WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION E2SSB 5847

SB 5847: Workers' comp. medical care

Concerning access to medical care in workers' compensation.

Summary

  • Makes changes to workers' compensation claims treatment provisions including: (1) allowing providers to deviate from treatment guidelines when medically appropriate; (2) preventing an employer from requiring or coercing a worker to see a specific provider; (3) allowing treatment by a nonnetwork provider in specified circumstances; and (4) allowing continued treatment for permanent partial disability cases.
  • Requires utilization review to be completed within 10 business days.
  • Requires written notice when removing a provider from the Department of Labor and Industries' medical provider network.
  • Authorizes the Department of Labor and Industries to hire additional claims managers to the extent necessary to meet specified case load standards.
  • Requires reporting by the Department of Labor and Industries and the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee on the impact of additional claims managers.

From the Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill Report (E2SSB 5847), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 175, Laws of 2026
  1. IntroducedJan 12, 2026
  2. Out of committeeFeb 9, 2026
  3. Passed SenateFeb 13, 2026
  4. Passed HouseMar 6, 2026
  5. GovernorMar 24, 2026
  6. LawMar 24, 2026
Prime sponsor
Rebecca Saldaña (D-37)
Introduced
January 12, 2026 in the Senate
Last action
March 24, 2026
Session law
Chapter 175, Laws of 2026
Companion bill
HB 2218
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
SB 5847, SSB 5847, 2SSB 5847, E2SSB 5847

AN ACT Relating to access to medical care in workers' compensation;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Rebecca Saldaña (D-37)

14 co-sponsors (13 Democrats, 1 Republican)

Paul Harris R-17Emily Alvarado D-34Yasmin Trudeau D-27Jessica Bateman D-22Steve Conway D-29Bob Hasegawa D-11Liz Lovelett D-40T'wina Nobles D-28Tina Orwall D-33Marcus Riccelli D-3Sharon Shewmake D-42Derek Stanford D-1Javier Valdez D-46Claire Wilson D-30

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed February 13, 2026
Version voted on: E2SSB 5847
30 Yea 18 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat30000
Republican01801
How each member voted

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed March 6, 2026
Version voted on: E2SSB 5847
67 Yea 28 Nay 0 Absent 3 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat57101
Republican102702
How each member voted

Yea (67)

Excused (3)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed March 10, 2026
Version voted on: E2SSB 5847
30 Yea 19 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat30000
Republican01900
How each member voted
Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 6/11/2026*. (E2SSB 5847)
  2. Chapter 175, 2026 Laws. (E2SSB 5847)
  3. Governor signed. (E2SSB 5847)
  4. Delivered to Governor. (E2SSB 5847)
  5. Speaker signed. (E2SSB 5847)
  6. President signed. (E2SSB 5847)
  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 30; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 0. (E2SSB 5847)
  8. Senate concurred in House amendments. (E2SSB 5847)
  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 67; nays, 28; absent, 0; excused, 3. (E2SSB 5847)
  10. Committee amendment not adopted. (E2SSB 5847)
  11. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (E2SSB 5847)
  12. Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended. (E2SSB 5847)
  13. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (E2SSB 5847)
  14. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (E2SSB 5847)
  15. APP - Executive action taken by committee. (E2SSB 5847)
  16. Minority; without recommendation. (E2SSB 5847)
  17. Minority; do not pass. (E2SSB 5847)
  18. APP - Majority; do pass with amendment(s) but without amendment(s) by Labor & Workplace Standards. (E2SSB 5847)
  19. Referred to Appropriations. (E2SSB 5847)
  20. Minority; without recommendation. (E2SSB 5847)
  21. LAWS - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (E2SSB 5847)
  22. LAWS - Executive action taken by committee. (E2SSB 5847)
  23. First reading, referred to Labor & Workplace Standards. (E2SSB 5847)
  24. Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 18; absent, 0; excused, 1. (E2SSB 5847)
  25. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (E2SSB 5847)
  26. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (E2SSB 5847)
  27. 2nd substitute bill substituted. (E2SSB 5847)
  28. 2nd substitute bill substituted. (SSB 5847)
  29. 2nd substitute bill substituted.
  30. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (E2SSB 5847)
  31. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (SSB 5847)
  32. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  33. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (E2SSB 5847)
  34. Minority; do not pass. (E2SSB 5847)
  35. WM - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (E2SSB 5847)
  36. WM - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SSB 5847)
  37. Minority; do not pass. (SSB 5847)
  38. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (SSB 5847)
  39. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  40. Minority; do not pass.
  41. WM - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  42. Referred to Ways & Means. (SSB 5847)
  43. Referred to Ways & Means.
  44. LC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SSB 5847)
  45. And refer to Ways & Means. (SSB 5847)
  46. Minority; do not pass. (SSB 5847)
  47. Minority; without recommendation. (SSB 5847)
  48. Minority; without recommendation.
  49. Minority; do not pass.
  50. And refer to Ways & Means.
  51. LC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  52. First reading, referred to Labor & Commerce.
  53. Prefiled for introduction.

SB 5847 in other sessions

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

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