SB 6019 — Improving the functioning of home care rate statutes.
Last action — Effective date 6/11/2026.
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed Senate
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✓Passed House
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 07, 2026. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Bob Ferguson (Democratic) on March 17, 2026.
Odds of enactment
High chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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9 sponsors
1 primary, 8 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (8 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 2 recorded votes so far.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
339 added · 343 removedPlain-language change summary
The revised version of Senate Bill 6019 simplifies how the state will determine home care agency labor rates. Instead of calculating a "per-quarter-hour amount," the bill now focuses on determining a labor rate that reflects total wages and benefits for home care providers. This change is important because it aims to streamline funding, ensuring that any increase directly benefits the wages and benefits of home care workers who provide direct care. By specifying that the new labor rates are for direct care workers only, it reinforces the commitment to improving their compensation.
ENGROSSEDS-3665.2 SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6019 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By Senate Health & Long-Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Cleveland, Harris, Bateman, Chapman, Dhingra, Lovelett, Riccelli, Trudeau, and Valdez)Valdez READPrefiled FIRST01/07/26. TIME 01/29/26.
Read first time 01/12/26.
Referred to Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.
(1) The((The)) departmentIn shalleach convertodd-numbered andyear, distributewithin any60 changedays inafter the totaladjournment amountsine die of wagesthe andlegislative benefitssession, negotiated and funded in the contractdepartment forshall individual((convert providersand ofdistribute homeany carechange servicesin pursuantthe)) todetermine RCWa 74.39A.270home andcare 74.39A.300agency or labor ratesrate establishedby underconverting RCWand 74.39A.530distributing: into a per-quarter-hour amount.
This(a) mustThe betotal accomplishedamount inof eachwages odd-numberedand yearbenefits withinnegotiated sixtyand daysfunded afterin adjournmentthe sinecontract diefor individual providers of thehome legislativecare session.services pursuant to RCW 74.39A.270 and 74.39A.300;
(2) The per-quarter-hour amount shall be added to or subtracted((labor)) from(b) theLabor statewiderates homeestablished careunder agencyRCW vendor74.39A.530 rate((into anda anyper- increasequarter-hour shallamount. be used exclusively for improving the wages and benefits of home care agency workers who provide direct care, and for paying any resulting change in required employer contributions or premiums.
This must be accomplished in each odd-numbered year within sixty days after adjournment sine die of the legislative session)).
(2) The ((per-quarter-hour amount shall be added to or subtracted from the statewide home care agency vendor rate and any increase)) home care agency labor rate determined in subsection (1) of this section shall be used exclusively for ((improving)) the wages and benefits of home care agency workers who provide direct care, and for p.
1 SB 6019 paying ((any resulting change in)) required employer contributions or premiums, including but not limited to:
(a) Wages;
(b) Benefit pay, such as vacation, sick, and holiday pay;
(c) Mileage;
(d) Contributions to a training partnership;
(e) Contributions to the health benefit trust;
and (f) Contributions to the defined contribution retirement trust.
(a) The changes((changes to wages, benefits, and compensation negotiated and funded each biennium, including but not limited to:
p.(i) Wages;
1 ESSB 6019 (i) Wages;
andand)) (b)total Theamount changeof inwages theand averagebenefits costsnegotiated experiencedand byfunded medicaidin contractedthe homecontract carefor agencies,individual asproviders determinedof byhome thecare departmentservices inpursuant itsto soleRCW discretion,74.39A.270 ofand employer74.39A.300 contributions or premiumslabor requiredrates byestablished lawunder including,RCW but74.39A.530; not limited to:
(b) The ((change in the)) average costs experienced by medicaid contracted home care agencies, as determined by the department in its sole discretion, of employer contributions or premiums required by law including, but not limited to:
(4) ForThe fiscalportion yearof 2027, the department((vendor)) shallhome determine,care inagency itslabor solerate discretion,calculated thefor portionhealth ofcare thebenefits, totalincluding vendorbut ratenot dedicatedlimited to wages,medical, benefits,dental, and requiredvision employerbenefits, contributionsmay only be used for health benefits for home care agency workers who provide direct care.
Beginning in fiscal year 2028, the portion of the total vendor rate dedicated to wages, benefits, and required employer contributions or premiums for home care agency workers who provide direct care is equal to the total portion from the previous fiscal year plus the increments established in subsection (3) of this section.
(5) The portion of the vendor rate calculated for health care benefits, including but not limited to medical, dental, and vision benefits, may only be used for health benefits for home care agency workers who provide direct care.
(((5))) (6) The portion of the vendor rate calculated for training may only be used for training, testing, and certification costs, and associated costs for the administration of training, testing, and certification scheduling and compliance for home care agency workers who provide direct care.
2 ESSBSB 6019 (7)(5) WhenThe establishingportions of the per-quarter-hourhome amountcare agency labor rate calculated for thetraining vendormay rate,only thebe departmentused mustfor preventtraining, duplicatetesting, accountingand certification costs, and associated costs for the sameadministration cost.of training, testing, and certification scheduling and compliance for home care agency workers who provide direct care.
(8)(6) BeginningWhen Julyestablishing 1, 2027, the departmentper-quarter-hour oramount itsfor designeethe shall verify that home care agenciesagency havelabor expendedrate, fundsthe indepartment accordancemust withprevent theduplicate requirementsaccounting offor thisthe section.same cost.
(a)(7)(a) ToThe assist the department or its designee withshall theverify verificationthat requirementhome incare thisagencies section,have eachexpended homefunds carein agencyaccordance shallwith submitthe torequirements theof department:this section.
(b) To assist the department or its designee with the verification requirement in (a) of this subsection, each home care agency shall submit either:
or (ii) A written attestation from the labor organization that is the exclusive bargaining representative of the home care workers who provide direct care that are employed by the agency, confirming that the home care agency has complied with the wageslabor andrate, benefits, health care rate, and training rate requirements.
(b)(c) The department may adopt rules to establish reasonable objective criteria through a transparent process to temporarily exempt a home care agency determined to be facing extraordinary circumstances that prevent their compliance with this section.
The department shall develop these criteria through a transparent process that includes public notice and opportunities for public comment from interested parties.
(9)(a)(8) The department shall determine a home care agency administrative rate usingfollowing the process established in RCW 74.39A.530.
(b)(9) TheFor homethe purposes of this section, "home care agency administrative raterate" ismeans the portion of the home care agency vendor rate, as defined in RCW 74.39A.530, designated to support the administrative functions and essential operations of a home care agency.agency, including but not limited to:
These(a) functionsCompliance with administrative requirements related to department of health licensing provisions and operationsdepartment maycontracts includefor butpersonal arecare notand limitedrespite to:services;
(i) Compliance with administrative requirements related to department of health licensing provisions and department contracts for personal care and respite services;
(ii) Payment of all taxes and costs associated with obtaining and maintaining a licensed business in the state of Washington, as well as compliance with all labor and industry, local, state, and federal standards and laws;
(iii) Business and occupation tax on any increases to the labor rate;
3 ESSBSB 6019 (iv)(b) FundingPayment forof electronicall visittaxes verification;and costs associated with obtaining and maintaining a licensed business in the state of Washington, as well as compliance with all labor and industry, local, state, and federal standards and laws;
(c) Business and (v)occupation Fundingtax foron personalany protectiveincreases equipment.to the labor rate;
(d) Funding for electronic visit verification;
Show all 69 changed lines (29 more)
and (e) Funding for personal protective equipment.
(i) One representative from the ((governor's))governor's officeoffice; of the governor;
(iv)p. One representative of an organization representing people with physical disabilities appointed by the governor;
(v)4 OneSB representative6019 from(iv) theOne licensedrepresentative home care agency industry chosen by the ((state's)) largest association of homean careorganization agenciesrepresenting thatpeople primarilywith servesphysical state-fundeddisabilities clientsappointed ofby the state;governor;
and(v) p.One representative from the licensed home care agency industry chosen by the state's largest association of home care agencies that primarily serves state-funded clients;
4and ESSB 6019 (vi) One home care worker chosen by the ((state's))state's largest organization of home care workersworkers. of the state.
(c) The ((governor's))governor's appointments by the governor shall be made by April 1st in even-numbered years.
In determining the consumer directed employer administrative rate, the rate-settingdepartment board may not recommend a rate that represents more than 20 percent of the sum of the consumer directed employer labor rate and the consumer directed employer administrative rate.
In addition, the rate-setting board ((may take testimony and make a recommendation regarding the administrative vendor rate for home care agencies that serve medicaid clients)) shall review the department's projection from the department of the portion of the vendor rate dedicated to the wages and benefits for home care agency workerslabor whorate provide direct care and the required employer contributions or premiums established in RCW 74.39A.310.
In determining the home care agency administrative rate, the rate-settingrate- boardp. may not recommend a rate that represents more than 20 percent of the projected home care agency vendor rate.
p.5 SB 6019 setting board may not recommend a rate that represents more than 20 percent of the home care agency vendor rate.
5 ESSB 6019 (((5))) (4) The department shall provide administrative support for the board.
(a) At the commencement of the ((board's))board's rate-setting activitiesactivities, of the board, the voting members must first attempt to select an additional voting member, who will chair the rate-setting board and will cast a tie-breakingtie- breaking vote if the voting members identified in subsection (((2))) (1) of this section are unable to pass by majority vote on the labor rate.
(i) The voting member representing the ((governor's))governor's office of the governor shall request a list of five qualified arbitrators, or six if there are two consumer directed employers, from the federal mediation and conciliation service.
The representative from the ((governor's))governor's office of the governor shall then strike a name from the list, the designee from the exclusive bargaining representative or, in the absence of an exclusive bargaining representative, the designee from the consumer directed employer workforce shall strike a name from the list, if there are two consumer directed employers, the second representative will strike a name from the list, and finally the representative from the department shall strike a name from the list.
(c) On the next occasion that the voting members identified in subsection (((2))) (1)(a) of this section fail to select a chair member by a majority vote, the chair member will be selected using the method described in (b) of this subsection except that the order p.
6 ESSBSB 6019 member by a majority vote, the chair member will be selected using the method described in (b) of this subsection except that the order of board members striking names from the list, described in (b)(ii) of this subsection, shall be reversed.
(6) After the rates have been determined in accordance with subsections (((3))) (2) through (((6))) (5) of this section, they shall be submitted to the director of the office of financial management by October 1st prior to the legislative session during whichp. the requests are to be considered for review.
If7 theSB director6019 ofwhich the officerequests ofare financialto managementbe certifiesconsidered themfor asreview. being p.
7If ESSBthe 6019director of the office of financial management certifies them as being feasible financially for the state, the governor shall include a request for funds necessary to implement the proposed rates as part of the ((governor's))governor's budget document submitted by the office of the governor under RCW 43.88.030 and 43.88.060.
(11) The department shall have the authority to modify the labor rate ((and)), the administrative rate, and the home care agency administrative rate between the ((rate-settingrate-setting board's))board's rate-setting activities of the rate-setting board without convening the rate-rate-setting setting board or following the preceding rate-setting process, subject to the following conditions:
8 ESSBSB 6019 (i) Recognize changes to the ((department's))department's required expenditures for the department or the ((consumerconsumer directed employer's))employer's required costs for the consumer directed employer associated with changes to tax rates, required employer contributions, mileage rate allowances, and utilization of overtime to comply with RCW 74.39A.525;
((or))or (ii) Comply with a significant change in state or federal rule or law that would impact the ((consumerconsumer directed employer's))employer's ability of the consumer directed employer to operate;
or (iii) Adjust the home care agency administrative rate to maintain the administrative rate at no more than 20 percent of the total home care agency vendor rate;
(a) "Labor rate" is defined as that portion of the ((consumerconsumer directed employer's))employer's hourly rate for the consumer directed employer that is to be used by the consumer directed employer to compensate its workers, including wages, benefits, and any associated taxes.
(b) "Administrative rate" is defined as that portion of the ((consumerconsumer directed employer's))employer's hourly rate for the consumer directed employer that is to be used by the consumer directed employer to perform its administrative duties including losses for bad debt, compensation for business and occupation taxes on the labor and administrative rates, and all other costs associated with operating as the consumer directed employer.
(c) "Home care agency administrative rate" has the same meaning as outlined in RCW 74.39A.310.
(d) "Home care agency vendor rate" is defined as the sum of the portion of the vendor rate dedicated to the wages, benefits, and required employer contributions or premiums for home care agency workerslabor whorate provide direct care and the home care agency administrative rate.
9 ESSBSB 6019
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View plain text versions (4)
- Bill View text pdf
- Substitute Engrossed Substitute Bill pdf
- Substitute Substitute Bill pdf
- Substitute Substitute Passed Legislature Current pdf
Action History
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Effective date 6/11/2026.
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Chapter 85, 2026 Laws.
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Governor signed.
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Delivered to Governor.
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Speaker signed.
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President signed.
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Third reading, passed; yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2.
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Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
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Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
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Referred to Rules 2 Review.
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APP - Majority; do pass.
