Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington SB6161: Dementia information
Status: Passed one chamber, March 12, 2026
Concerning department of health information on dementia.
What the bill says
An act Relating to including information on dementia risk reduction and dementia diagnosis in department of health materials and websites; adding a new section to chapter 43.70 RCW; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT Relating to including information on dementia risk reduction and dementia diagnosis in department of health materials and websites; adding a new section to chapter 43.70 RCW; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that: (1) Dementia is a general term for loss of memory, language, problem solving, and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life, with Alzheimer's disease being the most common form of dementia. (2) More than 10 percent of Washingtonians over 65 are living with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, which in 2025 was more than 126,000 individuals. (3) People with dementia require increasing amounts of care as their condition progresses. Much of that care is often provided by unpaid caregivers. In Washington, 254,000 unpaid caregivers provide more than 390,000,000 hours of unpaid care totaling $11,000,000,000 in unpaid care. (4) For people with dementia who require professional care, the state spends $747,000,000 annually on medicaid costs to provide care. Much of that care is provided in long-term care facilities. (5) Dementia disproportionately affects marginalized communities, with African Americans twice as likely to develop dementia when compared to white Americans; Hispanic Americans are 1.5 times as likely to develop dementia when compared to white Americans; Native Americans also have a higher instance to develop dementia …
Sponsors
- Vandana Slatter (D) · primary sponsor
- Marko Liias (D)
- T'wina Nobles (D)
- Marcus Riccelli (D)
- Rebecca Saldaña (D)
- Sharon Shewmake (D)
- Javier Valdez (D)
- Wilson, Claire (D, 30)
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.
- : Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
- : Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- : Minority; without recommendation.
- : HLTC - Majority; do pass.
- : Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 10:30 AM.
- : Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 8:00 AM.
Votes
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (February 11, 2026): 49 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care: Do pass (January 27, 2026): 10 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: HEALTH AND SAFETY, PUBLIC
Common questions
- What is SB6161?
- SB6161 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Dementia information.
- What does SB6161 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to including information on dementia risk reduction and dementia diagnosis in department of health materials and websites; adding a new section to chapter 43.70 RCW; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION.
- What is the status of SB6161?
- 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 SB6161?
- Vandana Slatter (D), with 7 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB6161?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6161&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.