WashingtonHB 14272025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Concerning certified peer support specialists.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Job matching for recovering peer workers

Washington’s Health Care Authority runs a job-linking program for eligible people in behavioral health recovery seeking peer-support work. It contracts with an organization offering peer workforce development, coaching, and related support. An easily accessible statewide database connects job seekers with potential employers. The law took effect July 27, 2025, but retains the July 1, 2024 full-implementation deadline without setting a new one. The program does not guarantee a job.

Shorter recovery monitoring for credential applicants

The law limits required substance use monitoring for applicants seeking substance use professional, trainee, agency-affiliated counselor, or peer-support credentials. Applicants with less than one year in recovery can be required to participate only until reaching one year. Applicants already in recovery for at least one year cannot be required to participate. These limits also cover peer specialists employed and participating in monitoring under RCW 18.130.175 on July 1, 2025. They must apply for certification under RCW 18.420.050, but their monitoring start date does not matter.

Behavioral health contracts emphasize service access

Beginning July 27, 2025, Washington gives significant weight to peer-service access when choosing Medicaid integrated managed care contractors. Applicants must analyze access to peer counselors and certified peer specialists across their networks. The review covers adults, youth and young adults in recovery, and parents or guardians of youth receiving or formerly receiving behavioral health services. Covered regional behavioral health organizations must serve local clients who meet Health Care Authority eligibility criteria. Their mental health and substance use services remain limited by available resources.

Payment support to expand peer services

Beginning July 27, 2025, the Health Care Authority contracts with outside groups to expand peer-support access. Starting December 31, 2025, those groups provide technical help and develop billing and payment options. Their work includes community agencies, victim services, tribal providers, and peer-run substance use respite centers. Reports and policy or budget recommendations to encourage health insurer payment are due November 1, 2026. The expansion is subject to state appropriations and does not guarantee household services or insurance payment.

Peer support in crisis and overdose response

Mobile crisis team definitions and endorsement standards name peer counselors or certified peer specialists as a best practice. Their inclusion depends on what is practical and whether workers are available, rather than being required on every team. Washington’s 988 crisis hubs must coordinate with available peers for follow-up and outreach to callers in distress. The Health Care Authority also works with other agencies to repeat effective treatment-linking approaches after nonfatal overdoses. That effort aims to connect overdose survivors with peers, but does not guarantee peer support for everyone.

Peer supervisors gain pathways and workload relief

Certified peer specialists qualify as supervisors after 1,500 hours of fully certified peer-support work and state-developed supervision training. At least 500 hours must involve joint supervision with another approved supervisor. Until July 1, 2028, behavioral health providers also qualify with two years in a practice using peers on treatment teams. Behavioral health agencies must reduce approved supervisors’ caseloads when they oversee trainees seeking certification; no reduction amount is specified. This duty is no longer tied to standards from the state peer specialist advisory committee.

Peer training tailored to violence survivors

Beginning July 27, 2025, the Health Care Authority must arrange three courses on peer support for violence survivors. The courses address domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. The agency consults the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy, and people with lived and living experience help develop the courses. Training covers safety planning, understanding the violence, and advocacy across legal, medical, social service, and other systems.

Optional peer certification with protected titles

Starting July 1, 2025, certification is voluntary for people providing peer support, except as provided in RCW 71.24.920. Only people with the state credential may use the title “certified peer support specialist.” Certified specialists and trainees are also subject to Washington’s Uniform Disciplinary Act.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Lauren Davis
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

Alex Ramel
Democratic • House
Carolyn Eslick
Republican • House
Debra Lekanoff
Democratic • House
Edwin Obras
Democratic • House
Michelle Valdez
Republican • House
Sharon Tomiko Santos
Democratic • House
Timm Ormsby
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 131 • No: 13

Senate vote • 4/16/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 46 • No: 2 • Other: 1

House vote • 3/11/2025