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WashingtonSB 60192025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Improving the functioning of home care rate statutes.

Sponsored By: Annette Cleveland (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

New rules for consumer‑directed home care rates

A new board sets consumer‑directed employer rates, with named voting and advisory members; the governor fills advisory seats by April 1 in even years. If no labor‑rate deal is reached by August 1, a majority decides; by September 1, the chair decides. If no administrative‑rate deal is reached by August 1, the department sets it and must respect the 20% cap. The labor rate must only pay individual providers’ wages, taxes, and benefits, and it must include specific hourly amounts for health benefits and for training, testing, and certification. The board cannot recommend an administrative share above 20% of total rates, and it applies the same 20% limit when recommending home care agency administrative shares.

More vendor-rate money for home care workers

The state now turns any funded wage and benefit changes into a per‑quarter‑hour amount and adds it to the statewide vendor rate. Any increase must only pay direct‑care workers’ wages and benefits and the required employer taxes and premiums. The calculation counts paid leave, travel time, mileage, training, health and retirement contributions, and employer taxes, and it avoids double‑counting. For fiscal year 2027, the state sets the share of the vendor rate for wages, benefits, and employer costs; starting in 2028, that share grows by the law’s quarter‑hour increments. Money set aside for health benefits and for training/certification may be used only for those purposes. Every odd year, within 60 days after the legislature ends its session, the department updates this quarter‑hour amount.

Clear rules for agency admin rate

The department sets a home care agency administrative rate to cover licensing, compliance, taxes, business costs, electronic visit verification, and personal protective equipment. The department can change labor and administrative rates between regular cycles for cost or legal changes, but any single change cannot exceed 2% of the combined labor and administrative rates, and any increase needs legislative funding. Funds for personal protective equipment count as administrative costs, and the vendor rate equals the wage/benefit portion plus the agency administrative rate.

Audits to ensure agencies spend funds right

Beginning July 1, 2027, the department verifies that home care agencies used vendor‑rate money as the law requires. Each agency must submit either a third‑party audit or a written attestation from the workers’ union confirming compliance. The department may set temporary exemptions for agencies facing extraordinary circumstances, using a public rulemaking process.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Annette Cleveland

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Javier Valdez

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jessica Bateman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Liz Lovelett

    Democratic • Senate

  • Manka Dhingra

    Democratic • Senate

  • Marcus Riccelli

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mike Chapman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Paul Harris

    Republican • Senate

  • Yasmin Trudeau

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 145 • No: 0

House vote • 3/4/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 96 • No: 0 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 2/11/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 49 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 6/11/2026.

    3/17/2026Senate

  2. Chapter 85, 2026 Laws.

    3/17/2026Senate

  3. Governor signed.

    3/17/2026legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    3/10/2026legislature

  5. President signed.

    3/5/2026legislature

  6. Speaker signed.

    3/5/2026legislature

  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    3/4/2026Senate

  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/4/2026Senate

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

    3/3/2026Senate

  10. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    3/2/2026Senate

  11. APP - Majority; do pass.

    2/27/2026Senate

  12. APP - Executive action taken by committee.

    2/27/2026Senate

  13. First reading, referred to Appropriations.

    2/14/2026Senate

  14. Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    2/11/2026Senate

  15. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    2/11/2026Senate

  16. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    2/11/2026Senate

  17. 1st substitute bill substituted.

    2/11/2026Senate

  18. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    2/6/2026Senate

  19. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    1/29/2026Senate

  20. Minority; without recommendation.

    1/27/2026Senate

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

    1/27/2026Senate

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

    1/12/2026Senate

  23. Prefiled for introduction.

    1/7/2026Senate

Bill Text

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