Washington State Massage Therapy Association - Government Relations Blog Entry

Keep Your Eyes On Substitute Senate Bills 6071 and 5845

6 Feb 2026 1:30 AM | Robbin Blake (Administrator)

Currently, there are several bills in the Washington State Legislature that affect massage therapists, these two affect LMTs who are insurance providers.

Substitute Senate Bill 6071: This bill would limit the amount of time that health insurance carriers can do “clawbacks. Currently, health insurance carriers can request repayment for up to 24 months after payment was made to a provider, or up to 30 months if the carrier had to coordinate benefits with another carrier.

The substitute bill changes the 24 months to 12 months and the 30 months to 18 months. This reduction in time allows for better stability for providers. The original bill requested a 6-month limit on clawbacks in both situations, but it was changed in the substitute bill.

This bill passed out of its original committee and now resides in the Senate Rules Committee. For full details go to: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6071&Year=2025

Substitute Senate Bill 5845: Health insurance carriers are required to make payment of “clean” claims within 30 days of receipt and all claims must be paid or denied within 60 days.

This bill requires health insurance carriers to make payment of clean claims within 30 days and carriers have 21 days to request additional or missing documentation to process a claim. When the documentation is supplied, the carrier then has 30 days to pay. If a carrier fails to process claims according to the timeline, then the carrier must pay interest on these claims. The substitute bill also provides for better clarity of process and definitions of terms.

This bill passed out of its original committee and now resides in the Senate Rules Committee. For full details go to: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?Year=2025&BillNumber=5845

At the time of this blog posting, both bills are still in process in the Senate -- they have until February 17 to be passed by the Senate.

Regulations on the Display of Licenses or Certifications

5 Feb 2026 11:15 PM | Robbin Blake (Administrator)

Created by Marybeth Berney, LMT and Robbin Blake, LMT

Are You Aware of RCW 18.108.045 Display of license or certification--Availability of photo identification? This RCW states:

(1) A massage therapist licensed under this chapter or a reflexologist certified under this chapter must conspicuously display his or her credential in his or her principal place of business. If the licensed massage therapist or certified reflexologist does not have a principal place of business or conducts business in any other location, he or she must have a copy of his or her credential available for inspection while performing services within his or her authorized scope of practice.
(2) A massage therapist licensed under this chapter or a reflexologist certified under this chapter must have government-issued photo identification on his or her person or have it be available for inspection by city, county, or state law enforcement or department personnel at all times he or she practices massage therapy or reflexology. The name of the massage therapist or reflexologist on the government-issued photo identification must match the name on the massage therapy license or reflexology certification.

To read the RCW, click on the this link: RCW 18.108.045 Display of license or certification

You also need to be aware of and follow any local regulations that you might be subject to. In the last few years many Washington cities have/are updating their ordinances. Many of these ordinances specifically define what “conspicuously display” means. For example:

"Conspicuously display" shall mean the display of licenses and certificates in a manner that can be viewed and read by a person immediately upon entry into the initial common area of massage business or reflexology business without having to request to see the license or certification.
In situations where a massage business or reflexology business is a mobile service which travels to where the massage therapy service or reflexology service will be conducted, conspicuously display shall mean the display of licenses and certificates in a manner that can be viewed and read by a person immediately upon approaching the massage table, massage chair or furniture used to do massage therapy or reflexology.

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to us at gr@mywsmta.org.

Sales Taxes on Live Presentations

5 Feb 2026 10:45 PM | Robbin Blake (Administrator)

On May 20, 2025, Governor Ferguson signed off on Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5814 to make it law. This bill had narrowly passed in both the State House and Senate.

Around 8/19/25, the Washington Department of Revenue emailed businesses stating that 7 new categories of services were going to be responsible for charging sales taxes on their services beginning on 10/1/25.

These 7 new service categories were:

Advertising services
Custom website development
Custom software & customization
Information technology (IT) services
Investigation, security, and armored car services
Live presentations
Temporary staffing

For most small continuing education businesses and instructors in the massage world this was the first that anyone had heard of this new law. Sales Taxes on the 7 services were to go live on October 1, 2025, which meant that most services affected by this law had approximately 41-42 days to implement this sale tax and start charging customers. Many businesses heard about this through word of mouth as they did not receive prior notification by the Dept. of Revenue. This law is part of our state government’s effort to raise enough taxes to the state’s budget deficit.

The part that affects massage therapists the most is that sales tax was to be collected on “Live Presentations”, also known as continuing education. There have been several “Interim Guidances” created by the Dept. of Revenue to help businesses understand the law. The remaining excerpts are taken from the primary interim guidance on Live Presentations.

~~~~~

What is a “Live Presentation?

To be a “live presentation,” it is sufficient that the presenter or instructor and/or audience are allowed to give, receive, and discuss information with one another in real time, whether this occurs in-person or electronically. A taxable live presentation requires a fee, charge, or any other exchange of consideration between any parties involved.

The following considerations can be used to help determine if you are providing a live presentation:

The purpose of the activity is to inform, explain, persuade, or educate on a particular subject;
The structure of the activity is in the form of a seminar, lecture, workshop, course, or any similar event;
The activity must allow for more than one attendee.

NOTE: The determination of whether a service meets the definition of a “live presentation” is based on the specific facts and circumstances of a particular transaction. While the considerations above are generally features of a live presentation, the specific tax results of a particular transaction may vary.

Live presentations include, but are not limited to, the following types of activities:

Courses, classes, seminars, workshops, or other programs for personal or professional enrichment such as art, music, choir, pottery, business and marketing, cooking, and CPR classes or lessons.
Continuing professional education including: continuing legal education, continuing medical education, continuing education for trades, continuing education for teachers, etc.
Driving education courses or lessons.
In-person and online instructional classes, lessons, workshops, seminars, or other programs that are provided in real time.

Note: With respect to any of the activities identified directly above, the activities would not be a live presentation if the activity is provided by and as part of a learning program by a public or private elementary or secondary school, or as part of a learning program encompassed within the accreditation of a higher education institution.

What is not included in a live presentation is one-on-one instructional activities such as tutoring, consulting, or music lessons.

Dept of Revenue Interim Guidance on “Live Presentations: Interim guidance statement regarding changes made by ESSB 5814 for live presentations as of September 12, 2025.

Correction--Call to Action For E2SHB 1589 (Contract Fairness) -- This 2025 Call to Action is no longer active

23 Mar 2025 1:45 AM | Robbin Blake (Administrator)

Calling all LMTs: Sign in today to support Engrossed 2nd Substitute House Bill (E2SHB) 1589, Deadline: Tuesday 3/25/25 by 9:30am

Correction: The deadline date is Tuesday 3/25/25 by 9:30am and not Monday 3/24/25 as previously stated in the prior blog posting.

The Washington State Massage Therapy Association (WSMTA) strongly supports E2SHB 1589 and encourages all LMTs to do the same. This bill gives healthcare providers greater opportunity to review and negotiate their health insurance provider contracts (to include their reimbursement rate) -- as independent providers, massage therapists are currently forced into “take-it-or-leave-it” contracts without negotiation.

Current Situation:

E2SHB 1589, will have a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care this Monday. The Coalition Lobbyists have been working hard to keep this bill moving. At the Public Hearing, select members of the Coalition's Lobbyists will testify in support of this bill. We need you sign in before 9:30am on Tuesday 3/25/25 to indicate your support for this bill!

How do you show support for E2SHB 1589?

We encourage everyone to indicate a "pro" position to support the bill.
Go to the Washington State Legislature's website by clicking on this link: E2SHB 1589 webpage
On the right-hand side of the page is a green box that says, I would like to testify/submit written testimony, click on it.
When the next page pops up, scroll down and click the button for "E2SHB 1589 Health carriers & contractors" and pick:

I would like my position noted for the legislative record

We encourage you to please choose not to testify in person or remotely. The coalition has organized and coordinated this effort.

We encourage every LMT in Washington to sign in immediately and make your position known to the legislators. The more who sign in to support the bill, the more attention the bill will receive. All bill support must be made by 1 hour prior to the public hearing to be counted.

Recent History:

