LEGISLATURE 2025-26 / RON MUZZALL: Infectious diseases bill touted as ‘best available science’ passes WA Legislature

Carleen Johnson reports from the Washington State Legislature for The Center Square. Read the whole story.

The Washington State Senate on Thursday passed a controversial bill on vaccines and other public health requirements during communicable disease outbreaks.

Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1531, which aims to ensure public health responses to communicable diseases are guided by “the best available science,” passed the House of Representatives on March 8.

Rep. Dan Bronoske, D-Lakewood, is the bill’s prime sponsor. He told The Center Square the bill is not about mandating vaccines or trying to resurrect bad feelings from the pandemic.

“This isn’t me trying to poke someone in the eye,” he said. “Job losses and the entire experience, it’s going to take us a generation to heal from all of that, so this isn’t me poking the bear. I’m trying to just provide clarity to local health officers to go do what they need to do.”

They Said It

Sen. Ron Muzzall, R-Oak Harbor, said he could not vote in favor of the bill.

“I think the last four or five years are evidence that we cannot be sure what the best available science is,” he reasoned.