PRIA Logo™
WashingtonSB 55572025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Codifying emergency rules to protect the right of a pregnant person to access treatment for emergency medical conditions in hospital emergency departments.

Sponsored By: Deborah Krishnadasan (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Stronger emergency care rights for pregnant patients

Beginning April 29, 2025, Washington hospitals must promptly treat pregnant patients with medical emergencies according to accepted medical standards. This includes ending a pregnancy when that is the required treatment. Hospitals cannot deny care because of pregnancy or the embryo's or fetus's health. They cannot put the embryo or fetus ahead of the patient's health or safety without the patient's informed consent. Transfers require legal permission, the patient's informed consent, and a hospital able to provide the needed treatment. Covered emergencies include ectopic pregnancy, pregnancy-loss complications, water breaking before viability, serious placental problems, and severe preeclampsia. The definition also covers serious threats from delayed care and situations where transfer would be unsafe or take too long.

Faster hospital transfers for emergency patients

Beginning April 29, 2025, Washington hospitals must promptly transfer patients with medical emergencies or in active labor. This applies when the patient requests a transfer or the hospital has limited medical resources. Transfers must happen as quickly as accepted medical standards require. Hospitals must follow reasonable transfer steps, including confirming that the receiving hospital has accepted the patient.

Separate rules for behavioral health hospitals

Beginning April 29, 2025, Washington's general hospital definition excludes behavioral health hospitals covered by its separate facility law. This replaces the earlier exclusion for psychiatric hospitals. These facilities remain governed by the separate behavioral health facility law. The change does not specify a direct patient payment or benefit.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Deborah Krishnadasan

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Adrian Cortes

    Democratic • Senate

  • Bob Hasegawa

    Democratic • Senate

  • Claire Wilson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Claudia Kauffman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Derek Stanford

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jamie Pedersen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Javier Valdez

    Democratic • Senate

  • Liz Lovelett

    Democratic • Senate

  • Manka Dhingra

    Democratic • Senate

  • Marko Liias

    Democratic • Senate

  • Noel Frame

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rebecca Saldaña

    Democratic • Senate

  • T'wina Nobles

    Democratic • Senate

  • Tina Orwall

    Democratic • Senate

  • Vandana Slatter

    Democratic • Senate

  • Yasmin Trudeau

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 114 • No: 31

House vote • 4/11/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 84 • No: 12 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 3/5/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 30 • No: 19

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 4/29/2025.

    4/29/2025Senate

  2. Chapter 182, 2025 Laws.

    4/29/2025Senate

  3. Governor signed.

    4/29/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/22/2025legislature

  5. Speaker signed.

    4/18/2025legislature

  6. President signed.

    4/18/2025legislature

  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 84; nays, 12; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    4/11/2025Senate

  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/11/2025Senate

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

    4/8/2025Senate

  10. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    3/28/2025Senate

  11. HCW - Executive action taken by committee.

    3/26/2025Senate

  12. Minority; without recommendation.

    3/26/2025Senate

  13. Minority; do not pass.

    3/26/2025Senate

  14. HCW - Majority; do pass.

    3/26/2025Senate

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

    3/7/2025Senate

  16. Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    3/5/2025Senate

  17. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/5/2025Senate

  18. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    3/5/2025Senate

  19. 1st substitute bill substituted.

    3/5/2025Senate

  20. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    3/3/2025Senate

  21. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    2/21/2025Senate

  22. Minority; without recommendation.

    2/21/2025Senate

  23. Minority; do not pass.

    2/21/2025Senate

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

    2/21/2025Senate

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

    1/28/2025Senate

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation