Governor signs law to help providers and local governments confront opioid crisis

Gov. Inslee signed HB 1427, sponsored by Rep. Eileen Cody (D-West Seattle) that enacts several recommendations made by the King County Heroin and Opioid Task Force. The legislation gives cities more tools to confront the epidemic by lowering barriers to treatment and reducing wait lists for treatment. It takes away cities’ authority to require special use permits for the siting of opioid treatment programs, but maintains the same oversight requirements that other substance abuse/use disorder treatment programs are required to follow.

The legislation takes effect July 23, 2017.