SB 5139 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning reentry council.

SB 5139 modifies the structure and operations of the state's Reentry Council, which advises on policies for individuals transitioning from incarceration. The bill expands the council's membership from 15 to 22, adding new representatives for currently incarcerated individuals, crime victims and survivors, and various statewide organizations. It also requires the Governor to consider racial, ethnic, gender, and geographic diversity when making appointments. Additionally, the bill allows council members to receive compensation and increases the number of members required for a meeting to proceed.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 6, 2025 Signed May 2, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute Bill → Substitute Passed Legislature · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill adds a formal certification of enrollment to the text, confirming it passed both legislative chambers. It modifies council membership requirements to ensure representation from both men's and women's correctional facilities, and to include survivors or victims who do not identify as male or female. Additionally, the bill allows incarcerated council members to attend meetings virtually unless the meeting is held at their specific facility.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding council composition was expanded to include specific gender-based representation requirements for incarcerated members and non-binary survivors or victims.

TECHNICAL

Added a formal certification of enrollment page to confirm the bill passed the Senate and House with specific vote counts.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed council membership requirements to mandate one incarcerated member from a men's facility and one from a women's facility.

Updated requirements for survivor or victim members to ensure one does not identify as female and one does not identify as male.

REQUIREMENT

Added a provision allowing incarcerated council members to attend meetings virtually, unless the meeting is held at their correctional facility.

Increased the number of council members required to constitute a quorum from seven to twelve.

FISCAL

Changed council member compensation from serving without pay to receiving compensation and travel reimbursement as per state law.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 17, 2025 · House Apr 10, 2025

How they voted

32–19

Passed

Total votes 51

Apr 17, 2025

D Democratic31

31 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

1 Yea 19 Nay

95% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 2, 2025

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Apr 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Apr 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 30; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 0.

upper

Apr 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate concurred in House amendments.

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.

lower

Apr 10, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (59-38-3)

house

Mar 28, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Community Safety at 4:00 PM.

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Community Safety at 8:00 AM.

lower

Jan 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Jan 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Human Services at 8:00 AM.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Human Services at 1:30 PM.

upper

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors