WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION SHB 1496

HB 1496: Health care information

Strengthening patients' rights regarding their health care information.

Summary

  • Limits charges for providing patient health care information that is stored electronically to no more than $50 when provided in an electronic format to the patient or the patient's representative, attorney, or community-based or system-based advocate.
  • Allows a court to award attorneys' fees and expenses to the prevailing patient, rather than the prevailing party, in actions against a health care provider or facility for noncompliance with the Uniform Health Care Information Act.

From the House Bill Report (HB 1496), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · stalled on the House floor
  1. IntroducedJan 22, 2025
  2. Out of committeeFeb 4, 2026
  3. Passed Housestopped here
  4. Passed Senate
  5. Governor
  6. Law
Prime sponsor
Liz Berry (D-36)
Introduced
January 22, 2025 in the House
Last action
February 19, 2026
Companion bill
SB 5254
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
HB 1496, SHB 1496

AN ACT Relating to strengthening patients' rights regarding their health care information by promoting access to information and providing enforcement protections for the appropriate use of the information;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Liz Berry (D-36)

16 co-sponsors (14 Democrats, 2 Republicans)

Dan Bronoske D-28Peter Abbarno R-20Debra Lekanoff D-40Beth Doglio D-22Strom Peterson D-21Julia Reed D-36Dan Griffey R-35Tarra Simmons D-23Roger Goodman D-45Lisa Parshley D-22Timm Ormsby D-3Mary Fosse D-38Gerry Pollet D-46Natasha Hill D-3Osman Salahuddin D-48Shaun Scott D-43

Votes

No recorded floor votes.

History

  1. House Rules "X" file. (SHB 1496)
  2. Returned to Rules Committee for second reading. (SHB 1496)
  3. Returned to Rules Committee for second reading.
  4. House Rules "X" file.
  5. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (SHB 1496)
  6. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
  7. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (SHB 1496)
  8. Committee relieved of further consideration. (SHB 1496)
  9. Committee relieved of further consideration.
  10. Referred to Rules 2 Review.
  11. Referred to Appropriations. (SHB 1496)
  12. Referred to Appropriations.
  13. HCW - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SHB 1496)
  14. Minority; without recommendation. (SHB 1496)
  15. HCW - Executive action taken by committee.
  16. Minority; without recommendation.
  17. HCW - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  18. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
  19. First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness.

HB 1496 in other sessions

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

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