SHB 2182
In CommitteeHouse
Abortion medications
Improving access to abortion medications.
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 expands the authority of the Washington State Department of Corrections to acquire, store, and distribute abortion medications like mifepristone and misoprostol to health care providers and entities across the state. It aims to improve access to reproductive health care, especially for people who are incarcerated or in underserved areas, by allowing the state to act as a distributor while ensuring medications are used only for lawful reproductive health purposes.
- Authorizes the Washington State Department of Corrections to acquire, possess, sell, deliver, dispense, and distribute abortion medications (including mifepristone and misoprostol) as part of its pharmacy and distribution functions.
- Allows the Department of Corrections to distribute medications to health care providers and health care entities (e.g., clinics, hospitals, pharmacies) that provide reproductive health care, including abortion care or management of early pregnancy loss.
- Requires the Department of Corrections to coordinate with the Department of Health to identify appropriate recipients and prioritize bulk distribution to health care providers and entities.
- Permits the Department of Corrections to charge a $5 per dose fee (starting in 2026) to cover secure storage and delivery costs; during the 2025 fiscal year, medications must be sold at cost (not exceeding list price).
- Exempts the Department of Corrections from needing a wholesaler’s license for activities under this bill, as provided in existing law (RCW 18.64.046).
Who is affected
- Health care providers and health care entities — State-run or state-contracted health care providers and clinics that receive abortion medications from the Department of Corrections (DOC) for use in reproductive health care, including abortion care and management of early pregnancy loss.
- Patients and individuals seeking reproductive health care — Patients seeking abortion medications or early pregnancy loss management services, especially those in rural, underserved, or incarcerated populations, who may gain improved access through state-distributed medications.
- Washington State Department of Corrections — The Washington State Department of Corrections, which gains new authority to handle abortion medications as part of its pharmacy and distribution functions.
- Washington State Department of Health — The Washington State Department of Health, which will coordinate with the Department of Corrections to identify appropriate recipients and support distribution efforts.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
By authorizing DOC to distribute abortion medications to health care providers statewide—including in underserved and rural areas—the bill significantly improves access to time-sensitive reproductive care for incarcerated individuals, low-income patients, and those in geographic deserts, where clinic access is limited.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(1), (2), (4)(a)Exempting DOC from wholesaler licensing (per RCW 18.64.046) and allowing bulk distribution at cost (or $5 fee only from 2026) reduces regulatory barriers and cost burdens for providers, enabling more stable, reliable supply chains—especially critical for mifepristone, which has narrow storage and distribution requirements.
HealthcarePeopleRef: Sec. 1(4)(a), (c)Centralized, state-managed distribution can improve medication safety and traceability, reducing risks of counterfeit or substandard abortion medications entering the supply—particularly important for patients in communities with limited oversight or where clinics rely on fragmented supply sources.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(4)(a)The requirement for DOC to coordinate with DOH to identify appropriate recipients and prioritize bulk distribution creates a framework for cross-agency data sharing and public health planning, which can support better-informed policy and outreach to high-need populations.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(4)(a)Expanding access to abortion medications outside traditional clinic settings—especially for incarcerated people—strengthens reproductive autonomy and reduces the risk of coerced continuation of pregnancy, aligning with constitutional protections for bodily integrity and decision-making.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2), (4)(a)
Potential Concerns (3)
Expanding the Department of Corrections’ role to handle abortion medications may strain its existing security and logistics infrastructure, potentially diverting resources from core correctional functions and increasing risk of diversion or misuse if protocols are not rigorously enforced.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(4)(a), (b)The $5 per dose fee (starting 2026) could increase operational costs for health care providers—especially small clinics and rural facilities—potentially reducing their capacity to offer abortion care or early pregnancy loss management, especially if they lack bulk-purchasing power.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(4)(b)The $5 per dose fee and cost-based pricing may generate modest state revenue, but the overall fiscal impact is likely neutral to slightly negative, as the program’s administrative overhead (e.g., secure storage, compliance, coordination with DOH) may offset revenue, especially in the first 2 years.
FinancialRef: Sec. 1(4)(b)
Who Is Most Affected
Incarcerated individuals—especially those in state prisons—gain direct, legally protected access to abortion medications without leaving custody, reducing travel, cost, and stigma barriers. This is a major improvement in reproductive rights for a historically excluded group.
Rural and low-income patients benefit from improved supply reliability and lower out-of-pocket costs, as the state can absorb logistics burdens that small clinics cannot. However, small clinics may face pressure to absorb administrative overhead if the $5 fee is passed on.
Health care providers (especially small clinics, Planned Parenthood affiliates, and public health clinics) gain a new, reliable supply channel for abortion medications, reducing reliance on commercial wholesalers and mitigating shortages. However, the $5 fee may strain already thin margins for safety-net providers.
The DOC gains new authority but faces added compliance, training, and security responsibilities. While the bill allows cost recovery, the agency may need to hire or reassign staff—potentially straining existing resources if not fully funded.
The DOH gains a new partner in reproductive health logistics, enabling more coordinated public health responses to abortion access gaps. However, this adds to its workload without new funding, potentially diverting staff from other priorities.