[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6348071,"mediaKeyId","2243301-2fdb4655cb19f799ae3b8f02783624e4","parentId",2243301,"title","Committee hears competing views on proposed psilocybin access program; debate centers on regulation, equity and decriminalization","audioSeconds",3428,"startMs",3435000,"endMs",6791,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2243301-2fdb4655cb19f799ae3b8f02783624e4&start=3435&end=6","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2243301-2fdb4655cb19f799ae3b8f02783624e4/thumbnail_3435000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6348071/Washington/Committee-hears-competing-views-on-proposed-psilocybin-access-program-debate-centers-on-regulation-equity-and-decriminalization","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6348071-5c30ca4bf1d0549568f7fc94f978d1a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770453099&Signature=PDQAGk2JTrSNxSXWK~wmPF4A~uphhygi80MFkYobSPx9uQkcX7GDoCYy~SPu3lvenBhL6ELNTI~wrnckMqpWIOjBDrvUIQolFns~qwrz6ypbknjmGTEcDeUrVH19KdL9Pfatf3wnblrAS2pCqKwjbjXlw~bgbKIAKO45ns~lTF1yzsYxw1DJASbzZoyUTThnntKOhBU5s97vFCGmCYIEc5R7jX3ZOfak6VaqDwU8Hm8LPDPIEobA06oqIc2kqZWNfoKpLoMuPaTSOlN6n-iEJV3294g0Zkq9PCtVQHz8kGej0S1PFqBbLhXVQ94020-~pBShQgVMmG~66V6iIItAcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Health & Long-Term Care","date","2025-02-06T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee held an extended hearing on a proposed substitute for Senate Bill 5,201, titled the Clinical and Supervised Access of Psilocybin Act in committee materials. The substitute would create a regulated program for adult (21+) access to psilocybin under supervised, facilitated sessions, establish a Washington Psilocybin Board to advise the Department of Health (DOH), and assign licensing and cultivation/testing responsibilities to the Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) with support from the Department of Agriculture for cultivation oversight.

Julie Tran, committee staff, summarized the bill. Key provisions in the proposed substitute include: DOH rulemaking for group and individual administration sessions, facilitator training and guidelines, temporary location permits and service center operation standards; a licensing start date no earlier than Nov. 1, 2027 for facilitators and service centers; LCB licensing for cultivation and testing with packaging, labeling and transportation rules; and exemptions allowing limited home‑use or in‑home administration under specified circumstances. The bill names the program the Clinical and Supervised Access of Psilocybin Act.

Sponsor remarks and framing
Senator Jesse Solomon, prime sponsor, framed the bill as a regulated, clinical access model rather than decriminalization. He emphasized the urgency of expanding treatment options for veterans and others with treatment‑resistant PTSD and mental health conditions and said the proposal balances safety and access by creating clinical and wellness tracks. “Let’s stop failing our veterans. Let’s be innovative. Please, let’s do something new,” Senator Solomon said.

Supporters’ arguments
Proponents who testified in favor of a regulated service‑center model included researchers, facilitators and advocates who cited Oregon’s service‑center experience and clinical research. Tom Eckert, lead petitioner for Oregon Measure 109, said Oregon’s experience shows a low adverse‑event rate in structured service centers and urged Washington to adopt a similar model. Several veterans, first responders, facilitators and civic groups testified that barriers to legal access push people to travel or to underground markets and that a supervised model can provide safety and integration support. Advocates also stressed potential benefits for veterans, people with treatment‑resistant depression, PTSD and substance use disorders.

Opponents’ arguments and public health concerns
Medical associations and clinical researchers urged caution or opposed the bill in its current form. The Washington State Medical Association and the Washington State Psychiatric Association testified in respectful opposition, arguing research gaps remain and that it is premature to create a broad regulated medical market while the University of Washington and other researchers continue study work. Dr. Rebecca Allen, a neuropsychiatrist conducting large multisite trials, called the substitute a “recreation bill” with a “quasi medical veneer,” saying clinical trials do not support the bill’s structure and that the current statutory framework omits standard medical safeguards (for example, routine labs, EKGs and physician medical oversight) used in clinical research.

