Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Passed Senate Bipartisan · 9 D · 1 R cosponsors

SB 5924 — Expanding prescriptive authority for pharmacists.

Last action — By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced December 22, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate 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

Likely to advance 74% · high confidence

  • Passed Senate

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 10 sponsors

    1 primary, 9 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (9 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 1 recorded vote 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

418 added · 339 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Senate Bill 5924 expands the role of pharmacists by authorizing them to prescribe medications more broadly, focusing on improving access to healthcare in underserved areas. This change is important because it leverages the expertise of pharmacists, who receive extensive training in medications and patient care, to help address the healthcare provider shortage, especially in rural communities. Additionally, the new version emphasizes the objective of enhancing patient outcomes for both behavioral and physical health conditions. Overall, these amendments aim to utilize pharmacists more effectively in the healthcare system.

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S-4435.1 SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5924 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By Senate Health & Long-Term Care (originally sponsored by Senators Slatter, Short, Chapman, Conway, Hasegawa, Nobles, Orwall, Riccelli, Saldaña, and Shewmake) READ FIRST TIME 02/04/26.
S-3568.1 SENATE BILL 5924 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By Senators Slatter, Short, Chapman, Conway, Hasegawa, Nobles, Orwall, Riccelli, Saldaña, and Shewmake Prefiled 12/22/25.
AN ACT Relating to expanding pharmacists' scope of practice to improve access to health care and the management of chronic diseases;
Read first time 01/12/26.
amending RCW 69.41.030;
Referred to Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.
AN ACT Relating to expanding prescriptive authority for pharmacists;
amending RCW 69.41.030 and 69.41.030;
adding a new section to chapter 18.64 RCW;
creating a new section;
creating new sections;
providing an effective date;
The legislature recognizes pharmacists as highly educated health care professionals uniquely qualified to prescribe medications and devices to improve patient outcomes.
(1) The legislature is deeply concerned about Washington's provider shortage, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Being deeply concerned about provider shortages in Washington, particularly in rural and underserved communities, the legislature seeks to expand access to care by leveraging pharmacists' expertise.
Pharmacists are highly trained health care professionals who are uniquely qualified to prescribe medications and devices that improve patient access and outcomes.
It is the intent of the legislature to improve patient outcomes for behavioral and physical health by permitting pharmacists to practice at the top of their education, training, and experience.
They practice across many health care settings and routinely prescribe and manage therapies for chronic conditions, including behavioral health, addiction, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders.
(2) The legislature recognizes that pharmacists earn a doctor of pharmacy degree, the required standard since 2000, which includes extensive education focused on medications and the conditions they treat with a minimum of 1,740 hours of direct patient care in both community and inpatient settings.
Despite over 25 years of advanced training, the scope of practice for pharmacists in Washington has remained unchanged.
Health care relies upon medications that have p.
1 SB 5924 grown in complexity and quantity.
Pharmacists are highly trained health care providers that are underutilized.
Pharmacists have extensive training to ensure that complex and expensive medications are optimally used to improve outcomes.
(3) The legislature affirms that pharmacists in Washington have been prescribing and diagnosing under collaborative drug therapy agreements since 1979.
The 2020 opinion of the Washington state attorney general confirmed that pharmacists may diagnose pursuant to these protocols.
The Washington state pharmacy quality assurance commission has no record of patient harm related to pharmacists prescribing or diagnosing under collaborative drug therapy agreements, and the legislature finds that pharmacists provide safe, accessible care.
(4) However, the legislature finds that maintaining and filing the collaborative drug therapy agreements have become an administrative burden that does not improve oversight or patient care.
To expand access and fully leverage pharmacists' expertise, it is the intent of the legislature to improve outcomes in both behavioral and physical health by authorizing pharmacists to practice to the full extent of their education, training, and experience.
p.
(1) "Administer" means the direct application of a drug or device, whether by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or any other means, to the body of a patient or research subject.
1 SSB 5924 (1) "Administer" means the direct application of a drug or device, whether by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or any other means, to the body of a patient or research subject.
(4) "Closed door long-term care pharmacy" means a pharmacy that provides pharmaceutical care to a defined and exclusive group of patients who have access to the services of the pharmacy because they are treated by or have an affiliation with a long-term care facility or hospice program, and that is not a retailer of goods to the general public.
(4) "Closed door long-term care pharmacy" means a pharmacy that provides pharmaceutical care to a defined and exclusive group of patients who have access to the services of the pharmacy because they p.
2 SB 5924 are treated by or have an affiliation with a long-term care facility or hospice program, and that is not a retailer of goods to the general public.
(10) "Device" means instruments, apparatus, and contrivances, including their components, parts, and accessories, intended (a) for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in human beings or other animals, or (b) to affect the p.
(10) "Device" means instruments, apparatus, and contrivances, including their components, parts, and accessories, intended (a) for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in human beings or other animals, or (b) to affect the structure or any function of the body of human beings or other animals.
2 SSB 5924 structure or any function of the body of human beings or other animals.
(14) "Drug" and "devices" do not include surgical or dental instruments or laboratory materials, gas and oxygen, therapy equipment, X-ray apparatus or therapeutic equipment, their component parts or accessories, or equipment, instruments, apparatus, or contrivances used to render such articles effective in medical, surgical, or dental treatment, or for use or consumption in or for mechanical, industrial, manufacturing, or scientific applications or purposes.
(14) "Drug" and "devices" do not include surgical or dental instruments or laboratory materials, gas and oxygen, therapy equipment, X-ray apparatus or therapeutic equipment, their component p.
3 SB 5924 parts or accessories, or equipment, instruments, apparatus, or contrivances used to render such articles effective in medical, surgical, or dental treatment, or for use or consumption in or for mechanical, industrial, manufacturing, or scientific applications or purposes.
Health care entity includes a freestanding outpatient surgery center, a residential p.
Health care entity includes a freestanding outpatient surgery center, a residential treatment facility, and a freestanding cardiac care center.
3 SSB 5924 treatment facility, and a freestanding cardiac care center.
(19) "Institutional facility" means any organization whose primary purpose is to provide a physical environment for patients to obtain health care services including, but not limited to, services in a hospital, long-term care facility, hospice program, mental health facility, drug abuse treatment center, residential habilitation center, or a local, state, or federal correction facility.
(19) "Institutional facility" means any organization whose primary purpose is to provide a physical environment for patients to p.
4 SB 5924 obtain health care services including, but not limited to, services in a hospital, long-term care facility, hospice program, mental health facility, drug abuse treatment center, residential habilitation center, or a local, state, or federal correction facility.
(24) "Manufacture" means the production, preparation, propagation, compounding, or processing of a drug or other substance or device or the packaging or repackaging of such substance or device, or the labeling or relabeling of the commercial container of p.
(24) "Manufacture" means the production, preparation, propagation, compounding, or processing of a drug or other substance or device or the packaging or repackaging of such substance or device, or the labeling or relabeling of the commercial container of such substance or device, but does not include the activities of a practitioner who, as an incident to his or her administration or dispensing such substance or device in the course of his or her professional practice, personally prepares, compounds, packages, or labels such substance or device.
4 SSB 5924 such substance or device, but does not include the activities of a practitioner who, as an incident to his or her administration or dispensing such substance or device in the course of his or her professional practice, personally prepares, compounds, packages, or labels such substance or device.
(b) The practice of a licensed pharmacy when repackaging commercially available medication in small, reasonable quantities for a practitioner legally authorized to prescribe the medication for office use only;
(b) The practice of a licensed pharmacy when repackaging commercially available medication in small, reasonable quantities for p.
5 SB 5924 a practitioner legally authorized to prescribe the medication for office use only;
(30) "Plan of correction" means a proposal devised by the applicant or licensee that includes specific actions that must be p.
(30) "Plan of correction" means a proposal devised by the applicant or licensee that includes specific actions that must be taken to correct identified unresolved deficiencies with the time frames to complete them.
5 SSB 5924 taken to correct identified unresolved deficiencies with the time frames to complete them.
limited diagnosing in accordance with section 3 of this act;
diagnosing and the prescribing or ordering of drugs and devices based on his or her education, training, and experience;
Show all 95 changed rows (55 more)
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the prescribing or ordering of drugs and devices as authorized by this chapter and commission rules;
the proper and safe storing and distributing of drugs and devices and maintenance of proper records thereof;
the proper and safe storing and distributing of drugs and devices and p.
6 SB 5924 maintenance of proper records thereof;
(37) "Statement of deficiency" means a written statement of the deficiencies prepared by the commission, or its designee, identifying p.
(37) "Statement of deficiency" means a written statement of the deficiencies prepared by the commission, or its designee, identifying one or more violations of law.
6 SSB 5924 one or more violations of law.
NEW SECTION.
A new section is added to chapter 18.64 RCW to read as follows:
Beginning December 1, 2027, a pharmacist may prescribe the following:
(1) Immunizations;
(2) Opioid antagonists and treatments for addiction;
(3) Epinephrine autoinjectors;
(4) Antihistamine agents;
(5) Tobacco cessation products;
(6) Medications to prevent human immunodeficiency virus;
(7) Tuberculin purified protein derivative products;
(8) Hormonal contraception;
(9) Medications to treat or prevent diseases related to travel;
and (10) Drugs, drug categories, or devices that are limited to conditions that:
(a) Do not require a new diagnosis;
(b) Are minor and generally self-limiting;
(c) Have a test that is used to guide diagnosis or clinical decision making and are waived under the federal clinical laboratory improvement amendments of 1988;
(d) Are devices waived under the federal clinical laboratory improvement amendments of 1988;
or (e) Are prescribed in team-based practices with a shared medical record.
Sec.
4.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or deliver any legend drug, or knowingly possess any legend drug, or knowingly use any legend drug in a public place, except upon the order or prescription of a physician under chapter 18.71 RCW, an osteopathic physician and surgeon under chapter 18.57 RCW, an optometrist p.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or deliver any legend drug, or knowingly possess any legend drug, or knowingly use any legend drug in a public place, except upon the order or prescription of a physician under chapter 18.71 RCW, an osteopathic physician and surgeon under chapter 18.57 RCW, an optometrist licensed under chapter 18.53 RCW who is certified by the optometry board under RCW 18.53.010, a dentist under chapter 18.32 RCW, a p.
7 SSB 5924 licensed under chapter 18.53 RCW who is certified by the optometry board under RCW 18.53.010, a dentist under chapter 18.32 RCW, a podiatric physician and surgeon under chapter 18.22 RCW, a licensed midwife to the extent authorized under chapter 18.50 RCW, a veterinarian under chapter 18.92 RCW, a commissioned medical or dental officer in the United States armed forces or public health service in the discharge of his or her official duties, a duly licensed physician or dentist employed by the veterans administration in the discharge of his or her official duties, a registered nurse or advanced registered nurse practitioner under chapter 18.79 RCW when authorized by the board of nursing, a pharmacist licensed under chapter 18.64 RCW to the extent permitted ((by drug therapy guidelines or protocols established under RCW 18.64.011 and authorized by the commission and approved by a practitioner authorized to prescribe drugs)) under chapter 18.64 RCW, a physician assistant under chapter 18.71A RCW when authorized by the Washington medical commission, or any of the following professionals in any province of Canada that shares a common border with the state of Washington or in any state of the United States:
7 SB 5924 podiatric physician and surgeon under chapter 18.22 RCW, a licensed midwife to the extent authorized under chapter 18.50 RCW, a veterinarian under chapter 18.92 RCW, a commissioned medical or dental officer in the United States armed forces or public health service in the discharge of his or her official duties, a duly licensed physician or dentist employed by the veterans administration in the discharge of his or her official duties, a registered nurse or advanced registered nurse practitioner under chapter 18.79 RCW when authorized by the board of nursing, a pharmacist licensed under chapter 18.64 RCW ((to the extent permitted by drug therapy guidelines or protocols established under RCW 18.64.011 and authorized by the commission and approved by a practitioner authorized to prescribe drugs)), a physician assistant under chapter 18.71A RCW when authorized by the Washington medical commission, or any of the following professionals in any province of Canada that shares a common border with the state of Washington or in any state of the United States:
(2)(a) A violation of this section involving the sale, delivery, or possession with intent to sell or deliver is a class B felony punishable according to chapter 9A.20 RCW.
8 SSB 5924 (2)(a) A violation of this section involving the sale, delivery, or possession with intent to sell or deliver is a class B felony punishable according to chapter 9A.20 RCW.
8 SB 5924 (b) A violation of this section involving knowing possession is a misdemeanor.
(b) A violation of this section involving knowing possession is a misdemeanor.
Sec.
4.
RCW 69.41.030 and 2025 c 58 s 5123 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or deliver any legend drug, or knowingly possess any legend drug, or knowingly use any legend drug in a public place, except upon the order or prescription of a physician under chapter 18.71 RCW, an osteopathic physician and surgeon under chapter 18.57 RCW, an optometrist licensed under chapter 18.53 RCW who is certified by the optometry board under RCW 18.53.010, a dentist under chapter 18.32 RCW, a podiatric physician and surgeon under chapter 18.22 RCW, a licensed midwife to the extent authorized under chapter 18.50 RCW, a veterinarian under chapter 18.92 RCW, a commissioned medical or dental officer in the United States armed forces or public health service in the discharge of his or her official duties, a duly p.
9 SB 5924 licensed physician or dentist employed by the veterans administration in the discharge of his or her official duties, a registered nurse or advanced practice registered nurse under chapter 18.79 RCW when authorized by the board of nursing, a pharmacist licensed under chapter 18.64 RCW ((to the extent permitted by drug therapy guidelines or protocols established under RCW 18.64.011 and authorized by the commission and approved by a practitioner authorized to prescribe drugs)), a physician assistant under chapter 18.71A RCW when authorized by the Washington medical commission, or any of the following professionals in any province of Canada that shares a common border with the state of Washington or in any state of the United States:
A physician licensed to practice medicine and surgery or a physician licensed to practice osteopathic medicine and surgery, a dentist licensed to practice dentistry, a podiatric physician and surgeon licensed to practice podiatric medicine and surgery, a licensed advanced practice registered nurse, a licensed physician assistant, or a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine:
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That the above provisions shall not apply to sale, delivery, or possession by drug wholesalers or drug manufacturers, or their agents or employees, or to any practitioner acting within the scope of his or her license, or to a common or contract carrier or warehouse operator, or any employee thereof, whose possession of any legend drug is in the usual course of business or employment:
PROVIDED FURTHER, That nothing in this chapter or chapter 18.64 RCW shall prevent a family planning clinic that is under contract with the health care authority from selling, delivering, possessing, and dispensing commercially prepackaged oral contraceptives prescribed by authorized, licensed health care practitioners:
PROVIDED FURTHER, That nothing in this chapter prohibits possession or delivery of legend drugs by an authorized collector or other person participating in the operation of a drug take-back program authorized in chapter 69.48 RCW.
(2)(a) A violation of this section involving the sale, delivery, or possession with intent to sell or deliver is a class B felony punishable according to chapter 9A.20 RCW.
(b) A violation of this section involving knowing possession is a misdemeanor.
The prosecutor is encouraged to divert such cases for assessment, treatment, or other services.
p.
10 SB 5924 (c) A violation of this section involving knowing use in a public place is a misdemeanor.
The prosecutor is encouraged to divert such cases for assessment, treatment, or other services.
(d) No person may be charged with both knowing possession and knowing use in a public place under this section relating to the same course of conduct.
(e) In lieu of jail booking and referral to the prosecutor for a violation of this section involving knowing possession, or knowing use in a public place, law enforcement is encouraged to offer a referral to assessment and services available under RCW 10.31.110 or other program or entity responsible for receiving referrals in lieu of legal system involvement, which may include, but are not limited to, arrest and jail alternative programs established under RCW 36.28A.450, law enforcement assisted diversion programs established under RCW 71.24.589, and the recovery navigator program established under RCW 71.24.115.
(3) For the purposes of this section, "public place" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 66.04.010, but the exclusions in RCW 66.04.011 do not apply.
(4) For the purposes of this section, "use any legend drug" means to introduce the drug into the human body by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or any other means.
The pharmacy quality assurance commission may adopt rules to administer and implement this act.
Section 3 of this act expires June 30, 2027.
NEW SECTION.
Sec.
6.
Section 4 of this act takes effect June 30, 2027.
9 SSB 5924
11 SB 5924
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Action History

  1. By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.

  2. First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness.

  3. Third reading, passed; yeas, 38; nays, 11; absent, 0; excused, 0.

  4. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

  5. 1st substitute bill substituted (HLTC 26).

  6. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

  7. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

  8. Minority; without recommendation.

  9. Minority; do not pass.

  10. HLTC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

  11. Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 10:30 AM.

  12. Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 8:00 AM.

  13. First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care.

  14. Prefiled for introduction.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 9 co-sponsors · 141 not signed on · 11 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (9)

Not signed on (141)

141 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 141 →

"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.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

3rd Reading & Final Passage (#11)

Passed 38 Yea · 11 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 29100
Republican 91000
Total 381100
% of votes cast 78%22%0%0%
How each member voted (49)
Member Party Vote
Adrian Cortes Democrat Nay
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 Nay
Curtis King Republican Yea
Drew MacEwen Republican Nay
Jeff Holy Republican Yea
Jeff Wilson Republican Nay
Jim McCune Republican Nay
John Braun Republican Nay
Judy Warnick Republican Yea
Keith Goehner Republican Nay
Keith Wagoner Republican Yea
Leonard Christian Republican Nay
Mark Schoesler Republican Yea
Matt Boehnke Republican Nay
Nikki Torres Republican Yea
Paul Harris Republican Yea
Perry Dozier Republican Yea
Phil Fortunato Republican Nay
Ron Muzzall Republican Nay
Shelly Short Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

healthcare health-insurance
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 5924?
SB 5924 is sponsored by Sharon Shewmake (Democrat), Rebecca Saldaña (Democrat), Marcus Riccelli (Democrat), Tina Orwall (Democrat), T'wina Nobles (Democrat), Bob Hasegawa (Democrat), Steve Conway (Democrat), Mike Chapman (Democrat), Shelly Short (Republican), and Vandana Slatter (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 5924?
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced December 22, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track SB 5924?
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