OLYMPIA – Rep. Marcus Riccelli (D-Spokane) was named chair of the House Health Care & Wellness Committee yesterday when Democrats, who hold the majority in the House of Representatives, approved the formal committee structure for the 2023 legislative session. Riccelli takes over as chair from Rep. Eileen Cody (D-Seattle), the long-time chair of the committee who announced her retirement this May. Riccelli, who previously served as the Majority Whip for the House Democratic Caucus over the past six years, has served on the Health Care & Wellness Committee since he was elected to the Legislature in 2012, three of those years as vice chair. He also serves on the Joint Legislative Executive Committee on Planning for Aging and Disability Issues, Public Health Advisory Board, and the Universal Health Care Commission.
“I am incredibly honored to have been chosen to serve as chair of the Health Care & Wellness Committee,” said Riccelli. “I will remain focused on working to advance policies and funding that helps ensure every person has a shot to thrive regardless of the zip code they live in. Critical to that is continuing to build upon the committee’s strong work to ensure access to quality affordable healthcare to every Washingtonian.”
As a member of the committee, Riccelli has sponsored numerous health care related bills over the years including HB 1559, which established the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine in Spokane, and HB 1196, which ensured fair billing for audio-only telehealth, greatly expanding behavioral health access to rural areas. Additionally, he has championed funding to expand oral health access to over 60,000 people. In 2019, he passed HB 1155 guaranteeing meal and rest breaks for nurses who provide patients with critical and often life-saving care, and in 2021, Riccelli passed HB 1152 which strengthened and improved Washington’s public health system.
When not serving in the Legislature, Riccelli is a Community Relations Manager for CHAS Health. Additionally, he has served as an adjunct instructor at Eastern Washington University’s College of Health Science and Public Health and is participating in the Milbank Fellows Program.
The 2023 legislative session begins on Monday, January 9th in Olympia.