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Governor signs bill formally recognizing crisis co-responders as first responders
Summary
House Bill 1811 was signed to formally recognize crisis co-responders — social workers, community health workers and others — as first responders, creating training standards and legal protections and enabling broader use of co-response to certain 911 calls involving mental health, substance use, or people who are unhoused.
The Governor signed House Bill 1811 into law, formalizing crisis co-response statewide by recognizing co-responders as first responders and directing consistent training and protections.
The measure’s prime sponsor, Representative Salahuddin, credited a broad coalition and passed the floor for remarks to Brooke Butner of the Bellevue care team, who highlighted the policy’s impact on matching callers with behavioral-health resources rather than only traditional law enforcement. 'Washington is the first state in the country that officially stakes the claim that alternatives are part of our first response system,' Brooke Butner said at the ceremony.
Supporters at the signing included program directors, university partners and local advocates; the Governor said co-response is a proven strategy that improves outcomes for individuals in crisis and thanked legislators and community partners for unanimous support in the legislature.
The Governor signed the bill and joined sponsors and program staff for photographs; implementation details for statewide training standards and protections were not specified at the signing.
