1574.E AMS LAW S5573.1
EHB 1574 - S COMM AMD
By Committee on Law & Justice
NOT CONSIDERED 03/12/2026
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
Sec. 1. "RCW 69.50.315 and 2015 c 205 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) ((A))Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person acting in good faith who seeks medical assistance for someone experiencing a drug-related overdose ((shall not be charged or prosecuted for possession of a controlled substance pursuant to RCW 69.50.4013, or penalized under RCW 69.50.4014, if the evidence for the charge of possession of a controlled substance was obtained as a result of the person seeking medical assistance.
(2) A person))or who experiences a drug-related overdose and is in need of medical assistance ((shall))may not be arrested, charged ((or)), prosecuted, or convicted for possession or use of a controlled substance pursuant to RCW 69.50.4013, or penalized under RCW 69.50.4014, if the evidence for the charge of possession or use of a controlled substance was obtained as a result of the overdose and the need for medical assistance.
(2)(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person acting in good faith who seeks medical assistance for someone experiencing a drug-related overdose or who experiences a drug-related overdose and is in need of medical assistance may not:
(i) Have their property subject to civil forfeiture, except for items in plain sight; or
(ii) Be penalized for:
(A) Violation of probation or supervision related to being in possession or use of a controlled substance; or
(B) Failing to appear for an existing nonviolent, nonsexual charge.
(b) The protections in (a) of this subsection only apply if the property that would be subject to civil forfeiture or the evidence for the possible charge of such a violation was obtained as a result of the overdose and the need for medical assistance.
(3) Nothing in this section prohibits a peace officer from lawfully detaining a person without making an arrest.
(4) The protection in this section from prosecution for possession crimes under RCW 69.50.4013 shall not be grounds for suppression of evidence in other criminal charges, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section.
(5) Peace officers as defined in RCW 43.101.010 and their employing agencies are immune from liability, including from revocation of certification under RCW 43.101.105, for any conduct taken or policy adopted in compliance with this section, unless such action or inaction is taken in bad faith or with deliberate indifference or gross negligence.
Sec. 2. RCW 69.50.4121 and 2023 sp.s. c 1 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) Every person who sells or permits to be sold to any person any drug paraphernalia in any form commits a class I civil infraction under chapter 7.80 RCW. For purposes of this subsection, "drug paraphernalia" means all equipment, products, and materials of any kind which are used, intended for use, or designed for use in planting, propagating, cultivating, growing, harvesting, manufacturing, compounding, converting, producing, processing, preparing, packaging, repackaging, storing, containing, concealing, injecting, ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing into the human body a controlled substance other than cannabis. Drug paraphernalia includes, but is not limited to objects used, intended for use, or designed for use in ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing cocaine into the human body, such as:
(a) Metal, wooden, acrylic, glass, stone, plastic, or ceramic pipes with or without screens, permanent screens, hashish heads, or punctured metal bowls;
(b) Water pipes;
(c) Carburetion tubes and devices;
(d) Smoking and carburetion masks;
(e) Miniature cocaine spoons and cocaine vials;
(f) Chamber pipes;
(g) Carburetor pipes;
(h) Electric pipes;
(i) Air-driven pipes; and
(j) Ice pipes or chillers.
(2) It shall be no defense to a prosecution for a violation of this section that the person acted, or was believed by the defendant to act, as agent or representative of another.
(3) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section prohibits distribution or use of public health supplies including, but not limited to, syringe equipment, smoking equipment, or drug testing equipment, through public health programs, community-based HIV prevention programs, outreach, shelter((,)) and housing programs, and health care facilities, including hospitals and pharmacies. Public health and syringe service program clients and staff taking samples of substances and using drug testing equipment for the purpose of analyzing the composition of the substances or detecting the presence of certain substances are acting legally and are exempt from arrest and prosecution under RCW 69.50.4011(1) (b) or (c), 69.50.4013, 69.50.4014, or 69.41.030(2) (b) or (c)."
EHB 1574 - S COMM AMD
By Committee on Law & Justice
NOT CONSIDERED 03/12/2026
On page 1, line 2 of the title, after "services;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "and amending RCW 69.50.315 and 69.50.4121."
EFFECT: Allows a person seeking medical assistance for a drug-related overdose to be penalized for violation of a restraining order, no-contact order, or protection order. Exempts a person who seeks medical assistance for a drug-related overdose from being penalized for violating probation or supervision only when it is related to being in possession or use of a controlled substance. Exempts public health and syringe service program clients from arrest and prosecution for taking samples of substances and using drug testing equipment to analyze or detect substances.
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