WashingtonGovernor coordinates state work on youth behavioral health plan
The governor’s office coordinates agencies carrying out the children and youth behavioral health plan, and the governor establishes a council to guide that work.
What it does
The governor’s office coordinates state work on the children and youth behavioral health plan. Maintaining that coordination depends on enough private or other nonstate funding being available and used for it.
The governor establishes a council to coordinate state work on the children and youth behavioral health plan, with agency, family, and tribal representation.
The work group’s annual report must explain how its recommendations align with the final statewide behavioral health plan.
Argument forA council with family and tribal representatives could help the governor spot agency changes needed to carry out the plan and keep the public informed.
Argument againstDepending on nonstate funding could make agency coordination uncertain, which may slow work to carry out the plan.
More detail
The governor’s office must coordinate state agencies’ work to carry out the Washington thriving strategic plan. This work includes building the plan’s infrastructure, coordinating private funding for the plan, and monitoring its equity effects with the state Office of Equity. The office must establish and maintain this coordination only if enough private or other nonstate funding is available and used for this purpose. The office must support coordination between agencies to follow the plan only to the extent possible with enough existing resources.
The governor must establish a leadership council to coordinate state efforts on the plan and recommend changes to state policies or practices. The council addresses children and youth health and wellness and coordinates state efforts to carry out the Washington thriving strategic plan. The council must include state agency representatives, people with lived experience, a member of the behavioral health work group, and two tribal representatives nominated by the governor’s Indian health advisory council. The tribal representatives’ participation does not replace required tribal consultation.
The work group must include an explanation of how its recommendations align with the final plan in its annual report. The report goes to the governor and legislature and covers the children and youth behavioral health work group’s recommendations. This requirement begins November 1, 2026. The section expires December 30, 2031.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 18Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 18Chapter 93, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 18Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 12President 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 (#15). 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 (#32). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 3Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 3Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.
- Mar 3Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Mar 2Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Mar 2WM - Majority; do pass with amendment(s) by Human Services.Minor
- Mar 2Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 26Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 25Referred to Ways & Means.Minor
- Feb 24Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 24And refer to Ways & Means.Minor
- Feb 24HS - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).Minor
- Feb 24Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Human Services at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 17First reading, referred to Human Services.Minor
- Feb 13Third reading, passed; yeas, 94; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 4.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#11). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 13Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 132nd substitute bill substituted (APP 26).Major
- Feb 12Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 9Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 7APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Feb 7Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM.
- Feb 5Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 3Referred to Appropriations.Minor
- Jan 30ELHS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Jan 30Executive action taken in the House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services at 8:30 AM.
- Jan 20Public hearing in the House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 13First reading, referred to Early Learning & Human Services.Introduced
Mental HealthHealthcareGovernment & Ethics