Support Behavioral Health, Protect Union Health Plans

Brothers, Sisters, and Siblings,The Building Trades have been strong, vocal supporters of improving behavioral health services for construction workers. We’ve pushed to reduce stigma, expand access, and make sure every worker can get help when they need it. That commitment hasn’t changed.But HB 2720 takes the wrong approach. The bill creates a covered lives assessment—a new tax on every person enrolled in a Taft‑Hartley health plan. That means the very workers who already bargain for strong health coverage would be asked to pay even more, while many large employers who don’t provide comparable benefits would pay nothing.We support behavioral health services—and we want them funded sustainably. But taxing union health plans is not a fair or effective solution. Workers shouldn’t be punished for having negotiated strong benefits.We’re asking union members to contact their legislators to share why this matters. Your voice helps lawmakers understand that we can—and must—support behavioral health without shifting the cost onto working people.Thank you for standing up for your health care, your union, and your fellow workers.

WA2025-2026HB 2720

Increasing access and resources for behavioral health emergency services providers by imposing a covered lives assessment on specific health plans.

Last Action

Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

House • Feb 14, 2026

Latest Version

Substitute bill

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Your Message to the legislators

Dear (name and title inserted automatically),

As my representative, I am reaching out to ask you to oppose HB 2720. We need to address behavioral health, but we should not do it by penalizing employers who are doing right by their workers and offering health plan coverage. 
We agree that Washington must expand behavioral health services. Our members are living this crisis every day, and we want to be part of the solution.  
A tax on covered lives hits the very employers who already shoulder the cost of providing high-quality health insurance. Meanwhile, large employers who provide no coverage would continue contributing nothing. That’s not a sustainable or equitable way to fund behavioral health. 
A contribution from employers who do not provide health insurance—especially large employers—creates a fairer system and aligns incentives. It protects small businesses while ensuring that those who currently shift costs onto the state help fund the solution.  
Our plans already invest millions in behavioral health. Every dollar diverted to a state tax is a dollar taken away from treatment, counseling, and crisis support for construction workers.  
We want this effort to succeed. We are ready to work with you on a funding model that strengthens state behavioral health services without penalizing the employers who are already doing their part. A contribution from uncovered lives is a fair, targeted, and sustainable approach.