Gov. Ferguson signs preventive services bill into law

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March 09, 2026

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Gov. Bob Ferguson signed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2242 into law Monday afternoon, preserving no-cost preventive services for Washington residents who choose to use them.

The bill, requested by both Gov. Bob Ferguson and Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer, passed the House of Representatives by a 36-12 vote. It maintains the no-cost coverage for services like well-child visits and immunizations that Washingtonians have had since 2010 and takes effect immediately.

“These are important services for people who choose to use them,” Kuderer said. “This bill ensures that the recommendations will continue to come from trained medical experts, rather than political appointees with no background in medicine or science.”

Recommendations currently come from the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the U.S. Preventive Health Services Task Force, and the Health Resources and Services Administration. The federal government recently narrowed access to certain vaccines.

“Donald Trump’s CDC has become a political tool that increasingly peddles ideology instead of science,” Gov. Ferguson said. “We must protect Washingtonians’ health from the chaos of the federal government.”

ESHB 2242, sponsored by Rep. Dan Bronoske (D–Lakewood), changes state law to tie the coverage of vaccines to recommendations from the Washington state Department of Health. The bill sets the coverage standards for other preventive services based on recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Health Task Force and Health Resources and Services Administration, effective on June 30, 2025.

The Senate version of the bill, SB 5967, was sponsored by Sen. Annette Cleveland (D–Vancouver).

The Department of Health and Kuderer’s office will be responsible for implementing the new law. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner will share information on the rulemaking process on its website.

The 2026 legislative session concludes on Thursday, March 12.

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