Committee adopts substitutes in executive session for long-term care ombuds funding and CCRC oversight bills

During an executive session following public hearings on Feb. 20, the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee considered two bills and adopted proposed substitutes and due-pass recommendations.

For Senate Bill 5,606, relating to funding for the Washington State Long Term Care Ombuds Program, the committee adopted the offered proposed substitute S-1451.2. A motion to adopt the proposed substitute was made on the record; the committee then moved the proposed substitute to receive a "due pass" recommendation and to be sent to the Senate Ways & Means Committee. The clerk recorded voice votes; the chair announced the bill "passed subject to signatures." The staff briefing had identified that the substitute changes the timing for the Department of Commerce to submit funding recommendations (after June 1, 2026 and each subsequent even-numbered year).

For Senate Bill 5,691, which implements portions of the Department of Social and Health Services' recommendations on regulatory oversight for continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), the committee adopted the offered proposed substitute S-1711.1. The proposed substitute removed several registration and ombuds-related provisions from earlier drafts and adjusted enforcement language; the committee then moved the substitute to receive a "due pass" recommendation and to be sent to the Senate Rules Committee. The chair again recorded a voice vote and announced the bill "passed subject to signatures."

The committee’s floor record shows the committee adopted substitutes by voice vote and issued due-pass recommendations: SB 5,606 (S-1451.2) to Ways & Means and SB 5,691 (S-1711.1) to Rules. The transcript does not record individual roll-call tallies or the names of the member who made each motion on the public record; the committee announcement indicates unanimous voice votes at the time of the session.