SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1190
As Passed Senate, March 26, 2025
Title: An act relating to allowing additional health professions to access the University of Washington health sciences library.
Brief Description: Allowing additional health professions to access the University of Washington health sciences library.
Sponsors: Representatives Marshall, Leavitt, Jacobsen, Couture, Barkis and Timmons.
Brief History: Passed House: 1/30/25, 96-0.
Committee Activity: Health & Long-Term Care: 3/14/25, 3/18/25 [DP].
Floor Activity: Passed Senate: 3/26/25, 49-0.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Allows access to the Health Evidence Resource for Washington State to psychological associates and mental health counselor associates. 
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Cleveland, Chair; Orwall, Vice Chair; Muzzall, Ranking Member; Bateman, Chapman, Christian, Harris, Holy, Riccelli, Robinson and Slatter.
Staff: Rohan Bhattacharjee (786-7534)
Background:

The Health Evidence Resource for Washington State.  The Health Evidence Resource for Washington State, known informally as HEAL-WA, provides online access to clinical information and education resources to eligible health care providers. The licensing fees for providers authorized to use the resource include an additional amount of up to $25 to fund the program.

 

Professions authorized to use HEAL-WA include acupuncture and eastern medicine practitioners, advanced registered nurse practitioners, chiropractors, dietitians, licensed practical nurses, marriage and family therapists, marriage and family therapy associates, massage therapists, mental health counselors, midwives, naturopathic physicians, nutritionists, occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, optometric physicians, osteopathic physicians, physicians, physician assistants, podiatric physicians, psychologists, registered nurses, social workers, clinical social work associates, speech language pathologists, veterinarians, and veterinary technicians.

 

Behavioral Health Associate Licenses. Several behavioral health professions have associate licenses that allow holders of the credential to obtain supervised experience hours prior to full licensure. Professions that have associate licenses include psychologists, mental health counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists.
Summary of Bill:

Psychological associates and mental health counselor associates are granted access to the HEAL-WA library.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO: Marriage and family therapy associates and social work associates already have the ability to access this resource. For some reason, mental health counselor associates were left out. This bill is just getting them access that the same provider types already have. I would encourage you to support this bill and move it forward.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Matt Marshall, Prime Sponsor; Shannon Thompson LMHC, CMHS, NCC, Washington Mental Health Counselor Association.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.