2025 Legislative Wins for Older Washingtonians

The halls of our Capitol building are quieter now that the 2025 legislative session has ended. While this session was one of the toughest in recent years, largely due to a significant budget shortfall, we passed several impactful policies that will benefit Washingtonians. From improved healthcare systems to smart city planning, our team of staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly to ensure that the needs of older residents are met with compassion and dedication. Let's look at some of the highlights.

Standards for Memory Care Services

Washington State has established a standard of care that facilities must follow to be certified for memory care services as of July 1, 2026. This includes having adequate staffing levels, with staff available 24 hours a day, and implementing policies to address wandering and behavioral challenges. Facilities also need to ensure staff receive ongoing dementia-related education and offer daily activity programming tailored to residents' abilities and interests. Overall, this legislation aims to enhance the safety, well-being, and quality of life of residents with dementia, ensuring they receive high-quality, specialized care in certified facilities.

Transit-Oriented Development

Transit-oriented development is a civic planning strategy that aims to concentrate jobs, housing, and services around public transit. The new bill includes important provisions and incentives to increase the overall affordable housing supply including single family homes, apartments and condominiums in urban counties in Western Washington. This increased accessibility helps reduce isolation, supports active lifestyles, and allows older adults to age in place more comfortably and safely. Residents will be able to easily reach healthcare facilities, grocery stores, and community centers without relying on personal vehicles.

Tribal Elder Education

Learning isn't just for the young or those seeking a career change; it's for anyone who wants to keep expanding their mind, including those who have devoted their lives to their communities. Washington law currently allows colleges to waive or reduce tuition for people over 60, but Washington’s 29 federally recognized Tribes define elderhood years earlier. To better align with some tribal definitions of being an “elder”, this bill allows community and technical colleges to waive or reduce tuition and fees for members over 55. The bill passed with overwhelming support in both the Senate and the House.

Nutrition Funding

Across Washington, programs that provide nutritious meals to those in need are facing unprecedented demands. For older adults, these services offer food through hot meals at community sites, senior center food pantries, mobile food pantries, and Meals on Wheels to ensure seniors have enough nutritious food to stay healthy and hunger-free. Securing continued funding for Washington's nutrition programs was not guaranteed. With a massive budget shortfall, critical programs saw cuts across the board, and we were worried nutrition funding would suffer the same fate. While we did not receive the requested amount, we have secured enough funding to keep the programs functioning through 2027.

As the 2025 legislative session concludes, we are proud of the significant strides made despite the challenges faced. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the older adults who actively engaged with their lawmakers, advocating for these vital changes. Your efforts have been instrumental in ensuring that the needs of our communities are met with compassion and dedication. Your role in this process is invaluable, and we thank you for your continued support.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. We advocate for what is important to our members and give them a voice at the state and federal levels.

GET INVOLVED

HOUSING

Housing is central to community and individual well-being. People of all ages and ability levels need safe, decent, and affordable housing that will enable them to continue living safely in their homes and communities as they get older, regardless of the size of their community. Many older adults want to stay in their homes and communities as they age, but some are concerned that they will not be able to do so. Having a variety of housing options provides more choices in neighborhoods. Residents have a better chance of finding affordable housing in a location that meets their needs.

• SUPPORT (SB 5691): Continuing care retirement communities, also known as CCRCs or life plan communities, are a long-term care option for older people who want to stay in the same place through different phases of the aging process. While communities like this offer many benefits to residents, there is a lack of regulatory oversight. Senate Bill 5691 would enhance the oversight and regulation of these communities, ensuring that residents receive the protection and advocacy they deserve by doing the following. Passed the Legislature, Signed by the Governor
  
  • Enhanced Oversight: Require CCRCs to register with the Department of Social and Health Services.
  • Financial Security: Help ensure that CCRCs can fulfill their long-term contractual obligations, providing consumers with greater financial security.
  • Consumer Protection: Give the Attorney General the authority to take action against non-compliant CCRCs, thereby protecting consumers’ rights.
  • Resident Advocacy: Create of the Senior Independent Living Ombuds office will provide residents with an advocate to address their concerns and protect their interests.
  • Transparency: CCRCs must provide disclosure and audited financial statements, allowing consumers to make more informed decisions.
• SUPPORT (HB 1096): Increasing housing options through lot splitting. This bill makes it easier to split residential lots into two, creating more affordable housing options. It simplifies the process, ensures compliance with building standards, and includes measures to prevent displacement and ensure utility availability. Some nonresidential zones and unbuildable lots are exempt from this bill. Passed the Legislature, Signed by the Governor
  
• SUPPORT (HB 1491): Promoting transit-oriented housing development. This legislation supports building more housing near transit stations to make communities more walkable and affordable. It encourages diverse housing options, like apartments and mixed-use buildings, and provides flexibility for local planning. The bill also offers help to cities for effective implementation. Passed the Legislature, Signed by the Governor
  

 

LIVABLE COMMUNITIES

Livable communities include essential features that allow residents of all ages and backgrounds to thrive. These include mixed-use zoning, safe and varied transportation options, and diverse housing types. Livable communities also have public spaces that benefit everyone. In addition, they provide access to essential businesses and services, such as grocery stores, high-speed internet, and healthcare options. 

• SUPPORT (SB 5110): Tribal Elder Tuition Waiver - Learning is a lifelong endeavor, and for many adults ages 50 and older, it is an essential part of how they choose to age. But finding access to affordable learning opportunities can be challenging. AARP supports this measure to provide tuition waivers for tribal elders 55 and older to attend community colleges and technical schools. Passed the Legislature, Signed by the Governor
  
• SUPPORT: Senior Nutrition Program – Washington has underinvested in the food safety net for seniors and people with disabilities. Despite having more seniors and more seniors in poverty, our state budget hasn’t included any additional ongoing funding for critical food programs serving these communities in years. AARP supports an ask from Washington's Aging and Long-term Support Administration to include funding to provide meals to 18,000 seniors. Funded through 2026
  
   

LONG-TERM SERVICES AND SUPPORT

The high cost of long-term services and supports (LTSS) causes many older adults to fear impoverishment, becoming a burden to their families, or both. There is limited insurance coverage to ease these fears. And as the baby boom generation ages, the need for services will increase. At the same time, there will be fewer family caregivers to provide such care. States can take interim steps to ensure that LTSS are affordable and fiscally sustainable to individuals and governments. These efforts can also enhance the financial security of individuals and their families from the potential risk of impoverishment.

• SUPPORT (SB 5337): Creating a certification for memory care services. This legislation seeks to improve dementia care in Washington by creating a certification for memory care services. The certification would launch on July 1, 2026, and prohibit anyone from operating or maintaining a memory care facility or memory care unit within the state without a certification after that date. Passed the Legislature, Signed by the Governor
  
• SUPPORT (SB 5291): Implementing the recommendations of the long-term services and supports trust commission. This legislation seeks to strengthen the WACares program by adopting recommendations from the Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Commission, which includes removing the 10 consecutive years proviso, providing exemptions for active duty military and non-immigrant visa holders and allowing people who opted out to opt back in. Passed the Legislature, Signed by the Governor
  
• SUPPORT (SJR 8201): Amending the Constitution to allow the state to invest money from long-term services and supports accounts. Many state funds were long ago exempted from Washington’s constitutional prohibition on investments in stocks and bonds. This list includes workers' compensation, disability trust funds, and pensions for frontline workers like our teachers and firefighters. This legislation provides the same type of exemption for the WA Cares program. Implementation will further assist in program solvency. Passed the Legislature, Signed by the Governor

 

CONSUMER RIGHTS AND PROTECTION
State and local governments play an active role in protecting consumers. State laws prohibiting unfair and deceptive acts and practices are among the most effective tools in fighting consumer fraud and abuse. These policies and statutes provide remedies for consumers, encourage merchants to resolve disputes fairly, and deter misconduct.

• Crypto ATM - To crack down on crypto ATM scams, AARP will work with Washington's Department of Financial Institutions to pass legislation that would put some guardrails around using crypto ATMs. Crypto ATMs look and operate like bank ATMs and are found in grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations, restaurants, and other spots across the state. Criminals use these kiosks to target victims who may be unfamiliar with how they work. We will work to implement consumer protection policies, such as requiring ATM operators to post warnings about potential fraud, limiting daily transaction amounts for new customers, and establishing a regulating agency within Washington state.
  
  
  • SUPPORT (SB 5280): AARP, the Washington Department of Financial Institutions, and state law enforcement support this bill. Its primary focus is consumer protection measures that would establish daily transaction limits, cap transaction fees, require prominent fraud warning messages around and on the kiosk, and mandate a hard copy receipt of the transaction to provide law enforcement with a paper trail. Failed to Pass, will reintroduce a version in the 2026 session.