WashingtonWashington health care groups report major deals and pay fees
Washington health care organizations must notify the attorney general about certain major deals at least 60 days before they take effect and pay a filing fee.
What it does
Parties to certain health care mergers, ownership changes, and asset transfers must notify the attorney general at least 60 days before the deal takes effect. Some cross-state deals also qualify.
Parties filing notice of a covered health care deal must pay one fee based on its expected value in Washington. Some partnerships involving public hospital districts are exempt.
The attorney general must request extra information within 30 days of receiving notice. If it does, the deal must wait 30 days after the parties certify they have mostly complied before closing.
Argument forQuarterly public notices could help Washington residents track covered health care deals that are pending or complete.
Argument againstCovered deal parties could face fees of up to $25,000, adding to the cost of some health care transactions.
More detail
Parties to a covered material change must give written notice to the attorney general at least 60 days before it takes effect. Covered deals include certain mergers, changes in majority ownership or control, transfers of most assets, and changes from nonprofit status to for-profit or unincorporated status. For certain mergers, acquisitions, or contracting affiliations between Washington and out-of-state entities, the out-of-state entity must earn at least $10 million from Washington patients. A deal between hospitals, hospital systems, or provider organizations counts only if they did not already share ownership or a contracting affiliation. Written notice is due at least 60 days before the deal's effective date.
The attorney general must collect one filing fee for each covered deal that requires notice. The fee applies to parties required to file notice of a covered deal. Any party may pay the single fee. The fee is based on the deal's expected value in Washington, with set amounts from $2,500 to $25,000; a contracting affiliation with no asset transfer costs $2,500. No fee applies to a contracting affiliation between a state-owned or state-operated entity and a public hospital district. The fee is due with the written notice. The attorney general may adjust fee amounts by rule.
The attorney general must request any extra information within 30 days after receiving notice, and a deal subject to a request must wait to close until 30 days after the parties certify substantial compliance. These rules apply to deals for which parties file notice under this chapter. Later requests for information do not extend the 30-day waiting period. The attorney general must post quarterly notices of pending and completed deals, listing information the parties filed. The request window starts when notice is received; the waiting period starts when the parties certify substantial compliance. Public notices are posted quarterly.
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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 25Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 25Chapter 222, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 25Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 12President signed.Major
- Mar 11Speaker signed.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#11). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11Passed final passage; yeas, 55; nays, 41; absent, 0; excused, 2.Passed House
- Mar 11House concurred in Senate amendments.
- Mar 5Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 0.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#9). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 5Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.
- Mar 3Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 25On motion, referred to Rules Committee for second reading.Minor
- Feb 24Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 24Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 24And refer to Ways & Means.Minor
- Feb 24LAW - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).Minor
- Feb 24Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 8:00 AM.
- Feb 20Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 2:00 PM.
- Feb 18First reading, referred to Law & Justice.Minor
- Feb 16Third reading, passed; yeas, 53; nays, 38; absent, 0; excused, 7.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#10). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 16Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 16Floor amendment(s) adopted.
- Feb 161st substitute bill substituted (CRJ 26).Major
- Feb 14Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 9Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 9Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 9APP - Majority; do pass 1st substitute bill proposed by Civil Rights & Judiciary.Minor
- Feb 9Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 6Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 4Referred to Appropriations.Minor
- Feb 3Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 3Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 3CRJ - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Feb 3Executive action taken in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 21Public hearing in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 8:00 AM.
- Jan 16First reading, referred to Civil Rights & Judiciary.Introduced
HealthcareGovernment & Ethics