WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION ESSB 5480

SB 5480: Medical debt

Protecting consumers by removing barriers created by medical debt.

Summary

  • Prohibits hospitals, physician groups, professional partners, and collection agencies from reporting medical debt to credit reporting agencies or credit bureaus.
  • Exempts medical debt from being included on a consumer's credit report.
  • Makes medical debt reported to a credit reporting agency void and unenforceable, with enforcement provided for under the Consumer Protection Act.

From the Engrossed Substitute House Bill Report (ESSB 5480), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 145, Laws of 2025
  1. IntroducedJan 24, 2025
  2. Out of committeeFeb 7, 2025
  3. Passed SenateFeb 26, 2025
  4. Passed HouseApr 9, 2025
  5. GovernorApr 22, 2025
  6. LawApr 22, 2025
Prime sponsor
Marcus Riccelli (D-3)
Introduced
January 24, 2025 in the Senate
Last action
April 22, 2025
Session law
Chapter 145, Laws of 2025
Companion bill
HB 1632
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
SB 5480, SSB 5480, ESSB 5480

AN ACT Relating to protecting consumers by removing barriers created by medical debt;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Marcus Riccelli (D-3)

14 co-sponsors (14 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Jessica Bateman D-22Emily Alvarado D-34Mike Chapman D-24Bob Hasegawa D-11Liz Lovelett D-40T'wina Nobles D-28Tina Orwall D-33Bill Ramos D-5June Robinson D-38Vandana Slatter D-48Derek Stanford D-1Yasmin Trudeau D-27Javier Valdez D-46Claire Wilson D-30

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed February 26, 2025
Version voted on: ESSB 5480
35 Yea 12 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat29001
Republican61201
How each member voted

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

House · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed April 9, 2025
Version voted on: ESSB 5480
59 Yea 38 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat59000
Republican03801
How each member voted

Yea (59)

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025. (ESSB 5480)
  2. Chapter 145, 2025 Laws. (ESSB 5480)
  3. Governor signed. (ESSB 5480)
  4. Delivered to Governor. (ESSB 5480)
  5. Speaker signed. (ESSB 5480)
  6. President signed. (ESSB 5480)
  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 59; nays, 38; absent, 0; excused, 1. (ESSB 5480)
  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5480)
  9. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (ESSB 5480)
  10. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (ESSB 5480)
  11. Minority; without recommendation. (ESSB 5480)
  12. Minority; do not pass. (ESSB 5480)
  13. CPB - Majority; do pass. (ESSB 5480)
  14. CPB - Executive action taken by committee. (ESSB 5480)
  15. First reading, referred to Consumer Protection & Business. (ESSB 5480)
  16. Third reading, passed; yeas, 35; nays, 12; absent, 0; excused, 2. (ESSB 5480)
  17. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5480)
  18. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (ESSB 5480)
  19. 1st substitute bill substituted. (ESSB 5480)
  20. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  21. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (ESSB 5480)
  22. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  23. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (ESSB 5480)
  24. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  25. Minority; do not pass. (ESSB 5480)
  26. LAW - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (ESSB 5480)
  27. LAW - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  28. Minority; do not pass.
  29. First reading, referred to Law & Justice.

SB 5480 in other sessions

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

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