Social Work Licensure Compact Legislation introduced in Washington
Washington's legislature convened on Monday, January 8, 2024. This is the short session of the biennium slated to last 60 days. This year, the Chapter's Legislative Action Committee chose priority areas to watch including social work professional issues, mental health/SUD, social/environmental justice, and economic justice.
Last year, the Council on State Governments worked with social work communities to release model social work compact legislation. The compact, or agreement between states, will enable regulated social workers to service clients in every state that joins the compact, rather than going through the licensure process in every state where they want to practice. Like the compact for a driver’s license, each Social Work Licensure Compact member state agrees to mutually recognize the licenses issued by every other member state.
In Washington, HB 1939 (Adopting the social work licensure compact.) was introduced by Representative Orwall, with cosponsors Representatives Rule, Leavitt, Slatter, and Bateman. NASW supports the compact and states have begun pushing compact legislation for social workers across the country.
See the Social Work Licensure Compact website and NASW's Interstate Licensure Compact website for additional details.
Update: HB 1939 was voted out of the Washington House of Representatives and is now in the Senate. The bill passed the Seante Health & Long Term Care Committee, followed by Senate Rules. The bill passed the Senate on February 28, 2024. The House Speaker signed on February 29th and the Senate President signed on March 1st. The bill was delivered to the Governor on March 4th and we anticipate the Governor will sign it soon!
Videos from TVW
(Video links take you to the TVW website)
Live video is available at the stated time. Archived video becomes available approximately two hours after the close of the hearing or floor session.
Jan 10, 2024 House Postsecondary Education & Workforce at 1:30 PM
Jan 12, 2024 House Postsecondary Education & Workforce at 8:00 AM
Feb 15, 2024 Senate Health & Long Term Care at 10:30 AM
Feb 16, 2024 Senate Health & Long Term Care at 8:00 AM
Feb 22, 2024 Senate Ways & Means at 1:30 PM