Equity, decriminalization and regulatory assignment
A dominant theme in public testimony was disagreement over whether the Legislature should first decriminalize personal possession, cultivation and sharing of naturally occurring psilocybin. Many testifiers urged full decriminalization (or amendments to preserve local decriminalization measures) arguing the proposed regulatory model would criminalize already protected personal use in some localities, create a two‑tiered system favoring those who can pay for regulated sessions, and exclude indigenous and community‑based practitioners. Opponents to the decriminalization approach argued that a supervised clinical model is necessary to ensure safety and integration and to prevent unregulated use that may harm vulnerable people.

Other technical/regulatory concerns raised
- The Department of Health testified as “other” and asked for clarity on how DOH authority would interact with the new Psilocybin Board and how the Uniform Disciplinary Act would apply; DOH also questioned the bill’s short timelines given the scope of new responsibilities.
- The Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) and several stakeholders raised concerns about assigning cultivation/testing oversight to LCB owing to differences between plant medicine regulation and existing alcohol/cannabis models; Caitlin Ryan of the Cannabis Alliance recommended different regulatory approaches and urged caution about overregulation and licensing burdens that affected the cannabis sector.
- Cost and access: Several witnesses noted that Oregon’s service‑center model can be expensive for users; advocates asked the committee to consider insurance coverage, lower‑cost group models, and protections for home cultivation and gifting.
- Public safety data: Amy Brackenberry and other public‑health witnesses cited calls to poison control in Colorado after that state’s initiative and urged caution while additional data are amassed.

Why it matters: The substitute would create a statewide regulatory framework for supervised psilocybin services with significant implications for clinical practice, criminal enforcement, equity and cultivation/testing oversight. The hearing drew broad turnout and divided public testimony, signaling the issue’s political and policy sensitivity.

Next steps: The committee heard extensive testimony but did not take final action on the substitute. Members requested additional information on regulatory fit, timelines, equity protections, and interaction with local decriminalization measures.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Health & Long-Term Care - 2/6/2025 8:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee heard hours of testimony on a proposed substitute to Senate Bill 5,201 that would create a regulated clinical and supervised access program for psilocybin, licensing facilitators and service centers while assigning cultivation and testing oversight to the Liquor and Cannabis Board.","taxTitle","Health & Long Term Care, Senate, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20503,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6348075,"University of Washington to run prospective ibogaine study; committee hears update on psilocybin safety work",1006,1627000,2633000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2243301-2fdb4655cb19f799ae3b8f02783624e4&start=1627&end=2633","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2243301-2fdb4655cb19f799ae3b8f02783624e4/thumbnail_1627000.jpg","/articles/6348075/Washington/University-of-Washington-to-run-prospective-ibogaine-study-committee-hears-update-on-psilocybin-safety-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6348075-850ee4176ee3456bede1ac35eb31fa47/orig.mp4?Expires=1770453099&Signature=f~EBsCB9UdfycQLlxtx3ctAtklCta1Q7UNhwaXbDicJOpMWovFmOHMjSgX6dxYymzyE6JQASNf-J9qDNVki1arvQDWDYVXSzVDZwgQKW8nvUCL6ek3zv-V4VEhNNAeO5yodGGhvD3ApX92c3raCXOAT8ZFJsbPnMW~zRvAY5s18g5jUl4H-AtfiqoqRXjGl2vvFeHBB0iB7Y42a8sBeRzcKCiN-p~mrE-DUrCiEFx6AEISvbe~IrGbYIp1GxivbKnrfZ-5n4kGJ5W3O41Ms0iN2BpsuFCd3oFG2sWkVS1Sh3E36z2-fPNu87ZGfT4FkLz-Yb9FrtF4WIIpbMAx3cKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee members received a work‑session update from Dr. Nathan Sackett, director of the University of Washington Center for Novel Therapeutics and Addiction Psychiatry (NTAP), on two state‑funded research projects and then heard a staff briefing on Senate Bill 5,204, which would require a prospective randomized cohort study of ibogaine‑assisted therapy for opioid use disorder.

Dr. Sackett said NTAP’s federally approved psilocybin ‘‘high risk’’ safety study is at its midpoint. The study targets veterans and first responders with co‑occurring post‑traumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder and will enroll about 40 participants; Dr. Sackett reported Institutional Review Board (IRB) and FDA approvals, completed therapist training, a psychotherapeutic manual, and planned recruitment in February with publication targeted in mid‑2026. He said the study’s purpose is both to assess safety in a population often excluded from trials and to evaluate whether such treatments can be integrated into outpatient clinical settings.

Dr. Sackett also described initial work on ibogaine. NTAP analyzed data from a clinical site in Mexico that administered ibogaine with continuous cardiac monitoring; his team reported preliminary analyses that, in that cohort, showed close monitoring could manage known cardiac effects and that no adverse events were observed in the provided dataset. He said the next step is to pursue efficacy trials targeting opioid use disorder.

Committee staff briefed on SB 5,204, sponsored by Senator Solomon. The bill would require the University of Washington to conduct a prospective randomized cohort study over three years comparing ibogaine‑assisted therapy against usual care for adults with opioid use disorder; the study is to be conducted at a licensed clinic in Mexico followed by structured therapeutic support. The staff summary said the study’s aim is to measure specified outcomes and to pave the way for larger trials.

During the hearing, some testifiers supported the research approach and urged scientific evaluation. Others raised ethical and equity questions about conducting research in Mexico. Jennifer Gordon, a registered nurse testifying as an individual, asked how people in Mexico would benefit from the research and whether protections would be included for local participants; she urged the committee to include provisions that address benefit sharing with Mexican participants and communities.

Why it matters: The bills and state funding direct academic research into novel or less‑studied psychedelics that advocates say could offer new treatments for treatment‑resistant addiction and PTSD. The committee’s action would shape whether the state’s research agenda and any resulting recommendations move forward.

Meeting context: The committee received detailed operational updates from UW researchers and a staff briefing on the bill; no final committee action on SB 5,204 was recorded at the hearing.","University of Washington researchers reported progress on state‑funded studies of psilocybin and ibogaine. The committee heard staff briefings on Senate Bill 5,204 (an Ibogaine‑assisted therapy study) and a status update from UW’s Center for Novel Therapeutics and Addiction Psychiatry.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6348078,"Senate committee hears bill to update Washington State Health Plan; OFM to lead drafting and reporting",1094,700000,1794000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2243301-2fdb4655cb19f799ae3b8f02783624e4&start=700&end=1794","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2243301-2fdb4655cb19f799ae3b8f02783624e4/thumbnail_700000.jpg","/articles/6348078/Washington/Senate-committee-hears-bill-to-update-Washington-State-Health-Plan-OFM-to-lead-drafting-and-reporting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6348078-8f43d3a19ca2fb533844979cadbaf709/orig.mp4?Expires=1770453099&Signature=A~jKsuCLqyEq4oJgDiGVBJ8kUFrQoIVEyviYy6z1UXD1qPMdmVkTT-B1v~hkPWwXkcHhtLNNsX9AKrSTZz1FptYAP45yn~CAF4sj936B6ea3xkcjy~PM1K7lNuKo3EXIcGNXYmFtS-sYb0V9D8qgEsAH9aHXVrHOzCQgg9uysginID~l-ciZZuDNxAipfo1X5zUfpFSsWFD~aivkYafrZYTUzCm7-w0dbhlezSg5nUZS15MMEMuRZi83DCuTeK~-LC0P0Dip9fgQ935rbyGu-xn52W0ZU~AtrFfd-RL3OQHXP7XuT2tP1zUwtWphTt4OT-9s~f1H1hv7Ozi~uqhTUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee held a hearing on Senate Bill 5,568, a proposed substitute that would update Washington’s State Health Plan and direct the Office of Financial Management (OFM) to develop a statewide health resource strategy.

Committee staff laid out the bill’s purpose and background, referencing the original State Health Plan from 1987 and subsequent guidance assigned to OFM by the legislature. The proposed substitute would require OFM to coordinate with public and private stakeholders, consider health equity principles in developing the plan, and obtain access to relevant health system data collected by the Health Care Authority in addition to Department of Health licensing data. The bill sets a schedule: OFM must submit a preliminary report by July 1, 2026 and a completed plan by Dec. 31, 2027; it also requires biennial updates thereafter.