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Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.
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Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 4:00 PM.
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First reading, referred to Appropriations.
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Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.
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Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
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Floor amendment(s) adopted.
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1st substitute bill substituted (HLTC 26).
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Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
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Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
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Minority; without recommendation.
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HLTC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
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Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 10:30 AM.
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Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 8:00 AM.
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First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care.
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Prefiled for introduction.
Sponsors
- Yasmin Trudeau · Cosponsor
- Marcus Riccelli · Cosponsor
- Liz Lovelett · Cosponsor
- Manka Dhingra · Cosponsor
- Mike Chapman · Cosponsor
- Jessica Bateman · Cosponsor
- Paul Harris · Cosponsor
- Annette Cleveland · Primary
- Javier Valdez · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 8 co-sponsors · 142 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Annette Cleveland Democrat
Co-sponsors (8)
- Yasmin Trudeau Democrat
- Marcus Riccelli Democrat
- Liz Lovelett Democrat
- Manka Dhingra Democrat
- Mike Chapman Democrat
- Jessica Bateman Democrat
- Paul Harris Republican
- Javier Valdez Democrat
Not signed on (142)
142 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 142 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 58 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 96 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| % of votes cast | 98% | 0% | 0% | 2% |
How each member voted (98)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Adam Bernbaum | Democrat | Yea |
| Adison Richards | Democrat | Yea |
| Adrian Cortes | Democrat | Yea |
| Alex Ramel | Democrat | Yea |
| Alicia Rule | Democrat | Yea |
| Amy Walen | Democrat | Yea |
| April Berg | Democrat | Yea |
| Beth Doglio | Democrat | Yea |
| Brandy Donaghy | Democrat | Yea |
| Brianna Thomas | Democrat | Yea |
| Chipalo Street | Democrat | Yea |
| Chris Stearns | Democrat | Yea |
| Cindy Ryu | Democrat | Yea |
| Clyde Shavers | Democrat | Yea |
| Dan Bronoske | Democrat | Yea |
| Darya Farivar | Democrat | Yea |
| Dave Paul | Democrat | Yea |
| David Hackney | Democrat | Yea |
| Davina Duerr | Democrat | Yea |
| Debra Entenman | Democrat | Yea |
| Debra Lekanoff | Democrat | Yea |
| Edwin Obras | Democrat | Yea |
| Gerry Pollet | Democrat | Yea |
| Greg Nance | Democrat | Not Voting |
| Jake Fey | Democrat | Yea |
| Jamila Taylor | Democrat | Yea |
| Janice Zahn | Democrat | Yea |
| Javier Valdez | Democrat | Yea |
| Joe Fitzgibbon | Democrat | Yea |
| Joe Timmons | Democrat | Yea |
| Julia Reed | Democrat | Yea |
| Kristine Reeves | Democrat | Yea |
| Larry Springer | Democrat | Yea |
| Lauren Davis | Democrat | Yea |
| Laurie Jinkins | Democrat | Yea |
| Lillian Ortiz-Self | Democrat | Yea |
| Lisa Callan | Democrat | Yea |
| Lisa Parshley | Democrat | Yea |
| Liz Berry | Democrat | Yea |
| Mari Leavitt | Democrat | Yea |
| Mary Fosse | Democrat | Yea |
| Melanie Morgan | Democrat | Yea |
| Mia Gregerson | Democrat | Yea |
| Monica Jurado Stonier | Democrat | Yea |
| My-Linh Thai | Democrat | Yea |
| Natasha Hill | Democrat | Yea |
| Nicole Macri | Democrat | Yea |
| Osman Salahuddin | Democrat | Yea |
| Roger Goodman | Democrat | Yea |
| Sharlett Mena | Democrat | Yea |
| Sharon Tomiko Santos | Democrat | Yea |
