OLYMPIA — A bill to address access to medication abortion services at the state’s public institutions of higher education was heard Wednesday in the Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee.
Senate Bill 5826, sponsored by Sen. T’wina Nobles (D-Fircrest), would require public colleges and universities to provide students with access to medication abortion services through student health centers or coordinated referral and telehealth options.
Under the bill, beginning with the 2027-28 academic year, student health centers at public institutions of higher education would be required to offer access to medication abortion through a public program connecting patients to reproductive health services, a formal agreement with a safety-net abortion provider with telehealth capacity, or other available methods. Institutions that do not operate a student health center would be required to provide information, referrals, and support services to assist students in accessing medication abortion through telehealth providers.
The legislation also requires public institutions of higher education to maintain a comprehensive health services webpage with clear information about reproductive health services, including instructions for scheduling appointments, campus support resources, and links to state health information.
SB 5826 applies to Washington’s public four-year institutions, community and technical colleges, and other public postsecondary institutions as defined in statute.
“Students should be able to access lawful health care without facing unnecessary barriers that disrupt their education,” Nobles said. “This bill sets clear expectations so public colleges and universities can connect students with medication abortion services and related support in a consistent way.”
“Students in Washington must be able to access abortion on their own terms,” said Hailey Gray, Washington campus coordinator for Abortion Access at Advocates for Youth. “We’re proud to partner with Senator Nobles on legislation that would advance critical reproductive health care for students across the state and reduce barriers to abortion access that disrupt young peoples’ education and put their mental and physical health at risk. Student activists have long led the movement for access to safe, efficacious, and cost-effective abortion care on college campuses, and we look forward to making that vision a reality for hundreds of thousands of students in our state.”
Follow the bill’s progress here.