Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington SB5917: Abortion medications
Status: Signed into law, March 14, 2026
Improving access to abortion medications.
What the bill says
An act Relating to improving access to abortion medications; amending RCW 72.09.780; and declaring an emergency.
From the enrolled text:
AN ACT Relating to improving access to abortion medications; amending RCW 72.09.780; and declaring an emergency. Sec. 1. RCW 72.09.780 and 2025 c 424 s 1912 are each amended to read as follows: (1) The department is authorized to acquire, receive, possess, sell, resell, deliver, dispense, distribute, and engage in any activity constituting the practice of pharmacy or wholesale distribution with respect to abortion medications. (2) The department may exercise the authority granted in this section for the benefit of any person, whether or not the person is in the custody or under the supervision of the department. (3) The department shall exercise the authority granted in this section in accordance with any applicable law including, but not limited to, any applicable licensing requirements, except that the department is exempt from obtaining a wholesaler's license for any actions taken pursuant to chapter 195, Laws of 2023 as provided in RCW 18.64.046. (4)(((a))) The department shall establish and operate a program to deliver, dispense, and distribute abortion medications described in this section. In circumstances in which the department is selling, delivering, or distributing abortion medications to a health care provider or health care entity, it may only sell, distribute, or deliver abortion medications to health care providers and health care entities that will only use the medications for the purposes of …
Sponsors
- Jessica Bateman (D) · primary sponsor
- Noel Frame (D)
- Emily Alvarado (D, 34)
- Annette Cleveland (D)
- Steven Conway (D)
- Robert Hasegawa (D)
- Marko Liias (D)
- T'wina Nobles (D)
- Tina Orwall (D)
- Jamie Pedersen (D)
- Rebecca Saldaña (D)
- Jesse Salomon (D)
Latest actions
- : Effective date 3/14/2026.
- : Chapter 52, 2026 Laws.
- : Governor signed.
- : Delivered to Governor.
- : Speaker signed.
- : President signed.
- : Third reading, passed; yeas, 57; nays, 36; absent, 0; excused, 5.
- : Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
- : Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
- : Referred to Rules 2 Review.
Votes
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (February 28, 2026): 57 yea, 36 nay, passed
- House Committee on Health Care & Wellness: Do pass (February 20, 2026): 10 yea, 6 nay, passed
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (February 10, 2026): 32 yea, 17 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Human Services: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5917 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass (January 27, 2026): 3 yea, 2 nay, passed
Subjects: CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND JAILS
Common questions
- What is SB5917?
- SB5917 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Abortion medications.
- What does SB5917 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to improving access to abortion medications; amending RCW 72.09.780; and declaring an emergency.
- What is the status of SB5917?
- Signed into law as of March 14, 2026. Latest action: Effective date 3/14/2026. (March 14, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB5917?
- Jessica Bateman (D), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB5917?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5917&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.