The Washington State Senate passed Senate Bill 5993 on Monday, February 16, 2026, in a 29-19 vote largely along party lines. The bill, initially introduced to prohibit all interest charges on new and unpaid medical debt, was revised for a first substitute and now focuses on lowering the interest rate.
As of Monday morning, the current version of the bill is the Engrossed Substitute – ESSB 5993. It mandates that, for any medical debt incurred after December 31, 2026, the interest rate charged or collected cannot exceed a simple interest rate of one percent per year, regardless of whether the debt is subject to a judgment. The bill defines “medical debt” as outlined in RCW 19.16.100.
The legislation also addresses scenarios where interest charges are prohibited altogether. These include periods when a hospital has not completed required charity care screenings, when a debt is later found to be invalid or not lawfully owed, and when a court determines the debt is not legally enforceable. Any interest already charged or collected on a portion of debt that is subsequently reduced or eliminated – for example, under chapter 70.170 RCW – must be refunded to the patient.
SB 5993 was prefiled for introduction on January 6, 2026, and received its first reading in the Senate on January 12, referring it to the Law & Justice Committee. A public hearing was held in that committee on January 19, followed by executive action on January 22. The bill then crossed over to the House of Representatives on February 6, 2026.
The bill is sponsored by a bipartisan group of legislators including Emily Alvarado, Jessica Bateman, Steve Conway, Noel Frame, Bob Hasegawa, Marko Liias, Liz Lovelett, John Lovick, T’wina Nobles, Tina Orwall, Marcus Riccelli, Vandana Slatter, Derek Stanford, Yasmin Trudeau, Javier Valdez, and Claire Wilson.
As of Monday, February 16, 2026, ESSB 5993 is in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary and is scheduled for a public hearing on February 18, 2026, at 8:00 AM.
