Medicines Legislation: Washington

The latest medicines product stewardship legislation for Washington.

Status:
Passed
Type:
Law
Date:
January, 2017

HB 1047 requires medicine manufacturers to create, fund, and operate a convenient statewide collection and disposal program for unused medicines.

Introduced in January 2017, HB 1047 passed the House Health Care & Wellness Committee on Feb. 15, 2017 and Appropriations Feb. 21. Though it did not move to a floor vote prior to the 2017 cut-off date, the bill was taken up again in 2018, the second year of the biennium, and...

Status:
Passed
Type:
Resolution
Date:
October, 2016

At its October 2016 annual meeting, the Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) adopted a resolution supporting medication return programs:

RESOLVED, that the WSMA support legislation to create a convenient, safe, secure, environmentally sound and sustainable product stewardship program for the collection, transportation...
Status:
Passed
Type:
Ordinance
Date:
June, 2016

On June 14, 2016, the Board of Health of the Snohomish Health District adopted a pharmaceutical stewardship ordinance (PDF) to establish a convenient secure medicine return system for residents that:

  • Expands safe medicine...
Status:
Passed
Type:
Law
Date:
June, 2013

On June 20, 2013, the King County Board of Health took a significant step towards reducing preventable deaths from drug overdoses by passing a Rule & Regulation to create a drug take-back system for King County residents. The program promotes the safe disposal of unused prescription and over-the-counter medicines, and will be funded and operated by the drug manufacturers who produce the medications....

Status:
Failed
Type:
Bill
Date:
January, 2012

SSB 5234, the Medicine Take-Back Bill, was introduced in January 2011 but did not move out of the Senate Rules Committee. Re-introduced in January 2012, during the second year of the 2011-2012 biennium, the bill did not get a floor vote and is now dead. Read the Senate Bill Report...

Status:
Passed
Type:
Resolution
Date:
January, 2010

Resolution of the City Council of the City of Issaquah (PDF), Washington, January 2010.

Status:
Passed
Type:
Resolution
Date:
September, 2008

Resolution of the Washington State Public Health Association supporting a secure, convenient medicine return program to reduce the public health and environmental health impacts of unwanted medicines. 2008.