WA People
BILL · 2023–24 SESSION · LATEST VERSION SHB 1281

HB 1281: Death with dignity act

Increasing access to the provisions of the Washington death with dignity act.

Summary

  • Expands the health care providers authorized to perform the duties of the Death with Dignity Act (Act) to include advanced registered nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
  • Reduces the required 15-day waiting period between the first and second oral requests for medications to seven days and eliminates the 48-hour waiting period for the written request.
  • Permits medications dispensed under the Act to be delivered or mailed.
  • Prohibits health care providers from contractually prohibiting an employee from participating in the Act while outside of the scope of employment and not on the employing health care provider's premises.
  • Requires hospitals and hospices to submit their policies regarding access to end-of-life care and the Act to the Department of Health.

From the House Bill Report (HB 1281), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · stalled on the House floor
  1. IntroducedJan 12, 2023
  2. Out of committeeFeb 7, 2023
  3. Passed Housestopped here
  4. Passed Senate
  5. Governor
  6. Law
Prime sponsor
Skyler Rude (R-16)
Introduced
January 12, 2023 in the House
Last action
January 8, 2024
Companion bill
SB 5179
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
HB 1281, SHB 1281

AN ACT Relating to increasing access to the provisions of the Washington death with dignity act;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Skyler Rude (R-16)

21 co-sponsors (20 Democrats, 1 Republican)

Strom Peterson D-21Paul Harris R-17Nicole Macri D-43Marcus Riccelli D-3Monica Jurado Stonier D-49Joe Fitzgibbon D-34Tana Senn D-41Tarra Simmons D-23Steve Tharinger D-24Shelley Kloba D-1Kristine Reeves D-30Julia Reed D-36Amy Walen D-48Mia Gregerson D-33Timm Ormsby D-3Jessica Bateman D-22Beth Doglio D-22Emily Alvarado D-34Alex Ramel D-40Sharon Tomiko Santos D-37Gerry Pollet D-46

Votes

No recorded floor votes.

History

  1. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status. (SHB 1281)
  2. House Rules "X" file. (SHB 1281)
  3. House Rules "X" file.
  4. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
  5. Returned to Rules Committee for second reading. (SHB 1281)
  6. Returned to Rules Committee for second reading.
  7. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (SHB 1281)
  8. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
  9. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (SHB 1281)
  10. Referred to Rules 2 Review.
  11. Minority; do not pass. (SHB 1281)
  12. Minority; do not pass.
  13. HCW - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SHB 1281)
  14. HCW - Executive action taken by committee.
  15. HCW - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  16. First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness.

HB 1281 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

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