HB 1868
In CommitteeHouse
Athletic trainers in schools
Expanding access to athletic trainers in schools.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill creates a state matching grant program to help rural hospitals hire athletic trainers who provide free services to students in local school districts. It aims to improve student health and safety by expanding access to trained medical professionals during sports and physical activities.
- Establishes a matching grant program administered by the Washington State Department of Health to help critical access hospitals hire licensed athletic trainers for school districts.
- Grants provide up to $60,000 per hospital, matched dollar-for-dollar by the hospital, to cover salaries, medical supplies, equipment, and education/marketing for the athletic training program.
- Hospitals must submit detailed applications showing which school districts they’ll serve, the need for services, how they’ll use funds, and proof of matching funds.
- Hospitals that receive a grant are not eligible to apply again for 12 months after receiving the prior grant.
- The Department of Health must submit a report to the legislature by June 1, 2026, on program implementation and outcomes.
- The program only applies to critical access hospitals, defined under existing state law (RCW 74.09.5225).
Who is affected
- Critical access hospitals — Critical access hospitals in Washington can apply for state matching grants to hire licensed athletic trainers and provide services at no cost to students in local school districts.
- Students — Students in local school districts—especially in rural or underserved areas—may gain access to free athletic training services, including injury prevention, evaluation, and rehabilitation support.
- School districts — School districts benefit from improved student health and safety during sports and physical activities, without bearing the cost of hiring athletic trainers directly.
- Washington State Department of Health — The Washington State Department of Health will administer the grant program, including reviewing applications, disbursing funds, and reporting to the legislature.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for concerns
Potential Benefits (5)
The 12-month lockout after receiving a grant may reduce administrative burden on hospitals and prevent over-reliance on state funding, but could also delay expansion to additional schools if demand outpaces capacity.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(4)The Department of Health’s rulemaking authority allows flexibility in implementation, but could create inconsistent application across regions if not carefully coordinated.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(6)The matching requirement ($60k state + $60k hospital) may strain hospital budgets in already financially vulnerable critical access hospitals, potentially diverting funds from other essential services.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(a)Hospitals must demonstrate they have dedicated matching funds, which may exclude the most financially distressed rural hospitals—those most in need—thereby limiting program reach.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(3)(c)The program is limited to critical access hospitals only, excluding larger rural hospitals and all urban hospitals—despite potential need in underserved urban schools—limiting equity and scalability.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(a)
Potential Concerns (5)
The grant program may improve student injury response and reduce long-term health complications from sports injuries by placing licensed athletic trainers in schools, especially in rural areas where such services are scarce.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(b)Students—particularly in rural or under-resourced school districts—gain access to no-cost athletic training services, including injury prevention, evaluation, and rehabilitation, which supports safer participation in physical education and sports.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(a), Sec. 1(2)Critical access hospitals gain new staffing capacity and may retain or expand local employment of licensed athletic trainers, strengthening rural healthcare infrastructure and workforce retention.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(3)(a), Sec. 1(3)(c)The state gains improved data on program outcomes and implementation, enabling evidence-based policy adjustments and accountability through the legislative reporting requirement.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(a), Sec. 1(5)School districts avoid the financial burden of hiring and maintaining full-time athletic trainers, redirecting limited education funds to core academic priorities while improving student health outcomes.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(3)(b), Sec. 1(2)
Who Is Most Affected
Critical access hospitals gain new staffing capacity and may improve community standing, but must commit matching funds—potentially straining already thin margins. Many are financially precarious, and the matching requirement may exclude those most in need.
Students—especially in rural or low-income districts—gain direct health and safety benefits from on-site injury prevention and care. However, if hospitals cannot meet matching requirements, some students may be left out.
School districts benefit from improved student health outcomes and reduced liability exposure without direct cost. However, they may face indirect costs if athletic trainers are not fully integrated into existing health/safety protocols.
The Department of Health gains new operational responsibilities and data collection duties. While this expands its public health mandate, it also adds administrative burden with no new funding for implementation.
Rural communities benefit from strengthened local healthcare access and school safety, but the program excludes urban areas and may not reach the most vulnerable hospitals due to matching fund requirements.