The 2025 legislative session is already a third of the way through its 105-day marathon. As we noted last week, Friday, February 21st marked the deadline for bills to pass out of policy committees in their chamber of origin. With fewer than 20% of introduced bills ultimately becoming law, this was the first major hurdle in the process. The next cutoff is coming fast—by this Friday, February 28th, any bill with a fiscal impact must clear its respective fiscal committee (Finance, Appropriations, Transportation, or Ways & Means) to stay in play.
Between now and then, lawmakers will be working long hours in those committees, debating and voting on bills. However, there’s some flexibility—bills deemed “necessary to implement the budget” (NTIB) by majority leadership are exempt from these deadlines, allowing them to remain active until the final gavel on Sine Die. Meanwhile, bills with little or no budget impact move directly to the Rules Committee which acts as a gatekeeper to manage the flow of bills for consideration by the full House or Senate.
One notable bill, HB 1531 (Rep. Dan Bronoske, D-Lakewood), gained new momentum this week after initially being shelved. It resurfaced following a unanimous vote by Franklin County Commissioners to bar the local health department from providing, funding, or promoting vaccines—mirroring a recent decision in Idaho to halt COVID-19 vaccinations in six counties. The bill requires state and local health officials to implement evidence-based disease control measures, including vaccine promotion, and prohibits laws restricting these efforts. It also includes an emergency clause preventing repeal by referendum. The bill passed out of committee on Friday.
On the budget front, House Democrats have released a website outlining what a no-revenue budget could look like. Meanwhile, Governor Ferguson’s budget reduction exercise is expected to be unveiled this week, giving a clearer picture of potential spending cuts.
The next state revenue forecast will be released on March 18, which House and Senate budget writers will use to make determinations about necessary budget cuts and potential revenue targets among tax increase proposals.
RSVP for our Mid-Session Legislative Update Call
Join us for a virtual briefing on Thursday, March 6, 2025 at 12:00 PM PST for an update on this year’s legislative session. Contact Curtis Knapp, LSW’s Public Affairs Manager to rsvp.
Life Science Washington Priorities
- Rare disease advisory council—SB 5064/HB 1238 have each cleared the respective health care committees and must receive a vote in Senate Ways & Means or House Appropriations by this Friday.
- Biosimilars—SB 5594 passed the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee with amendments sought by BIO and LSW and is now in the Rules Committee.
- Artificial intelligence—HB 1168 is scheduled for a hearing in House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday. We are awaiting committee amendments to post online and continue advocating for changes to align the bill with federal laws and regulations.
- Right to Repair—HB 1483 is awaiting a vote by the full House.
- Biomarker testing and whole genome sequencing coverage— As we reported last week, HB 1062, the biomarker bill, and HB 1444, the genome sequencing bill, are unlikely to move forward this year. See LSW’s testimony supporting the bill here.
- Personal Data Privacy—HB 1671 incorporates FDA, HIPPA, and public health amendments LSW and BIO secured in previous health care data privacy laws.
Have questions, comments, or concerns about these bills or any other pending legislation? Get in touch with LSW’s Public Affairs Manager, Curtis Knapp.