WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION SSB 5185

SB 5185: International med. pathways

Establishing a pilot program that creates a pathway to physician licensure for international medical graduates.

Summary

  • Creates the Clinical Experience Graduate Pilot Program.
  • Removes exceptions to the residency requirement for certain permanent immigrants.

From the Substitute Senate Bill Report (SSB 5185), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 154, Laws of 2026
  1. IntroducedJan 13, 2025
  2. Out of committeeFeb 2, 2026
  3. Passed SenateFeb 6, 2026
  4. Passed HouseMar 3, 2026
  5. GovernorMar 23, 2026
  6. LawMar 23, 2026
Prime sponsor
Rebecca Saldaña (D-37)
Introduced
January 13, 2025 in the Senate
Last action
March 23, 2026
Session law
Chapter 154, Laws of 2026
Companion bill
HB 1306
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
SB 5185, SSB 5185

AN ACT Relating to establishing a pilot program that creates a pathway to physician licensure for international medical graduates;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Rebecca Saldaña (D-37)

13 co-sponsors (13 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Adrian Cortes D-18Annette Cleveland D-49Lisa Wellman D-41Derek Stanford D-1Joe Nguyen D-34Mike Chapman D-24Tina Orwall D-33Manka Dhingra D-45Javier Valdez D-46Marcus Riccelli D-3Jessica Bateman D-22Bob Hasegawa D-11T'wina Nobles D-28

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed February 6, 2026
Version voted on: SSB 5185
39 Yea 9 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat29001
Republican10900
How each member voted

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed March 3, 2026
Version voted on: SSB 5185
89 Yea 4 Nay 0 Absent 5 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat55004
Republican34401
How each member voted

Yea (89)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed March 9, 2026
Version voted on: SSB 5185
41 Yea 8 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat30000
Republican11800
How each member voted
Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 6/11/2026. (SSB 5185)
  2. Chapter 154, 2026 Laws. (SSB 5185)
  3. Governor signed. (SSB 5185)
  4. Delivered to Governor. (SSB 5185)
  5. Speaker signed. (SSB 5185)
  6. President signed. (SSB 5185)
  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 41; nays, 8; absent, 0; excused, 0. (SSB 5185)
  8. Senate concurred in House amendments. (SSB 5185)
  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 89; nays, 4; absent, 0; excused, 5. (SSB 5185)
  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (SSB 5185)
  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments. (SSB 5185)
  12. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (SSB 5185)
  13. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (SSB 5185)
  14. HCW - Executive action taken by committee. (SSB 5185)
  15. HCW - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (SSB 5185)
  16. First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness. (SSB 5185)
  17. Third reading, passed; yeas, 39; nays, 9; absent, 0; excused, 1. (SSB 5185)
  18. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (SSB 5185)
  19. 1st substitute bill substituted. (SSB 5185)
  20. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  21. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (SSB 5185)
  22. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  23. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (SSB 5185)
  24. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  25. HLTC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SSB 5185)
  26. Minority; without recommendation. (SSB 5185)
  27. Minority; without recommendation.
  28. HLTC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  29. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
  30. First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care.
  31. Prefiled for introduction.

SB 5185 in other sessions

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

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