---
type: "Bill"
title: "Regarding prior authorization."
description: "Regarding prior authorization."
jurisdiction: "us/states/wa"
legislature: "Washington Legislature"
session: "2017-2018"
identifier: "SB 6157"
citation: "Washington SB 6157 (2017-2018)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["HEALTH CARE", "HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONS AND PROVIDERS", "INSURANCE"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Short"]
version_count: 3
action_count: 28
vote_count: 2
first_action: "2018-01-10"
last_action: "2018-03-22"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/a7ca3cbc-809a-4b93-982a-a9825901a248"
source_url: "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6157&year=2017"
source_hash: "c8bb1940c494a98e76198eee6ba183a9fc9fd91f7b2155ff7201c83ba78108e4"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-wa"]
---

# Washington SB 6157 (2017-2018) — Regarding prior authorization.

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Bill** (committee substitute) — [source](http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/Biennium/2017-18/Htm/Bills/Senate%20Bills/6157.htm)
2. **Engrossed Substitute Bill** (committee substitute) — [source](http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/Biennium/2017-18/Htm/Bills/Senate%20Bills/6157-S.E.htm)
3. **Substitute Bill** (committee substitute) — [source](http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/Biennium/2017-18/Htm/Bills/Senate%20Bills/6157-S.htm)

## Votes

- Final Passage (#16) — **90–8** (pass) · lower
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#25) — **42–4** (pass) · upper

## Sponsors

- Short — primary (person)
- Becker — cosponsor (person)
- Cleveland — cosponsor (person)
- Kuderer — cosponsor (person)
- Nelson — cosponsor (person)
- Palumbo — cosponsor (person)
- Rivers — cosponsor (person)
- Van De Wege — cosponsor (person)
- Walsh — cosponsor (person)
- Warnick — cosponsor (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2018-01-10** First reading, referred to Health & Long Term Care. `reading-1`
- **2018-02-01** HLTC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. `passage`
- **2018-02-01** Minority; without recommendation.
- **2018-02-02** Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- **2018-02-10** Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
- **2018-02-12** 1st substitute bill substituted. `substitution`
- **2018-02-01** HLTC - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. `passage`
- **2018-02-01** Minority; without recommendation.
- **2018-02-02** Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- **2018-02-10** Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
- **2018-02-12** 1st substitute bill substituted. `substitution`
- **2018-02-12** Floor amendment(s) adopted.
- **2018-02-12** Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
- **2018-02-12** Third reading, passed; yeas, 42; nays, 4; absent, 0; excused, 3. `reading-3`
- **2018-02-15** First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report). `reading-1`
- **2018-02-23** HCW - Majority; do pass.
- **2018-02-23** Minority; do not pass.
- **2018-02-23** Minority; without recommendation.
- **2018-02-23** Referred to Rules 2 Review.
- **2018-02-26** Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
- **2018-02-27** Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
- **2018-02-27** Third reading, passed; yeas, 90; nays, 8; absent, 0; excused, 0. `reading-3`
- **2018-03-05** President signed. `passage`
- **2018-03-06** Speaker signed. `passage`
- **2018-03-06** Delivered to Governor.
- **2018-03-22** Governor signed. `executive-signature`
- **2018-03-22** Chapter 193, 2018 Laws. `became-law`
- **2018-03-22** Effective date 6/7/2018. `became-law`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/a7ca3cbc-809a-4b93-982a-a9825901a248`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Washington legislature records).