OLYMPIA – Yesterday afternoon, House Bill 1811, sponsored by Rep. Osman Salahuddin (D-Redmond), cleared the Senate unanimously and now awaits the Governor’s signature.
The bill defines “co-response” as a partnership between first responders and human services professionals, ensuring that teams of trained clinicians, social workers, and peer support specialists are involved in emergency situations. This approach seeks to reduce reliance on law enforcement and emergency rooms, allowing for immediate care and de-escalation of crises.
Under the bill, co-response participants gain privileged communication status and frontline employee protections under workers’ compensation law. The University of Washington School of Social Work will launch a voluntary crisis responder training academy by January 2026 to offer certification in safety tactics, de-escalation, culturally responsive care, suicide intervention and coordination with 911 and 988 services.
Senate amendments ensure that community-based crisis teams dispatched by 988 hubs are provided flexibility and nonpolice response options for vulnerable individuals.
“This legislation ensures people in crisis get the right care, and it gives first responders the tools they need to best serve our communities. It’s about making sure the right help arrives at the right time,” said Rep. Salahuddin.
Learn more by watching Senate consideration here, watching House consideration here, or clicking on the image below:
