House Bill 1482 (H-0485.1) would modify existing law and create new state programs and sections. It adds a new "apple health expansion program" in chapter 74.09 RCW to provide state-funded health coverage to people age 19 or older with countable income at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level (using MAGI) who are ineligible for federal affordability programs because of immigration status. The expansion must provide services with amount, scope, and duration at least equal to categorically needy medical assistance (except for long-term services and supports), use the same eligibility, enrollment, and appeals procedures as categorically needy programs with limited exceptions for privacy or reduced burden, and the responsible authority must adopt rules and manage applications and renewals to maximize enrollment and seamless transitions. The bill creates a community accountability committee for the new program with specific membership, conflict-of-interest limits, duties to monitor managed care performance, access to enrollee and contract data, and reporting obligations to legislative committees and the Office of Financial Management by July 1, 2026, and every two years thereafter. It requires the authority to report on the status and cost of unspecified "phased-in services" by July 1, 2026, and directs the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, in collaboration with the authority, to run an immigrant health outreach and education campaign that provides "direct support" funding to community-based organizations until insurance coverage rates for immigrants and citizens reach parity. The bill also amends provisions governing the health benefit exchange board, altering nomination and appointment procedures, board composition and terms (initial staggered terms up to four years, subsequent two-year terms), replacement timelines (appointments from a five-nominee list within 30 days and a new chair within 30 days if the chair vacates), conflict-of-interest rules, reimbursement for travel, meeting and public notice requirements, advisory committee authority, limited applicability of state agency laws (while remaining subject to open public meetings and public records acts), and board member immunity for good-faith actions. It amends RCW 43.71.110 to establish a premium assistance and cost-sharing reduction program subject to appropriations with a parity goal by January 1, 2028 and reporting by November 1, 2025, and amends RCW 43.71.120 to direct the exchange to pursue federal waivers under 42 U.S.C. §18052 to support these efforts, subject to federal public notice and hearing requirements. Some important details are not included in the extracted facts: the text does not define which specific agency is referenced as "the authority," the description of the "phased-in services" is not provided, and the full amended language for RCW 43.71.020, 43.71.110, and 43.71.120 is not present in the excerpts, so further statutory text would be needed to capture all implementation details.

If enacted, the state would start covering low‑income adults (age 19 and up) who are excluded from federal help because of immigration status, giving them benefits like those on traditional Medicaid (except long‑term care) and using similar enrollment and appeal rules. This would likely reduce the number of uninsured immigrants, increase enrollment work and reporting for the health care authority and the exchange, and put more members into managed care plans that will face new oversight and data review by a community accountability committee; the authority and exchange must also deliver cost and status reports by mid‑2026 and the exchange must pursue parity in financial help by 2028. Community organizations that serve immigrant and refugee communities are likely to receive direct outreach funding and play a key role in enrolling people, while the exchange and authority will have new obligations to manage transitions, seek federal waivers or pass‑through funds, and expand monitoring and public engagement. Important details are missing here: the bill text provided does not say which agency is the named “authority,” which services are “phased‑in,” or how much funding will be available, so the exact costs, timelines, and administrative workload remain uncertain and partly dependent on future appropriations and federal approvals.