This bill passed out of the House on March 8 with a vote of 73 yeas and 23 nays last week. As time passes on this bill, the Insurance carriers are working harder to prevent this bill from going through. There is a coalition of 20 healthcare professions including massage therapy, chiropractic, physical therapy, speech therapy and more who have been advocating for this bill. Now we need every LMT to support this bill, yet again.

What does E2SHB 1589 do for LMTs and other healthcare providers?

This bill preserves clients’ access to care by requiring insurance companies to engage in good faith negotiations with independent health care providers. “Good faith” means the insurer must:

Offer a meaningful opportunity to negotiate the terms of the contract
Provide a contact person for negotiations
Indicate how the contract is different from the previous contract
Share an easily accessible proposed fee schedule prior to contracting

SHB 1589 also prohibits:

Requiring providers to take discounts that are not part of the original contract
Take-it-or-leave-it clauses

Please support SHB 1589 to protect client access to necessary and cost-effective Massage Therapy care! Thank you.

The WSMTA Government Relations team Is dedicated to updating and keeping you informed on issues related to legislation and regulation that impact Washington massage therapists. WSMTA advocates for massage therapy to be a recognized and respected healthcare profession. We work to protect LMTs' rights, promote fair laws and regulations, and ensure the industry’s growth and integrity.

Call to Action For E2SHB 1589 (Contract Fairness) -- This 2025 call to action is no longer active.

22 Mar 2025 1:17 AM | Robbin Blake (Administrator)

Calling all LMTs: Sign in today to support Engrossed 2nd Substitute House Bill (E2SHB) 1589, Deadline: Monday 3/24/25 by 9:30am

The Washington State Massage Therapy Association (WSMTA) strongly supports E2SHB 1589 and encourages all LMTs to do the same. This bill gives healthcare providers greater opportunity to review and negotiate their health insurance provider contracts (to include their reimbursement rate) -- as independent providers, massage therapists are currently forced into “take-it-or-leave-it” contracts without negotiation.

Current Situation:

E2SHB 1589, will have a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care this Monday. The Coalition Lobbyists have been working hard to keep this bill moving. At the Public Hearing, select members of the Coalition's Lobbyists will testify in support of this bill. We need you sign in before 9:30am on Monday 3/24/25 to indicate your support for this bill!

How do you show support for E2SHB 1589?

We encourage everyone to indicate a "pro" position to support the bill.
Go to the Washington State Legislature's website by clicking on this link: E2SHB 1589 webpage
On the right-hand side of the page is a green box that says, I would like to testify/submit written testimony, click on it.
When the next page pops up, scroll down and click the button for "E2SHB 1589 Health carriers & contractors" and pick:

I would like my position noted for the legislative record

We encourage you to please choose not to testify in person or remotely. The coalition has organized and coordinated this effort.

We encourage every LMT in Washington to sign in immediately and make your position known to the legislators. The more who sign in to support the bill, the more attention the bill will receive. All bill support must be made by 1 hour prior to the public hearing to be counted.

Recent History:

This bill passed out of the House on March 8 with a vote of 73 yeas and 23 nays last week. As time passes on this bill, the Insurance carriers are working harder to prevent this bill from going through. There is a coalition of 20 healthcare professions including massage therapy, chiropractic, physical therapy, speech therapy and more who have been advocating for this bill. Now we need every LMT to support this bill, yet again.

What does E2SHB 1589 do for LMTs and other healthcare providers?

This bill preserves clients’ access to care by requiring insurance companies to engage in good faith negotiations with independent health care providers. “Good faith” means the insurer must:

Offer a meaningful opportunity to negotiate the terms of the contract
Provide a contact person for negotiations
Indicate how the contract is different from the previous contract
Share an easily accessible proposed fee schedule prior to contracting

SHB 1589 also prohibits:

Requiring providers to take discounts that are not part of the original contract
Take-it-or-leave-it clauses

Please support SHB 1589 to protect client access to necessary and cost-effective Massage Therapy care! Thank you.

The WSMTA Government Relations team Is dedicated to updating and keeping you informed on issues related to legislation and regulation that impact Washington massage therapists. WSMTA advocates for massage therapy to be a recognized and respected healthcare profession. We work to protect LMTs' rights, promote fair laws and regulations, and ensure the industry’s growth and integrity.