| Sharon Wylie | Democrat | Yea |
| Shaun Scott | Democrat | Yea |
| Shelley Kloba | Democrat | Yea |
| Steve Bergquist | Democrat | Yea |
| Steve Tharinger | Democrat | Not Voting |
| Strom Peterson | Democrat | Yea |
| Tarra Simmons | Democrat | Yea |
| Timm Ormsby | Democrat | Yea |
| Zach Hall | Democrat | Yea |
| Alex Ybarra | Republican | Yea |
| Andrew Barkis | Republican | Yea |
| Andrew Engell | Republican | Yea |
| April Connors | Republican | Yea |
| Brian Burnett | Republican | Yea |
| Carolyn Eslick | Republican | Yea |
| Chris Corry | Republican | Yea |
| Cyndy Jacobsen | Republican | Yea |
| Dan Griffey | Republican | Yea |
| David Stuebe | Republican | Yea |
| Deb Manjarrez | Republican | Yea |
| Drew Stokesbary | Republican | Yea |
| Ed Orcutt | Republican | Yea |
| Gloria Mendoza | Republican | Yea |
| Hunter Abell | Republican | Yea |
| Jenny Graham | Republican | Yea |
| Jeremie Dufault | Republican | Yea |
| Jim Walsh | Republican | Yea |
| Joe Schmick | Republican | Yea |
| Joel McEntire | Republican | Yea |
| John Ley | Republican | Yea |
| Joshua Penner | Republican | Yea |
| Kevin Waters | Republican | Yea |
| Mark Klicker | Republican | Yea |
| Mary Dye | Republican | Yea |
| Matt Marshall | Republican | Yea |
| Michael Keaton | Republican | Yea |
| Mike Steele | Republican | Yea |
| Mike Volz | Republican | Yea |
| Peter Abbarno | Republican | Yea |
| Rob Chase | Republican | Yea |
| Sam Low | Republican | Yea |
| Skyler Rude | Republican | Yea |
| Stephanie Barnard | Republican | Yea |
| Stephanie McClintock | Republican | Yea |
| Suzanne Schmidt | Republican | Yea |
| Tom Dent | Republican | Yea |
| Travis Couture | Republican | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrat | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 49 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| % of votes cast | 100% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
How each member voted (49)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Adrian Cortes | Democrat | Yea |
| Annette Cleveland | Democrat | Yea |
| Bob Hasegawa | Democrat | Yea |
| Claire Wilson | Democrat | Yea |
| Claudia Kauffman | Democrat | Yea |
| Deborah Krishnadasan | Democrat | Yea |
| Derek Stanford | Democrat | Yea |
| Drew Hansen | Democrat | Yea |
| Emily Alvarado | Democrat | Yea |
| Jamie Pedersen | Democrat | Yea |
| Javier Valdez | Democrat | Yea |
| Jesse Salomon | Democrat | Yea |
| Jessica Bateman | Democrat | Yea |
| John Lovick | Democrat | Yea |
| June Robinson | Democrat | Yea |
| Lisa Wellman | Democrat | Yea |
| Liz Lovelett | Democrat | Yea |
| Manka Dhingra | Democrat | Yea |
| Marcus Riccelli | Democrat | Yea |
| Marko Liias | Democrat | Yea |
| Mike Chapman | Democrat | Yea |
| Noel Frame | Democrat | Yea |
| Rebecca Saldaña | Democrat | Yea |
| Sharon Shewmake | Democrat | Yea |
| Steve Conway | Democrat | Yea |
| T'wina Nobles | Democrat | Yea |
| Tina Orwall | Democrat | Yea |
| Vandana Slatter | Democrat | Yea |
| Victoria Hunt | Democrat | Yea |
| Yasmin Trudeau | Democrat | Yea |
| Chris Gildon | Republican | Yea |
| Curtis King | Republican | Yea |
| Drew MacEwen | Republican | Yea |
| Jeff Holy | Republican | Yea |
| Jeff Wilson | Republican | Yea |
| Jim McCune | Republican | Yea |
| John Braun | Republican | Yea |
| Judy Warnick | Republican | Yea |
| Keith Goehner | Republican | Yea |
| Keith Wagoner | Republican | Yea |
| Leonard Christian | Republican | Yea |
| Mark Schoesler | Republican | Yea |
| Matt Boehnke | Republican | Yea |
| Nikki Torres | Republican | Yea |
| Paul Harris | Republican | Yea |
| Perry Dozier | Republican | Yea |
| Phil Fortunato | Republican | Yea |
| Ron Muzzall | Republican | Yea |
| Shelly Short | Republican | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors SB 6019?
- SB 6019 is sponsored by Yasmin Trudeau (Democrat), Marcus Riccelli (Democrat), Liz Lovelett (Democrat), Manka Dhingra (Democrat), Mike Chapman (Democrat), Jessica Bateman (Democrat), Paul Harris (Republican), Annette Cleveland (Democrat), and Javier Valdez (Democrat).
- What is the current status of SB 6019?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 07, 2026. Enacted.
- Where can I track SB 6019?
- Track SB 6019 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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