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WashingtonSB 51852025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Establishing preceptorship and hardship pathways to medical practice for international medical graduates.

Sponsored By: Rebecca Saldaña (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Broader licensing options for foreign-trained doctors

The law lets doctors who graduated outside the U.S., D.C., territories, or Canada meet the same licensure rules as U.S. grads without needing a commission‑approved school. The commission can also waive some requirements for exceptional applicants who show strong work, research, or employment records and have recommendations from national or international experts.

Pilot path to primary care for foreign-trained doctors

The Washington Medical Commission runs a clinical experience pilot for doctors trained outside the U.S., D.C., territories, or Canada. To join, you must have a Washington clinical experience license issued on or before July 1, 2026, complete two straight years of supervised practice, have no significant discipline, get satisfactory evaluations, a supervisor attestation, and a medical director endorsement if different. Host sites include hospitals, federally qualified health centers, government entities, private practices with at least 10 full-time board-certified physicians providing in-person care in Washington, and commission‑approved mental or behavioral health facilities. After the pilot, you can earn a full, unrestricted primary care license by completing two more years of supervised practice (four total), meeting clinical experience license rules, passing USMLE Step 3, and passing a commission‑approved clinical competency assessment. The commission may create a primary care license for completers and will work with the American Board of Medical Specialties on certification options. The pilot section expires June 30, 2035.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Rebecca Saldaña

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Adrian Cortes

    Democratic • Senate

  • Annette Cleveland

    Democratic • Senate

  • Bob Hasegawa

    Democratic • Senate

  • Derek Stanford

    Democratic • Senate

  • Javier Valdez

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jessica Bateman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Joe Nguyen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lisa Wellman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Manka Dhingra

    Democratic • Senate

  • Marcus Riccelli

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mike Chapman

    Democratic • Senate

  • T'wina Nobles

    Democratic • Senate

  • Member 14205

    House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 169 • No: 21

Senate vote • 3/9/2026

Final Passage as Amended by the House

Yes: 41 • No: 8

House vote • 3/3/2026

Final Passage as Amended by the House

Yes: 89 • No: 4 • Other: 5

Senate vote • 2/6/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 39 • No: 9 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 6/11/2026.

    3/23/2026Senate

  2. Chapter 154, 2026 Laws.

    3/23/2026Senate

  3. Governor signed.

    3/23/2026legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    3/12/2026legislature

  5. Speaker signed.

    3/11/2026legislature

  6. President signed.

    3/10/2026legislature

  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 41; nays, 8; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    3/9/2026Senate

  8. Senate concurred in House amendments.

    3/9/2026House

  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 89; nays, 4; absent, 0; excused, 5.

    3/3/2026Senate

  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/3/2026Senate

  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.

    3/3/2026Senate

  12. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

    3/2/2026Senate

  13. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    2/25/2026Senate

  14. HCW - Executive action taken by committee.

    2/24/2026Senate

  15. HCW - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

    2/24/2026Senate

  16. First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness.

    2/10/2026Senate

  17. Third reading, passed; yeas, 39; nays, 9; absent, 0; excused, 1.

    2/6/2026Senate

  18. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    2/6/2026Senate

  19. 1st substitute bill substituted.

    2/6/2026Senate

  20. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    2/4/2026Senate

  21. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    2/2/2026Senate

  22. Minority; without recommendation.

    1/30/2026Senate

  23. HLTC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

    1/30/2026Senate

  24. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

    1/12/2026Senate

  25. First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care.

    1/13/2025Senate

Bill Text

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