Call to Action For 2SHB 1589 (Contract Fairness) -- This 2025 call to action is no longer active.

6 Mar 2025 11:29 AM | Robbin Blake (Administrator)

Calling all LMTs: Sign in ASAP to support 2nd Substitute House Bill (2SHB) 1589

Things are coming down to the wire on 2SHB 1589. Tuesday night, this bill moved out of the House Rules Committee to be read in and placed into status for a 2nd Reading. We ask that you contact your House Representatives and ask them to help pull it to the House Floor for a vote. It has to be voted out of the House by March 12, which is next Wednesday.

What can you do to help this process, right now?

The coalition is lobbying to move this bill along; however, we really need the help of all LMTs to get this bill through the House floor. To do this we ask that you contact your House Representatives and tell them about the need for contract fairness in order for individual providers to be able to negotiate with insurance carriers in a fair and meaningful way.

There are two ways you can do this.

If you already have a personal relationship with your House Representatives, set up a meeting and meet with them by phone, zoom or in person. Ask them to pull 2HSB 1589 to the House floor for a vote.
If you don’t know your House Representatives, find your House Representatives (not your Senate Representative) by clicking on the link: https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/1589 and type in your home address.
- WSMTA would ask that you click on the button for “support” after you fill in your contact information.
- You can indicate if you would like contact back from your House Representatives.
- Ask them to pull 2HSB 1589 to the House floor for a vote. You can tell your House Representatives why this bill is important to you if you currently are an insurance provider. Or, if you have dropped, or are considering dropping being an insurance provider, let them know about any reasons for this related to contract fairness. If you are not an insurance provider, state how it impacts your profession and your clients/patients by not having the ability to negotiate a fair contract and by not having enough massage therapy insurance providers.
- You can also ask to talk to your House Representatives, just state this in the comment section.

Level of urgency:

Please reach out to your House Representatives as soon as you read this article, time is very urgent as the deadlines to move things along in the legislature are constantly approaching.

What else can you do?

Reach out to your colleagues, regardless of profession, and let them know of the urgency of getting this bill passed. The number of voices that legislators hear from is very important.

What are the talking points for 2SHB 1589 -- concerning the relationships between health carriers and contracting providers? (referred to as “Contract Fairness”)

2SHB 1589 preserves clients’ access to care by requiring insurance companies to engage in good faith negotiations with independent health care providers. “Good faith” means the insurer must:

Offer a meaningful opportunity to negotiate the terms of the contract
Provide a contact person for negotiations
Indicate how the contract is different from the previous contract
Share an easily accessible proposed fee schedule prior to contracting

2SHB 1589 also prohibits:

Requiring providers to take discounts that are not part of the original contract
Take-it-or-leave-it clauses

There is a coalition of 20 healthcare professions including massage therapy, chiropractic, physical therapy, speech therapy and more who have been advocating for this bill. Now we need every LMT to support this bill

Thank you to everyone who has made your opinion known on this bill!

WSMTA is thankful for everyone who has followed up on a call-to-action to make your opinion known on what was originally HB 1589, but is now known as 2^nd Substitute House Bill 1589 or 2SHB 1589. Your actions are very important and have helped to move this bill forward. But we need your continued help to pull it further along the process.

Please support 2SHB 1589 to protect client access to necessary and cost-effective Massage Therapy care! Thank you.

The WSMTA Government Relations team Is dedicated to updating and keeping you informed on issues related to legislation and regulation that impact Washington massage therapists. WSMTA advocates for massage therapy to be a recognized and respected healthcare profession. We work to protect LMTs' rights, promote fair laws and regulations, and ensure the industry’s growth and integrity.

We Need Your Continued Help For 2SHB 1589 (Contract Fairness)

4 Mar 2025 12:39 PM | Robbin Blake (Administrator)

The Washington State Massage Therapy Association (WSMTA) strongly supports 2nd Substitute House Bill (2SHB) 1589 and encourages all LMTs to do the same. This bill gives healthcare providers greater opportunity to review and negotiate their health insurance provider contracts -- as independent providers, massage therapists are currently forced into “take-it-or-leave-it” contracts without negotiation. To see the details of this bill, click HERE.

