OLYMPIA, Wash. — House Bill 2168, sponsored by Rep. Deb Manjarrez and Rep. Stephanie Barnard, is set to make waves in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. This proposed legislation is all about tackling the overdose crisis in Washington by setting up a system for real-time data sharing.
According to a press release, if this bill gets the green light, starting January 1, 2027, the Washington Department of Health would need to submit data on all opioid overdoses to a statewide mapping system within 24 hours of an EMS report. The goal is to boost public health responses and make resource allocation more efficient.
The press release highlights that the bill takes privacy seriously. It prohibits using this data for law enforcement and ensures no personally identifiable information is shared. The aim is to foster collaboration among local, regional and state agencies to build a robust system for overdose prevention.
The legislation is designed to offer timely analysis of overdose incidents, create a centralized resource for data, quickly pinpoint high-risk areas and enable effective intervention strategies. It also encourages formal agreements among agencies for ongoing crisis management.
For more details on House Bill 2168, readers can check out the full text on the Washington State Legislature’s website.
