Bill > HB1792

This bill consolidates regulatory authority for nursing assistants by transferring oversight from the secretary of health to the Washington state board of nursing. The bill makes several key changes: it expands the board of nursing from 15 to 17 members, adding two certified nursing assistant members and one program director or educator in a nursing assistant training program; it updates terminology throughout existing laws, replacing references to the "nursing care quality assurance commission" with the "board of nursing"; and it modifies various provisions related to nursing assistant registration, certification, and medication assistant endorsements. The bill also updates disciplinary authorities, giving the board of nursing more direct oversight of nursing assistants and their credentialing processes. Importantly, the bill preserves existing requirements for nursing assistant training, competency evaluations, and professional standards while streamlining the regulatory structure. The changes will take effect in stages, with most provisions becoming active on July 1, 2026, and some specific sections taking effect on June 30, 2027.

Health and Social Services

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1792&Year=2025&Initiative=false