2026 Legislative Session – Weekly Update
January 30, 2026 | Information
On Wednesday last week, we hosted our annual Legislative Day in Olympia. AIHC staff and consultants, along with participants from Lummi Nation, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians, Suquamish Tribe, and the Seattle Indian Health Board met with 39 legislators and/or their staff to share with them our 2 bills and ask for their support.
Click here to read more about our bills on Tribal Data Sovereignty and Transparency in State Savings on Federal Medicaid Matching Funds.
On Thursday, we hosted a training for legislators and their staff on Tribal Sovereignty 101, the Indian Healthcare Delivery System, and Tribal Public Health at the Capitol. We were joined by 15 legislators and/or their staff, including Representative Debra Lekanoff. We will have additional opportunities for legislators to attend this training in February, and have a recorded version available as well.
Our Legislative Priorities
Codify Tribal Data Sovereignty
HB 2685 sponsored by Representative Lekanoff
Current Status: scheduled for a Public Hearing on Tuesday, February 3 for in House Health Care and Wellness at 1:30 pm and for an Executive Session Wednesday, February 4 at 1:30 pm.
Transparency in State Savings on Federal Medicaid Matching Funds
This will be a budget proviso, more to come in February. Click here to read more about Federal Medicaid Matching.
Other Legislation We Support:
HB 2182 and SB 5917 – Improving access to abortion medications
SB 5981 and HB 2145 – Protecting patient access to discounted medications and health care services through Washington’s health care safety net by preventing manufacturer limitations on the 340B drug pricing program.
HB 2281 – Concerning the state and tribal government-to-government relationship.
HB 2242 and SB 5967 – Preserving access to preventive services by clarifying state authority and definitions.
SB 5988 and HB 2437 – Establishing fee authority for accreditation services provided to opioid treatment programs
How to Watch Hearings
Committee hearings can be watch on TVW live on the day/time the hearing is scheduled or afterwards from their archives.