For background information on how a bill becomes a law in Washington State, please read this blog, “How Bills Are Processed Through The Legislature”

Thank you to everyone who has made your opinion known on this bill!

WSMTA is thankful for everyone who has followed up on a call-to-action to make your opinion known on what was originally HB 1589, but is now known as 2^nd Substitute House Bill 1589 or 2SHB 1589. Your actions are very important and have helped to move this bill forward.

Update on 2SHB 1589

Substitute House Bill 1589 had been moved to the House Appropriations Committee for a public hearing on 2/25/25 and was voted out as “due pass” in its 2/27/25 Appropriations Committee Executive Meeting. At each step of the way, this bill has received strong support. It was passed out of the Appropriations Committee as 2SHB 1589 with 27 Ayes and 4 Nays which means that it had strong support across party lines.

Next steps for 2SHB 1589

2SHB 1589 will now go through a House Rules Review. During this process the House Rules committee decides which bills to present to the house floor for a vote. But before movement can occur it first needs to be “read in”. This bill has until March 12th to make it through the House. If it doesn’t get passed from the House to the Senate by then it will die.

What can you do to help this process, right now?

The coalition is lobbying to move this bill along; however, we need the help of all LMTs to get this bill through the House floor. To do this we ask that you contact your House Representatives and tell them about the need for contract fairness in order for individual providers to be able to negotiate with insurance carriers in a fair and meaningful way.

There are two ways you can do this.

If you already have a personal relationship with your House Representatives, set up a meeting and meet with them by phone, zoom or in person.
If you don’t know your House Representatives, find your House Representatives (not your Senate Representative) by clicking on the link: https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/1589 and type in your home address.
- WSMTA would ask that you click on the button for “support” after you fill in your contact information.
- You can indicate if you would like contact back from your House Representatives.
- You can tell your House Representatives why this bill is important to you if you currently are an insurance provider. Or, if you have dropped, or are considering dropping being an insurance provider, let them know about any reasons for this related to contract fairness. If you are not an insurance provider, state how it impacts your profession and your clients/patients by not having the ability to negotiate a fair contract and by not having enough massage therapy insurance providers.
- You can also ask to talk to your House Representatives, just state this in the comment section.

Level of urgency:

Please reach out to your House Representatives as soon as you read this article, time is very urgent as the deadlines to move things along in the legislature are constantly approaching.

What else can you do?

Reach out to your colleagues, regardless of profession, and let them know of the urgency of getting this bill passed. The number of voices that legislators hear from is very important.

What are the talking points for 2SHB 1589 -- concerning the relationships between health carriers and contracting providers? (referred to as “Contract Fairness”)

2SHB 1589 preserves clients’ access to care by requiring insurance companies to engage in good faith negotiations with independent health care providers. “Good faith” means the insurer must:

Offer a meaningful opportunity to negotiate the terms of the contract
Provide a contact person for negotiations
Indicate how the contract is different from the previous contract
Share an easily accessible proposed fee schedule prior to contracting

2SHB 1589 also prohibits:

Requiring providers to take discounts that are not part of the original contract
Take-it-or-leave-it clauses

There is a coalition of 20 healthcare professions including massage therapy, chiropractic, physical therapy, speech therapy and more who have been advocating for this bill. Now we need every LMT to support this bill

Please support 2SHB 1589 to protect client access to necessary and cost-effective Massage Therapy care! Thank you.

The WSMTA Government Relations team Is dedicated to updating and keeping you informed on issues related to legislation and regulation that impact Washington massage therapists. WSMTA advocates for massage therapy to be a recognized and respected healthcare profession. We work to protect LMTs' rights, promote fair laws and regulations, and ensure the industry’s growth and integrity.

