Inslee signs supplemental budgets, behavioral-health and crisis-response bills at UW Medicine

Governor Inslee on Saturday signed a supplemental operating and capital budget and a slate of bills aimed at expanding behavioral-health services, supporting the behavioral-health workforce and strengthening the state's crisis-response system.

The ceremony at the UW Medicine Center for Behavioral Health and Learning opened with remarks from Tim Dellit, CEO of UW Medicine, who thanked the governor and legislative budget chairs for helping build the new facility. "It is my privilege and honor to welcome you to UW Medicine Center for Behavioral Health and Learning," Dellit said. Governor Inslee called the building "such a beautiful building" and credited the partnership between state government and UW Medicine in creating what he called the nation’s first behavioral-health teaching hospital.

Why it matters: The bills Inslee signed include measures to build out community crisis services connected to the 988 system, expand the behavioral-health workforce through scholarships and licensure changes, and provide targeted supports in schools and corrections. Collectively, the package is meant to expand access to care, ease pressure on emergency departments and jails, and build long-term workforce capacity in Washington.

Major items and sponsors: Among the measures signed were Substitute House Bill 1851 (the FAST skills-training program for early behavioral-health interventions in schools and primary care), Senate Bill 6308 (adjusting implementation timelines for the 988 crisis system), and Senate Bill 5184 (creating a license for anesthesiology assistants to expand the anesthesia workforce). The governor also signed House Bill 1946 (a state behavioral-health scholarship), House Bill 2088 (liability protections and support for rapid response tied to 988), and a measure changing King County Hospital levy rules to improve funding for Harborview Medical Center (House Bill 2348). Inslee thanked a long list of sponsors and legislative leaders while signing the supplemental capital budget (Senate Bill 5949) and the supplemental operating budget (Senate Bill 5950).

On policy and numbers: Inslee highlighted homelessness investments in the supplemental budget, saying the package adds "additional 2,000 units of affordable housing," and described other long-term housing needs. He credited the Climate Commitment Act and the capital-gains tax with enabling school filtration projects, electric buses and energy-efficiency work in school districts. On crisis care, he said Washington is building a system "more robust and comprehensive than a hotline alone," and described the bills as steps toward ensuring people in crisis can access clinical responses and crisis-relief centers rather than emergency departments or jails.

Quotes from the event: "This is such a beautiful building," Inslee said of the UW facility. On the Climate Commitment Act, he said, "This cap is protecting people's health." Tim Dellit said the facility and the partnership "increase patient access" and provide a teaching site for the next generation of behavioral-health professionals.

What was not decided here: The ceremony was a signing and celebration; no new budget votes or legislative negotiations occurred at the event. The bills were presented to the governor for signature after legislative action; the transcript does not record vote tallies or detailed fiscal notes at the ceremony.

Next steps: Inslee said the UW facility will hold a grand opening in May and described the signed measures as part of ongoing work to expand behavioral-health services. Former state House Speaker Frank Chopp and multiple legislators offered tributes and thanks as the event concluded.