HB 2219 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Enhancing the operational efficiency of child care providers.

HB 2219 creates unified licensing standards for all child care providers in Washington, replacing separate rules for different settings like family care, nature-based programs, and centers. It allows child care centers to combine age groups for up to 4 hours daily (with 90 minutes for staff breaks) while maintaining required staff-to-child ratios, and waives redundant orientation requirements for providers who already completed similar training. The bill directly affects licensed child care providers, early learning programs, and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, which must implement these standards within available funding. Key changes streamline operations by reducing administrative complexity and aligning quality standards with existing programs like Early Achievers.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Dec 30, 2025 Signed Mar 17, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Substitute Bill → Substitute Passed Legislature · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill updates child care licensing standards to strictly prohibit high-potency synthetic opioids and drug manufacturing equipment, replacing the previous mention of 'fentanyl residue' with 'drug manufacturing equipment.' It introduces an immediate summary suspension penalty for violations and adds specific legal definitions for key terms. The changes aim to strengthen safety protocols and clarify enforcement mechanisms for child care providers.

Scope change

The scope of prohibited items was narrowed by removing 'fentanyl residue' and adding 'drug manufacturing equipment,' while the enforcement mechanism was expanded to include immediate suspension.

REQUIREMENT

Replaced the requirement to be absent of 'fentanyl residue' with a requirement to be absent of 'drug manufacturing equipment'.

Added a clause stating that the new section does not create a private right of action for lawsuits.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a provision for immediate summary suspension of a licensee upon violation of the zero tolerance policy.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'drug paraphernalia,' 'high-potency synthetic opioids,' and 'imminent physical harm' to clarify legal standards.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 3, 2026 · House Feb 16, 2026

How they voted

51–0

Passed

Total votes 51

Mar 3, 2026

D Democratic31

31 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

20 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 17, 2026

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Mar 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 67; nays, 28; absent, 0; excused, 3.

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

House concurred in Senate amendments.

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (51-0)

senate

Feb 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

EDU - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 10:30 AM.

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 10:30 AM.

upper

Feb 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services at 8:00 AM.

lower

Jan 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services at 1:30 PM.

lower

1 primary · 18 co-sponsors