H-2566.1
HOUSE BILL 2302
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Thai, Macri, Reed, Zahn, Thomas, Stonier, Ormsby, and Hill
Prefiled 01/07/26. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.
AN ACT Relating to expanding prescriptive authority for pharmacists; amending RCW 69.41.030 and 69.41.030 ; reenacting and amending RCW 18.64.011 ; creating a new section; providing an effective date; and providing an expiration date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature is deeply concerned about Washington's provider shortage, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Pharmacists are highly trained health care professionals who are uniquely qualified to prescribe medications and devices that improve patient access and outcomes. They practice across many health care settings and routinely prescribe and manage therapies for chronic conditions, including behavioral health, addiction, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders.
(2) The legislature recognizes that pharmacists earn a doctor of pharmacy degree, the required standard since 2000, which includes extensive education focused on medications and the conditions they treat with a minimum of 1,740 hours of direct patient care in both community and inpatient settings. Despite over 25 years of advanced training, the scope of practice for pharmacists in Washington has remained unchanged. Health care relies upon medications that have grown in complexity and quantity. Pharmacists are highly trained health care providers that are underutilized. Pharmacists have extensive training to ensure that complex and expensive medications are optimally used to improve outcomes.