The bill seeks to consolidate and enhance the regulatory framework for nursing assistants in Washington State by amending various sections of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) related to nursing. A significant change is the establishment of a new "board of nursing," which will consist of 17 members appointed by the governor, replacing the previous "nursing care quality assurance commission." The board's composition will include a diverse group of nursing professionals and public members, and it will have clarified authority over the certification and regulation of nursing assistants. The bill also introduces new definitions, qualifications for board members, and emphasizes the necessity for nursing assistants to be certified, along with outlining training program requirements and competency evaluations.

Additionally, the bill repeals outdated provisions and modifies existing laws to expand the board's scope to include medication assistants. It replaces the term "secretary" with "board" throughout the text, indicating a shift in authority, and introduces new certification requirements, including the acceptance of military training as equivalent to state standards. The legislation also establishes a framework for credentialing reciprocity among various healthcare roles and mandates that all disciplining authorities adopt consistent procedures under the uniform disciplinary act. Most provisions of the bill are set to take effect on July 1, 2026, with specific sections expiring on June 30, 2027.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 18.79.070, 18.88A.020, 18.88A.030, 18.88A.040, 18.88A.082, 18.88A.060, 18.88A.080, 18.88A.085, 18.88A.087, 18.88A.088, 18.88A.090, 18.88A.110, 18.88A.120, 43.70.250, 18.88A.210, 18.88B.060, 18.88A.100
Bill as Passed Legislature: 18.79.070, 18.88A.020, 18.88A.030, 18.88A.040, 18.88A.082, 18.88A.060, 18.88A.080, 18.88A.085, 18.88A.087, 18.88A.088, 18.88A.090, 18.88A.110, 18.88A.120, 43.70.250, 18.88A.210, 18.88B.060, 18.88A.100
Session Law: 18.79.070, 18.88A.020, 18.88A.030, 18.88A.040, 18.88A.082, 18.88A.060, 18.88A.080, 18.88A.085, 18.88A.087, 18.88A.088, 18.88A.090, 18.88A.110, 18.88A.120, 43.70.250, 18.88A.210, 18.88B.060, 18.88A.100