Washington House Bill HB1709

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/29/25
• Refer: 1/29/25
• Report Pass: 2/18/25
• Refer: 2/21/25
• Engrossed: 3/11/25
• Refer: 3/13/25
• Report Pass: 3/27/25
• Enrolled: 4/25/25
• Chaptered: 5/19/25
• Passed: 5/19/25

Caption

AN ACT Relating to the care of students with adrenal insufficiency by parent-designated adults;

Summary

HB 1709 creates a new framework for Washington public schools to support students with adrenal insufficiency, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition that can require emergency corticosteroid treatment. The bill directs school districts to adopt and periodically revise policies for these students, including how to obtain parent instructions and medical orders, store medication and equipment, make necessary policy exceptions, develop emergency care plans, distribute plans to appropriate staff, maintain legal documentation for parent-designated adults, and update individual health plans at least annually. The bill also authorizes parents to designate adults to provide care for a child with adrenal insufficiency at school. Those parent-designated adults must be trained by the parents in the proper procedures, including emergency injection of corticosteroid during an adrenal crisis, and may include school district employees. For non-licensed school employees, the bill requires a voluntary written letter of intent and prohibits employer retaliation or discipline for refusing to file such a letter. The bill further clarifies that these adults may provide care consistent with the student’s health plan and that the section does not override existing nursing delegation requirements.

Impact

HB 1709 amends Washington law governing school health services and student medical care by adding specific requirements for students with adrenal insufficiency and by expanding who may provide care for them in schools. It modifies RCW provisions related to school health plans and liability protections, and it creates a new statutory section establishing parent-designated adults, training expectations, and school district policy obligations. The bill also extends immunity protections to school districts, employees, agents, and parent-designated adults acting in good faith and in substantial compliance with a student’s health plan and licensed health care instructions.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial in the legislative process. It passed the House Education Committee, the House, the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee, the Senate, and the House again on final passage with unanimous or near-unanimous votes and no recorded opposition. That voting pattern suggests strong bipartisan agreement on the need to improve school support for students with adrenal insufficiency and to clarify responsibilities for school staff and parent-designated caregivers.

Contention

There is little evidence of major opposition in the available record, but the bill does touch on a few potentially sensitive issues. The main policy questions involve allowing non-licensed school employees to serve as parent-designated adults, requiring voluntary letters of intent, and balancing expanded caregiving authority with existing nursing delegation and school liability rules. The bill addresses these concerns by making participation voluntary, preserving nursing delegation requirements, and providing immunity for good-faith compliance, which likely helped reduce contention.