Bill > SJR8206

This joint resolution proposes amending the Washington State Constitution to establish a constitutional right to affordable health care. Specifically, the resolution would create a new Article XXXIII that obligates the state to ensure every Washington resident has access to cost-effective, clinically appropriate, and affordable health care as a fundamental right. The resolution includes an important caveat that this obligation must be balanced against the state's need to fund other essential public services, and any legal remedies arising from enforcement of this right cannot disrupt that balance. If approved, the proposed amendment would be submitted to voters at the next general election, with the secretary of state required to publish notice of the proposed constitutional amendment at least four times in legal newspapers across the state in the four weeks preceding the election. The resolution represents a significant potential expansion of healthcare rights at the state constitutional level, attempting to create a legal framework that guarantees affordable healthcare access while maintaining fiscal flexibility for the state government.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=8206&Year=2025&Initiative=false