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SJR8206 • 2026

Right to health care

Amending the Constitution to establish a right to affordable health care.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Senator Hasegawa, Senator Chapman, Senator Liias, Senator Lovelett, Senator Nobles, Senator Saldaña, Senator Slatter, Senator Stanford, Senator Valdez, Senator C. Wilson
Last action
2026-02-04
Official status
S Ways & Means
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Right to health care

Right to health care

What This Bill Does

  • Right to health care

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-04 Senate

    Referred to Ways & Means.

Official Summary Text

Right to health care

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 1
STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:2
THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state the 3
secretary of state shall submit to the qualified voters of the state 4
for their approval and ratification, or rejection, a new Article to 5
the Constitution of the state of Washington to read as follows:6
ARTICLE XXXIII7
RIGHT TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE8
SECTION 1 RIGHT TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE. (1) It is the 9
obligation of the state to ensure that every resident of Washington 10
has access to cost-effective, clinically appropriate, and affordable 11
health care as a fundamental right. 12
(2) The obligation of the state described in subsection (1) of 13
this section must be balanced against the public interest in funding 14
other essential public services, and any remedy arising from an 15
action brought against the state to enforce the provisions of this 16
section may not interfere with the balance described in this 17
subsection. 18
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause 19
notice of this constitutional amendment to be published at least four 20
S-3676.1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 8206
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Hasegawa, Chapman, Liias, Lovelett, Nobles, Saldaña,
Slatter, Stanford, Valdez, and C. Wilson
Prefiled 12/29/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Health & Long-Term Care.
p. 1 SJR 8206
times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every 1
legal newspaper in the state. 2
--- END ---
p. 2 SJR 8206