WashingtonSchools may keep albuterol for students with breathing trouble
Starting in the 2027–28 school year, public and private schools may keep prescribed albuterol for students with breathing symptoms under a standing order.
What it does
Starting in the 2027–28 school year, public and private schools may keep prescribed albuterol for students' breathing symptoms, with a standing order for its use.
The state education superintendent and health secretary must add a uniform procedure for school staff to use school-supplied albuterol to the statewide school asthma policy.
Eligible school employees may refuse albuterol duties in writing without losing their contract status. Liability protections apply to some prescribers, pharmacists, and school personnel, subject to safety and compliance rules.
Argument forA school supply may let a student with breathing trouble get albuterol even when the student does not have a personal inhaler at school.
Argument againstA student without a prescription on file can receive school-supplied albuterol only from a nurse, which may limit who can respond during breathing trouble.
More detail
School districts and private schools may keep albuterol at each school. This applies to school districts and private schools, including charter schools and state-tribal education compact schools. Donated albuterol must come with a prescription. A licensed health professional who can prescribe albuterol must prescribe it in the school's or district's name, with a standing order allowing its use for students' breathing symptoms. This permission begins in the 2027–28 school year.
The state superintendent of public instruction and the health secretary must update the uniform school asthma policy and procedure. The procedure concerns school nurses and designated trained staff using albuterol kept by a school district or school. The updated procedure must cover when school nurses and designated trained staff may access and give school-supplied albuterol to manage students' breathing symptoms. They must update the policy by January 1, 2027.
School employees who meet the stated criteria may refuse albuterol management duties in writing; the law also sets liability rules for people who prescribe, dispense, or give the medicine. These provisions apply to employees who manage albuterol and to professionals and school personnel involved in its prescription, dispensing, or administration. An employee who is not a licensed nurse and has not agreed in writing to manage albuterol may file a refusal letter. The refusal cannot be grounds for firing, contract nonrenewal, or other action that harms the employee's contract status. A prescriber or pharmacist is not responsible for an injury unless the prescription was issued with conscious disregard for safety. School staff and certain school officials are protected from liability when staff give albuterol in substantial compliance with the prescription or standing order and the school's written policies.
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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 24Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 24Chapter 197, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 24Governor 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, 79; nays, 16; absent, 0; excused, 3.Passed House
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#13). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 9House concurred in Senate amendments.
- Feb 28Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#19). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 28Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 28Floor amendment(s) adopted.
- Feb 24Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 19Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 18Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 18EDU - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 18Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 16First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education.Minor
- Feb 12Third reading, passed; yeas, 60; nays, 34; absent, 0; excused, 4.Minor
- Vote recorded Motion to Commit Measure to Committee. (#10). Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#11). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 12Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 121st substitute bill substituted (ED 26).Major
- Feb 12Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 10Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 4Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 2Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 2ED - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Feb 2Executive action taken in the House Committee on Education at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 19Public hearing in the House Committee on Education at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 12First reading, referred to Education.Minor
- Jan 9Prefiled for introduction.Introduced
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