Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington HB1187: Delayed ambulance bills
Status: Signed into law, March 23, 2026
Protecting patients involved in motor vehicle accidents from delayed ambulance bills.
What the bill says
An act Relating to protecting patients involved in motor vehicle accidents from delayed ambulance bills; adding a new section to chapter 18.73 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 48.02 RCW. NEW SECTION.
From the enrolled text:
AN ACT Relating to protecting patients involved in motor vehicle accidents from delayed ambulance bills; adding a new section to chapter 18.73 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 48.02 RCW. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 18.73 RCW to read as follows: (1) An ambulance service may not sell or assign medical debt related to ambulance services following a motor vehicle accident to any person licensed under chapter 19.16 RCW until at least 120 days after the initial billing statement for that medical debt has been transmitted to the patient and other responsible party. (2) For purposes of this section: (a) "Motor vehicle accident" includes incidents where a pedestrian or bicyclist is struck or otherwise injured by a motor vehicle. (b) "Initial billing statement" means the first billing statement provided to a patient and other responsible parties by the ground ambulance services organization after care has been rendered. The billing statement may be mailed or provided electronically. (c) "Other responsible party" means any individual or entity other than the patient who holds a legal or contractual responsibility for paying medical bills. NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 48.02 RCW to read as follows: (1) If the commissioner has cause to believe that any ambulance service has engaged in …
Sponsors
- Cindy Ryu (D) · primary sponsor
- My-Linh Thai (D)
- Edwin Obras (D)
- Nicole Macri (D)
- Dave Paul (D)
- Lisa Callan (D)
- Gerry Pollet (D)
- Jake Fey (D)
- Shelley Kloba (D)
Latest actions
- : Effective date 6/11/2026.
- : Chapter 126, 2026 Laws.
- : Governor signed.
- : Delivered to Governor.
- : President signed.
- : Speaker signed.
- : Passed final passage; yeas, 93; nays, 2; absent, 0; excused, 3.
- : House concurred in Senate amendments.
- : Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.
- : Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
Votes
- Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (March 9, 2026): 93 yea, 2 nay, passed
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (February 28, 2026): 49 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care: Do pass as amended (February 24, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (January 22, 2026): 89 yea, 2 nay, passed
- House Committee on Health Care & Wellness: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass (February 19, 2025): 19 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
Common questions
- What is HB1187?
- HB1187 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Delayed ambulance bills.
- What does HB1187 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to protecting patients involved in motor vehicle accidents from delayed ambulance bills; adding a new section to chapter 18.73 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 48.02 RCW. NEW SECTION.
- What is the status of HB1187?
- Signed into law as of March 23, 2026. Latest action: Effective date 6/11/2026. (March 23, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1187?
- Cindy Ryu (D), with 8 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1187?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1187&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.