WashingtonStarting June 11, nurses may join some specialty ambulance transfers
Starting June 11, 2026, ambulance services may use a qualified registered nurse on some specialty transfers when no paramedic or nurse with EMT certification is available.
What it does
Starting June 11, 2026, a registered nurse may provide care on some specialty transfers when an emergency medical technician is also aboard and no paramedic or nurse with EMT certification is available.
Argument forPatients needing specialty care may be able to reach another facility when no paramedic is available and a qualified nurse can join the ambulance crew.
Argument againstSome transfers may still be hard to staff because a nurse can fill this role only when no paramedic or nurse with EMT certification is available.
More detail
A registered nurse may count as sufficient ambulance staff for some specialty care transfers. This applies to transfers between medical facilities for critically ill or injured patients who need specialty care during the trip. An emergency medical technician must also be in the ambulance. The ambulance service must have no paramedic available, and the sending hospital must have no nurse with EMT certification available for the call. The nurse must have the right skills for the transfer, follow the sending or receiving physician’s direction, and work within nursing standards. The sending hospital must confirm the nurse knows the ambulance’s equipment and supplies. The law takes effect June 11, 2026.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 24Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 24Chapter 193, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 24Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 11President signed.Major
- Mar 11Speaker signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 9Passed final passage; yeas, 95; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 3.Passed House
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#8). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 9House concurred in Senate amendments.
- Mar 3Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#31). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 3Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 3Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.
- Feb 27Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 25Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 24HLTC - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).Minor
- Feb 24Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 19Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 8:00 AM.
- Feb 12First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care.Minor
- Feb 10Third reading, passed; yeas, 94; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 4.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#4). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 10Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 10Floor amendment(s) adopted.
- Feb 101st substitute bill substituted (HCW 26).Major
- Feb 6Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Jan 27Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Jan 21HCW - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Jan 21Executive action taken in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 13Public hearing in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 12First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness.Minor
- 2025
- Dec 8Prefiled for introduction.Introduced
HealthcarePublic Safety