Annie Panucci, Director of Forecasting and Research at OFM, testified that OFM supports provisions that codify work the agency is already doing, appreciates the bill’s data‑access provisions, and can meet the reporting and public‑hearing requirements within existing capacity; OFM’s updated fiscal note continues to reflect zero impact. Health care provider groups and insurers voiced general support for updating the plan. Amy Brackenberry of the Washington State Medical Association said the state should use the update to address certificate‑of‑need issues, administrative simplification, and access gaps (for example, maternity care availability). Jennifer Ziegler of the Association of Washington Health Plans also supported an objective analysis and administrative simplification.

Why it matters: Supporters say a modernized, routinely updated state health plan and resource strategy could help policymakers identify gaps in access, target investments, and inform reforms to cost, capacity, and quality across the state’s health system.

Meeting context: The committee heard from a mix of health‑system stakeholders, OFM staff and industry groups. OFM indicated the work can be conducted within current capacity but will require continued stakeholder engagement.","Senate Bill 5,568 would direct the Office of Financial Management to develop an updated statewide health resource strategy, require stakeholder coordination, and set reporting deadlines for a preliminary report by July 1, 2026 and a completed plan by Dec. 31, 2027.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6348080,"Committee hears bill to align Public Employees Benefits Board authority with SEBB’s voluntary benefit offerings",240,430000,670000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2243301-2fdb4655cb19f799ae3b8f02783624e4&start=430&end=670","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2243301-2fdb4655cb19f799ae3b8f02783624e4/thumbnail_430000.jpg","/articles/6348080/Washington/Committee-hears-bill-to-align-Public-Employees-Benefits-Board-authority-with-SEBBs-voluntary-benefit-offerings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6348080-507a71c936e8dd0cbff203b542cf11d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770453099&Signature=k4-vIXhv6XKWgj6r5r68ACl3kGctspaxYNk0MwvxaXk-bbJa020lVucC~4GrH2acqoVaXR648E1s~lgj~ipn-2GLFesp65XjhkvtOTtoz9i9fPh~hvQ2EKmGZ8eSBN-D6LwF25gsJ-8RRhRsREgZXsXDEmYNoNT6SOwGpex8kfBGPMTh~Ib9Um-s8KCQO6dilucqZyaMy5p00f-Rpz9remsMrxe0NZQpfPKLSX2Y3zX9i6Dj7b5gKFd6UTSgfggPqMqfQvr0awG-1sRRDlQ5E6YPEPhXquf2FCDV7hmFPHCgTx6RRM5B5vbo5pBWiXGAeXH4W67Gh0KXGiJuXQwSig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 5,478, sponsored by Senator Bateman, came before the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee for a staff briefing and public testimony. The bill is an agency request from the Health Care Authority and focuses on the benefit‑offering authority of the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEB).

Greg Attenaccio, committee staff, explained that the bill would remove outdated statutory language that requires the PEB to offer a long‑term care product and would instead mirror the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) authority by allowing the PEB to study and, subject to funding and procurement outcomes, potentially offer a range of employee‑paid voluntary benefits (for example, emergency transportation, identity protection, legal aid, long‑term care insurance, and other lines listed in SEBB statute).

Senator Bateman, the bill’s prime sponsor, described it as an agency request designed to bring parity between the PEB and SEBB benefit authorities and characterized it as a noncontroversial housekeeping bill intended to allow future voluntary benefit offerings to be available to both employee groups.

Dave Eisbinger, director of the PEB and related programs at the Health Care Authority, testified in support, saying the bill “does not require or appropriate any funds. It merely allows the PEP board to consider offering the same types of benefits to employees in PEP.” He explained the bill would retire an antiquated mandate to offer a large group long‑term care plan (the prior PEB group plan closed in 2014) and provide optional offering authority, noting that identifying carriers for a large group long‑term care product has not been successful.

Why it matters: If enacted, the change would modernize statutory direction for employee benefit options and would give the PEB broader study and offering authority for employee‑paid voluntary benefits when the agency and boards choose to pursue them.