Urgent! Show Your Support for SHB 1589 -- Insurance Contract Fairness

24 Feb 2025 8:24 PM | Robbin Blake (Administrator)

Calling all LMTs: Sign in today to support Substitute House Bill (SHB) 1589, Deadline: Tuesday 2/25/25 by Noon

The Washington State Massage Therapy Association (WSMTA) strongly supports Substitute House Bill (SHB) 1589 and encourages all LMTs to do the same. This bill gives healthcare providers greater opportunity to review and negotiate their health insurance provider contracts -- as independent providers, massage therapists are currently forced into “take-it-or-leave-it” contracts without negotiation.

Current Situation:

SHB 1589, last week passed the House Health Care & Wellness Committee with a solid vote of 16-2 and 1 excused. The bill is now scheduled for a public hearing in the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, February 25 at 1:30pm and we need you to sign-in in support of the bill. We need you sign in before noon on Tuesday 2/25/25!

How do you show support for SHB 1589?

We encourage everyone to indicate a "pro" position to support the bill.
Go to the Washington State Legislature's website by clicking on this link: SHB 1589 webpage
On the right-hand side of the page is a green box that says, I would like to testify/submit written testimony, click on it.
When the next page pops up, scroll down and click the button for "SHB 1589 Health carriers & contractors" and pick:

I would like my position noted for the legislative record

We encourage you to please choose not to testify in person or remotely. The coalition has organized and coordinated this effort.

We encourage every LMT in Washington to sign in immediately and make your position known to the legislators. The more who sign in to support the bill, the more attention the bill will receive. All bill support must be made by 1 hour prior to the public hearing to be counted.

What does SHB 1589 do for LMTs and other healthcare providers?

SHB 1589 preserves clients’ access to care by requiring insurance companies to engage in good faith negotiations with independent health care providers. “Good faith” means the insurer must:

Offer a meaningful opportunity to negotiate the terms of the contract
Provide a contact person for negotiations
Indicate how the contract is different from the previous contract
Share an easily accessible proposed fee schedule prior to contracting

SHB 1589 also prohibits:

Requiring providers to take discounts that are not part of the original contract
Take-it-or-leave-it clauses

There is a coalition of 20 healthcare professions including massage therapy, chiropractic, physical therapy, speech therapy and more who have been advocating for this bill. Now we need every LMT to support this bill

Please support SHB 1589 to protect client access to necessary and cost-effective Massage Therapy care! Thank you.

The WSMTA Government Relations team Is dedicated to updating and keeping you informed on issues related to legislation and regulation that impact Washington massage therapists. WSMTA advocates for massage therapy to be a recognized and respected healthcare profession. We work to protect LMTs' rights, promote fair laws and regulations, and ensure the industry’s growth and integrity.

Urgent! Show Your Support for SB 5507 -- Providing Massage to Medicaid Patients

13 Feb 2025 10:33 AM | Robbin Blake (Administrator)

Calling all LMTs: Sign in today to support Senate Bill (SB) 5507, Deadline: Friday 2/14/25 7:00am

The Washington State Massage Therapy Association (WSMTA) strongly supports Senate Bill (SB) 5507 and encourages all LMTs to do the same.

What is SB 5507 About?

Washington State Senate Bill 5507 aims to expand Medicaid (Apple Health) to cover medically necessary massage therapy as a non-pharmacological treatment for pain management. This legislation is critical in addressing the opioid crisis, ensuring that low-income patients have access to safe, effective, and evidence-based pain relief. While chiropractic and acupuncture services are now covered by Medicaid, massage therapy—despite its proven benefits—remains an out-of-pocket expense for Medicaid patients, creating a significant barrier to equitable healthcare.

Who Originated the Bill Content for SB 5507?

The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) Washington Chapter developed the idea for the bill and did the hard work to get it introduced in to the Senate (along with it's companion House Bill (HB) 1093). WSMTA fully endorses their work on this bill and encourages all Washington LMTs to support it as well. We are providing AMTA-WA's information about the bill to maintain consistency of message.

Why is This Bill Important?

Massage therapy is widely recognized as a clinically effective treatment for chronic pain, including back pain, osteoarthritis, migraines, fibromyalgia, and post-surgical recovery. Numerous healthcare organizations, including the Veterans Health Administration and Mayo Clinic, support its role in integrative pain management. Research has shown that access to massage therapy can significantly reduce opioid dependency, lower healthcare costs, and improve patient outcomes.

