Committee backs study and guidance on anesthetic gases' climate impact, preserves clinicians' judgment

Senate Bill 5236, sponsored in committee discussion by Senator Emily Slatter, directs the Department of Ecology to study the sources, uses and emissions of high global warming potential gases used for anesthetic purposes and to produce regulatory recommendations and a guidance document to reduce emissions from medical, dental and veterinary settings.

The bill requires Ecology to complete the study by July 1, 2026; submit recommendations on statutory changes by Oct. 1, 2026; publish guidance by Jan. 1, 2027; and—subject to the guidance—permit facilities to use anesthetic gases only in a manner consistent with that guidance by Jan. 1, 2028. Ecology cannot impose penalties for noncompliance with the guidance, and the guidance may not require clinicians to provide care in a way that, in their professional judgment, increases patient risk or professional liability. The bill carries an estimated operating cost of about $800,000 over the four‑year outlook, primarily for Ecology.

Supporters from the medical community and environmental organizations said the measure balances patient safety with climate goals. Dr. Elizabeth Hansen, a pediatric anesthesiologist, described a hospital program that reduced anesthetic-gas emissions by more than 90% while saving about $175,000 a year and maintaining safe care. Kate White Tudor of the Natural Resources Defense Council and others cited the large global warming potentials of gases such as desflurane and nitrous oxide and noted international examples where hospitals reduced use of high-impact agents.

Medical professional organizations including the Washington State Society of Anesthesiologists and the Washington State Medical Association and the Washington Association of Nurse Anesthesiology registered support and emphasized that the bill preserves clinicians’ discretion to make patient-care decisions. Ecology staff said the agency currently lacks regulatory experience with these gases and requested modest deadline changes to allow the agency time to build technical expertise; Ecology requested moving the legislative report due date to Jan. 1, 2027 and the guidance to April 1, 2027 to ensure feasibility.

Testimony from dental and pediatric clinicians said the community seeks data and tools to reduce emissions — for example, switching from desflurane to sevoflurane or reducing flow rates — without compromising care. Supporters also pointed to Project SPRUCE, a pediatric-hospital consortium that has implemented measurement and interventions to lower anesthetic-gas emissions.

Committee members asked whether the gases are covered under the state’s greenhouse gas reporting programs; Ecology staff said the gases are on the state list of greenhouse gases but that no entities use them in quantities that make them covered entities under the Climate Commitment Act. The committee did not take a vote; staff advised they would consider Ecology’s suggested deadline adjustments.