Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington SB5916: Nonopioid drugs for pain
Status: Passed one chamber, March 12, 2026
Concerning nonopioid drugs for the treatment of pain.
What the bill says
An act Relating to nonopioid drugs for the treatment of pain; amending RCW 48.43.400; reenacting and amending RCW 41.05.017; adding a new section to chapter 48.43 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 74.09 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 43.70 RCW. NEW SECTION.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT Relating to nonopioid drugs for the treatment of pain; amending RCW 48.43.400; reenacting and amending RCW 41.05.017; adding a new section to chapter 48.43 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 74.09 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 43.70 RCW. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 48.43 RCW to read as follows: (1) A health plan issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, and any health care benefit manager as defined in RCW 48.200.020 that is directly or indirectly contracted with the health plan, shall provide coverage for at least one nonopioid legend drug for the treatment or management of pain without prescription drug utilization management, including prior authorization or step therapy protocols. (2) For the purposes of this section, "nonopioid drug" means a drug or biological product that is indicated to produce analgesia without acting on the body's opioid receptors and that has been approved by the United States food and drug administration. Sec. 2. RCW 41.05.017 and 2025 c 389 s 3 and 2025 c 171 s 2 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows: Each health plan that provides medical insurance offered under this chapter, including plans created by insuring entities, plans not subject to the provisions of Title 48 RCW, and plans created …
Sponsors
- Paul Harris (R) · primary sponsor
- Mike Chapman (D)
- Rebecca Saldaña (D)
Latest actions
- : By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.
- : First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness.
- : Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.
- : Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
- : Floor amendment
- : 1st substitute bill substituted
- : Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
- : Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- : HLTC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
- : Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 10:30 AM.
Votes
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (February 11, 2026): 49 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5916 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass (January 27, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: HEALTH INSURANCE
Common questions
- What is SB5916?
- SB5916 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Nonopioid drugs for pain.
- What does SB5916 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to nonopioid drugs for the treatment of pain; amending RCW 48.43.400; reenacting and amending RCW 41.05.017; adding a new section to chapter 48.43 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 74.09 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 43.70 RCW. NEW SECTION.
- What is the status of SB5916?
- Passed one chamber as of March 12, 2026. Latest action: By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading. (March 12, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB5916?
- Paul Harris (R), with 2 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB5916?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5916&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.