SB 5507 will ensure that, beginning January 1, 2027, Medicaid will cover massage therapy when prescribed by an authorized provider. This bill is a critical step in expanding access to non-pharmacological pain management, reducing reliance on opioids, and improving health equity for Washington’s most vulnerable residents. We ask that you to support this bill to provide essential pain relief options to Medicaid patients.

What Can You Do to Support This Bill?

The bill is having a public hearing on Friday Feb 14, 2025 in the Senate Health & Long-Term Care at 8:00 AM. AMTA-WA has set up people to testify for the bill hearing and they need your support on the bill before Friday at 7am. You can sign up on the bill page to let the Senate Committee and make help make it known that this bill is supported by our profession.

How Do You Show Your Support for SB 5507?

We encourage everyone to indicate a "pro" position to support the bill.
Go to the Washington State Legislature's website by clicking on this link: SB 5507 webpage
On the right-hand side of the page is a green box that says, I would like to testify/submit written testimony, click on it.
When the next page pops up, scroll down and click the button for "SB 5507 Massage Therapy Coverage" and pick either:

I would like my position noted for the legislative record

I would like to submit written testimony: We do encourage everyone who feels strongly about providing massage to medicaid clients to tell your story about why this is important to you.

We encourage you to please choose not to testify in person or remotely. AMTA-WA has organized and coordinated this effort.

We encourage every LMT in Washington to sign in immediately and make your position known to the legislators. The more who sign in to support the bill, the more attention the bill will receive. All written testimony and bill support must be made by 1 hour prior to the public hearing to be counted.
You can read the bill language by clicking HERE to open a PDF.

Please support SB 5507 whether you would personally choose to work with Medicaid patients or not. Help create a pathway for Medicaid patients to receive massage therapy services! Thank you.

The WSMTA Government Relations team Is dedicated to updating and keeping you informed on issues related to legislation and regulation that impact Washington massage therapists. WSMTA advocates for massage therapy to be a recognized and respected healthcare profession. We work to protect LMTs' rights, promote fair laws and regulations, and ensure the industry’s growth and integrity.

How Bills Are Processed Through The State Legislature

13 Feb 2025 9:38 AM | Robbin Blake (Administrator)

Here is a summary of the process a bill goes through to become a law in Washington State:

Lobbyists and citizens approach a legislator(s) with a problem or bill language already created.
If a legislator(s) in either the House or Senate supports the bill, the language is formalized into bill language, they file it and the bill receives a number.
The bill is read into the chamber it is introduced in (House or Senate) and then assigned to a committee. Most, but not all healthcare bills are assigned to either the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness or the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.
If the bill will affect the state government’s budget, then it also must be assigned to a fiscal committee for review as well.
If it has enough support, a public hearing may be held in which anyone can show their support for or against a bill, both written and public testimony is heard.
There are two sets of reviews, if the bill receives enough support it is eventually voted out of committee to the full floor of the house (House or Senate) it is in.
Once a bill makes it to the full floor of the House or Senate there are a series of debates and readings in which a bill may be amended or continue unchanged.
If it is approved on the floor, then the bill is moved to the other house (the House sends the bill to the Senate, or the Senate sends the bill to the House).
The bill then goes through a similar process in the other house. However, sometimes companion bills are co-introduced in both houses at roughly the same time and both work their way through their respective houses at the same time.
If both the House and the Senate approve the bill, then it goes to the Governor for approval and signature.
There are specific deadlines which bills must meet, or the bill “dies” and does not move forward.

For a more detailed process you can visit the Legislature’s website at: https://leg.wa.gov/learn-and-participate/how-a-bill-becomes-a-law/

For the state legislature’s calendar click this link for deadline dates: https://leg.wa.gov/bills-meetings-and-session/session/