Meeting context: The hearing included one in‑person witness (HCA) and staff testimony; the bill was presented as an agency request with no appropriation attached.","Senate Bill 5,478 would expand and modernize the Public Employees Benefits Board’s authority so it may study and, if appropriate, offer a range of employee‑paid voluntary benefits similar to the School Employees Benefits Board.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6348082,"Senate committee advances three Medicaid and long‑term care bills in executive session",0,581000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2243301-2fdb4655cb19f799ae3b8f02783624e4&start=581&end=581","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2243301-2fdb4655cb19f799ae3b8f02783624e4/thumbnail_581000.jpg","/articles/6348082/Washington/Senate-committee-advances-three-Medicaid-and-longterm-care-bills-in-executive-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6348082-da8f0a1008973008971c4a84e0c1e88f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770453099&Signature=YdPCZof4eUkaLyy7sG0fgzuKAmI67WyAVVh2bwiMm6UlLnfRutLsG5N-9lsEwMPjUZRpwWYqbFQRWf~i49uN1kX3sM-lC30Eql~o1Nr9ynoVrVmdphO-8SQWycXySotptAYpKpCaFBmeX0W6lUYwV0IbmjAMXht35CY1s0dX4w-F5VzaL4zkKbEs5muxcAiZdNjMhnq9swxMTl1na0gzjuR7krxVA7BOQYXkzhfX-AVlgOQWAMhjuPZpPznzmP4iMZoozgZdRN6EL4VqhMc40Xb41S~15cxvoxNv3ZS7TVqC246yCZqVUyWz1zM4u71MVpoN4McBVX1TCIfIhAeOxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Washington State Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee met in executive session and advanced three bills relating to prescription dispensing limits, post‑acute care network adequacy, and Medicaid concurrent enrollment reconciliations.

Committee Chair Cleveland convened the executive session and identified the three bills under consideration: Senate Bill 5,019, Senate Bill 5,124 and Senate Bill 5,258. Staff provided briefings on each measure before the committee took action.

The committee adopted a proposed substitute for Senate Bill 5,019 (substitute S1144.1). After the substitute was adopted, the committee moved that the proposed substitute receive a due‑pass recommendation and be sent to the Rules Committee; members approved the motion by voice vote. The committee record shows the bill was “passed subject to signatures.”

On Senate Bill 5,124 (amendment S1097.2), the committee adopted the amendment and moved that it be rolled into a proposed substitute and that it receive a due‑pass recommendation to the Ways and Means Committee. Committee staff advised that the committee did not yet have a full fiscal picture on the bill and that Ways and Means would continue fiscal review; the motion was approved by voice vote and the bill was “passed subject to signatures.”

Senate Bill 5,258 (amendment S1156.1) had its amendment adopted, was rolled into a proposed substitute, and was recommended for due pass and referral to the Ways and Means Committee. Committee staff again noted work to continue on developing the fuller fiscal picture; the motion was approved by voice vote and the bill was recorded as “passed subject to signatures.”

Why it matters: All three items were advanced out of committee with due‑pass recommendations so they can continue through the legislative process. Two of the bills were explicitly referred to Ways and Means for additional fiscal review, signaling that more detailed cost information will be developed before final action.

Meeting context: The committee considered these items entirely in executive session; the transcript records voice votes but does not provide roll‑call tallies or individual recorded votes for these motions.

Speakers quoted or recorded on this item were committee staff and the chair. No formal numeric vote tallies were captured in the public transcript for these motions; the record uses voice votes (\"Aye\"/\"Nay\").","In executive session the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee adopted substitutes and sent three bills—Senate Bills 5,019; 5,124; and 5,258—forward for further review, with due‑pass recommendations and referral to the appropriate committees for fiscal review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears competing views on proposed psilocybin access program; debate centers on regulation, equity and decriminalization

University of Washington to run prospective ibogaine study; committee hears update on psilocybin safety work

Senate committee hears bill to update Washington State Health Plan; OFM to lead drafting and reporting

Committee hears bill to align Public Employees Benefits Board authority with SEBB’s voluntary benefit offerings

Senate committee advances three Medicaid and long‑term care bills in executive session