The 2026 Washington State legislative session begins with lawmakers returning to Olympia for a short, 60-day session that will shape state policy through mid-March.
Life Science Washington anticipates significant debates around health care policy and proposals to raise new taxes and will be actively engaged throughout the session to protect a strong, competitive business environment for life science innovation while advancing policies that support the industry’s workforce and long term growth.
State Budget Priorities LSW will Advocate for:
- UW Bothell CBIT — Over the past 6 years, LSW has partnered with UW Bothell’s Center for Biotechnology, Innovation, and Training to develop the facilities and curriculum to prepare Washington students for high demand life science careers. After years of work building a world-class program that was co-developed with industry, the program lacks the funding to meet industry demand. CBIT is requesting $570,000 in state funding to sustain and expand its successful training model. The investment would support faculty curriculum development to ensure courses remain aligned with industry needs and would fund a director position to lead the program, coordinate with industry partners, and manage its continued growth.
- WEIA education — The Workforce Education Investment Act, passed in 2019, included a B&O surcharge on high tech employers to address shortages in high demand fields by dedicating surcharge revenue to programs that train Washington students for Washington jobs. Over time, funding has shifted away from this mission, with significant amounts now supplanted to support general higher education operations rather than targeted workforce programs. While we do not expect legislation in 2026, we will work to educate lawmakers about the harm of removing non-supplant safeguards and the need to refocus investments on high demand degree capacity and production to realign WEIA with its original purpose.
- Andy Hill CARE Fund — Due to an end of session restructuring of how cigarette and vape taxes are collected, the CARE Fund will seek a legislative fix to maintain its funding. We will support CARE Fund position.
- Oppose new taxes that limit investment and growth of life science companies — The state increased taxes significantly last session. The Governor is proposing a no new revenue budget. Yet, a range of new tax proposals are being circulated. We don’t see a need at this time to raise new revenue.
Policy Priorities we will Advocate for:
- 340B (HB 2145 / SB 5981) Washington should not attempt to alter the federal 340B Program because it is governed by federal law and is already under active federal review. State contract pharmacy mandates would strip away the only tools manufacturers have to prevent duplicate discounts. Contract pharmacy expansion is also pushing prescriptions to out-of-state pharmacies and large national chains, pulling revenue away from local and rural providers. Many hospital systems now rely on 340B as a revenue generator rather than a mechanism to deliver low-cost care to patients with the greatest need, with heavy use in affluent neighborhoods and limited charity care. Until these federal level integrity problems are resolved, Washington should avoid legislation that risks further losses to the Medicaid budget and worsens existing program abuse.
- Artificial Intelligence We will continue working with AdvaMed to educate lawmakers on the difference between AI in consumer spaces and in the life sciences. State policies regulating AI must not conflict with federal regulations governing drug and medical device development, approval, and post market monitoring, nor interfere with long-standing federal safeguards related to HIPPA, public health, and clinical trials.
- Biomarker Testing Coverage (HB 1062) LSW will advocate for legislation returning to the Legislature this year to expand biomarker testing coverage, led by the American Cancer Society and other partner organizations. This bill would enable more Washington residents to access critical diagnostics and tests developed by local companies. Expanding biomarker testing coverage is a win-win for patients, payers, and the healthcare system by enabling earlier and more precise diagnoses, guiding personalized treatment decisions, and improving outcomes, particularly for cancer and chronic diseases where tailored therapies can significantly improve care.