. Sponsors said the bill clarifies protections in Washington's 2023 shield law for patients and providers; opponents said it could impede other states' investigations.
The Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, March 26, reported Senate Bill 5632 out of committee with a due‑pass recommendation after an 8‑5 vote.
The bill, described by committee staff as an update to the shield law enacted in 2023, would require certain entities to notify the attorney general’s office when they receive legal process related to protected health‑care services and would bar specified governmental agents from sharing information with other states for purposes of investigating or enforcing laws that impose civil or criminal liability for protected care. "This bill is about really strengthening Washington's shield law that was established in 2023," said Vice Chair Farber, arguing the measure provides clarity for the attorney general and state agencies and asking members for a yes vote.
Matt Sterling, staff to the committee, gave the bill overview during the meeting, saying it "would require [specified] businesses to provide electronic communication services to notify the AG's office if they receive legal process related to protected…healthcare services when the required attestation was either missing or incomplete." Sterling also summarized the bill's prohibition on some cross‑jurisdictional information sharing.
Representative Jacobson spoke against the bill on policy grounds, saying she favored respecting other states' laws and raised concerns about the bill in the current legal environment for children and families: "I think it's important that we respect the laws of other states," she said, and urged a no vote.
Committee staff called the roll after discussion. The final roll call recorded these votes: Taylor (aye); Farvar (aye); Walsh (nay, do not pass); Abel (nay, do not pass); Burnett (nay, do not pass); Entenmann (aye); Goodman (aye); Graham (nay, do not pass); Jacobson (nay, do not pass); Peterson (aye); Salahuddin (aye); Tai (aye); Wallen (aye). The announced tally was 8 ayes and 5 nays.
The bill was reported out of committee with a due‑pass recommendation and will move to the next stage in the legislative process. The committee did not adopt any amendments during the executive action on this bill.
