HB 1933
In CommitteeHouse
Overdose information
Providing universal access to overdose information to law enforcement and emergency services providers.
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 requires the Washington State Department of Health to connect two existing overdose data systems so that law enforcement and emergency responders statewide can access real-time, aggregated overdose information to support public safety and emergency response efforts. Data will be grouped by zip code to protect individual privacy.
- Requires the Washington State Department of Health to create a data interface between the Washington Emergency Medical Services Information System and the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program.
- Ensures all law enforcement agencies and emergency service providers in the state can access aggregated overdose data.
- Requires overdose data to be aggregated by zip code to protect individual privacy under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
- Includes both fatal and nonfatal overdose incidents in the shared data.
Who is affected
- Law enforcement agencies — Law enforcement agencies across Washington will gain access to real-time, aggregated overdose data to help inform their responses and resource allocation.
- Emergency medical services and first responders — Emergency medical services (EMS) and first responders will be able to use shared overdose data to better prepare for and respond to overdose emergencies.
- Washington State Department of Health — The Washington State Department of Health will be responsible for building and maintaining the data interface and ensuring compliance with federal privacy rules.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (4)
Real-time, aggregated overdose data will help first responders (EMS, fire, police) anticipate and allocate resources to overdose clusters, potentially reducing response times and saving lives during active overdose events.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1Aggregated zip-code-level data can support public health agencies and community health centers in targeting harm reduction services (e.g., naloxone distribution, treatment referrals) to areas with rising overdose activity, improving access to care where it’s most needed.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1Local governments and emergency management agencies can use the data to better coordinate regional response efforts and justify funding requests for overdose prevention programs, strengthening local capacity to address the crisis.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 1By aggregating data by zip code and citing HIPAA compliance, the bill attempts to balance real-time utility with privacy protections — reducing the risk of stigmatization or misuse of identifiable individual data.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 1
Potential Concerns (1)
The bill may increase law enforcement presence in overdose hotspots, potentially leading to more criminal justice involvement (e.g., arrests for drug possession) rather than health-based interventions — especially in communities already over-policed.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1
Who Is Most Affected
EMS and fire departments gain actionable intelligence to prepare for and respond to overdose emergencies more effectively, potentially improving survival rates and reducing strain on limited personnel.
Law enforcement may benefit from situational awareness, but the bill does not mandate or incentivize health-based responses — so without policy alignment, increased data access could reinforce punitive approaches rather than reduce arrests.
People who use drugs — especially those in high-overdose zip codes — may benefit from faster emergency response and targeted harm reduction, but could face increased surveillance or policing if data is misused or misinterpreted.
Community health centers and public health districts can use the data to direct resources (e.g., naloxone, treatment referrals) to areas with surging overdoses, improving equity in access to care.
State and local governments may benefit from improved coordination and evidence-based planning, but the bill does not allocate new funding — so implementation may strain existing budgets or delay deployment.