Social and Economic Policy
Behavioral Health

Everyone should have access to affordable, quality behavioral healthcare across a full spectrum of services, from preventative care to inpatient hospitalization, with a workforce sufficient to provide these services.

Issue Team Chair: Mary Lynne Courtney, mlcourtney@lwvwa.org, (360) 318-3443
 DOWNLOAD the Behavioral Health Issue Paper
Interested in getting involved with this topic? Contact Mary Lynne Courtney


Take Action!

Updates

Legislation


Get Involved

Overview of the 2025 Legislative Session

Much was accomplished regarding behavioral health during the 2024 legislative session (see below).  However, during this session, given the expected budget shortfalls, passage of behavioral health bills that require significant additional funding will be difficult.  Bills  requiring no, or minimal, additional expenditures will have a better chance of passage.  Moreover, it is important that current funding for behavioral health programs be maintained.

Priorities for the 2025 legislative session are:

  • Further increasing the behavioral health workforce;
  • Increasing access to behavioral health services in underserved areas and for underserved populations;
  • Ensuring access to behavioral health services at every level across the spectrum of services, from preventative care to inpatient hospitalization;
  • Providing students with instruction in social-emotional skills; and
  • Maintaining funding of current behavioral health programs.


Wrapping up the 2024 Legislative Session

OVERVIEW:

During the 2024 session, the Legislature addressed many significant behavior health issues.  They passed bills that:

  • Addressed workforce shortages
  • Extended the Crisis Relief Center services to minors
  • Filled gaps in care, such as support for young adults following inpatient care.

Importantly, almost all of the bills are fully funded.

In spite of these accomplishments, more needs to be done. Priorities for the next legislative session are:

  • Further increasing the behavioral health workforce.
  • Increasing access to behavioral health services in underserved areas and for underserved populations.
  • Ensuring access to behavioral health services at every level across the spectrum of services, from preventative care to inpatient hospitalization
  • Limiting restraint and isolation of students
  • Providing students with instruction in social-emotional skills.


Updates
At times during the session, an Issue Chair may write a "Weekly Update" to provide more details on what happened during the week. When they are available, they can be found below:


2024 Behavioral Health Legislation

Priority Bills

Bills in green are supported. Bills in red are opposed by the League. Bills in black the League is watching.

HB 1124/SB 5152 Establishing a prescribing psychologist certification in Washington state. Extends prescribing privileges to psychologists after acquiring special training and supervised experience in prescribing medication. This would help address workforce shortage issues, increasing access to behavioral healthcare services.

HB 1259 Concerning supervision requirements for behavioral health professionals in elementary and secondary public schools.  This bill permits behavioral health graduates to fulfill supervision requirements for licensing and certification while serving as behavioral health professionals in public schools.  This will expand the number of places where behavioral health graduates can acquire the hours of supervised experience needed for licensure.  It also will provide additional persons who can provide behavior health services in the schools.


How To Be Involved

  • When the Legislature is not in session talk to your Senator and Representatives about the issues that are important to you. 2024 is an election year, so make sure you vote!
  • Local Leagues in Washington have action chairs who coordinate action teams. Some local Leagues have health care teams to take action locally. Contact your local League action chair to find out and join.
  • You may also express your opinion on legislation with the LWVWA issue chairs. We will take your perspectives under considerations as we determine our support for legislation and prepare testimony. Contact Mary Lynne Courtney, Behavioral Health Issue Chair.
  • Another way to be involved is to join the Healthcare Affinity Group meetings on Zoom. The group meets every six weeks during the legislative session. If you are interested, please email Kim Abbey for the date of the next meeting and a link.

The League of Women Voters of Washington is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization.
The League of Women Voters of Washington Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. LWVWA Education Fund contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law. The League of Women Voters Education Fund does not endorse the contents of any web pages to which it links.

League of Women Voters of the United States

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software