WA HB1996

Authorizes qualifying counties to impose a local sales and use tax of up to 0.1% to fund behavioral health diversion programs from the criminal justice system

Counties must have a behavioral health diversion plan approved by the Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services before adopting the tax

Tax proceeds must fund programs preventing individuals with behavioral health needs from entering the criminal justice system or diverting them once incarcerated, targeting those with charges up to class C felonies

Required uses include reducing competency system referrals, addressing recidivism for those likely to need competency services within six months, and creating programming along each intercept in the sequential intercept model

Act takes effect only if House Bill No. 1218 (Laws of 2025) is enacted by August 1, 2025