HB 1159 creates a new class B felony crime for knowingly permitting a dependent child (under 18) or vulnerable adult (e.g., elderly, disabled, or in care facilities) to ingest, inhale, absorb, or contact a controlled substance (excluding cannabis). It specifically targets situations where someone responsible for their care allows exposure to drugs, with exceptions for medical use or prescriptions from licensed practitioners. The law defines "dependent person" broadly to include those relying on others for basic needs like food, shelter, or medical care, and specifies that administering substances for health care or via valid prescriptions is a valid defense. This bill directly affects caregivers, family members, and facility staff responsible for vulnerable individuals.
SB 5512 allows licensed house-banked card rooms in Washington with multiple locations to use a single centralized surveillance monitoring center instead of individual systems at each site. This directly affects multi-location card room operators, requiring them to get written approval from the Washington Gambling Commission and meet specific safety and staffing standards. Key provisions include mandatory preoperational inspections, internal control submissions, real-time monitoring capabilities, alarm systems for security breaches, and minimum staffing ratios (e.g., one employee per 15 gambling tables). The bill updates gambling regulations to modernize security oversight while ensuring consistent safety protocols across all monitored locations.
HB 1426 creates a new civil protection order specifically for vulnerable adults to prevent abuse, not impaired driving (the title contains an error). The bill defines abusive behaviors like physical, mental, sexual, and financial abuse, including coercive control tactics such as isolation, threats, or controlling finances. It amends multiple statutes (e.g., RCW 7.105) to establish this protection order process, prescribe penalties for violations, and clarify terms like "coercive control." The order would allow vulnerable adults to seek court protection against abusers, directly affecting individuals aged 65+ or those with disabilities who are vulnerable to abuse. The bill is currently pending in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary.
HB 1333 requires detention facilities and private detention facilities to annually report to the Department of Health the number of people experiencing miscarriage, stillbirth, or perinatal loss while incarcerated. The Department of Health must then compile these reports into an annual statewide summary for the legislature, with the first report due by December 2026. The summary will include only aggregate data without personal identifying information about individuals. The bill repeals an unrelated law about concealing birth (RCW 9.02.050) but focuses solely on tracking pregnancy loss data in correctional settings.
SB 5517 sets new minimum state funding levels for school staff salaries in Washington, primarily affecting school districts and their non-teaching staff. It requires increasing the average state allocation for classified staff (such as office, clerical, and support workers) to $67,325 by the 2025-26 school year, with further increases to $73,384 for 2026-27 and $99,164 for classified administrators by 2027-28, all adjusted for inflation. The bill mandates regional cost adjustments for salary allocations based on local housing values and requires a four-year review to ensure funding aligns with staffing costs. These changes directly impact how school districts calculate state funding for non-certificated staff salaries.
HB 1099 creates a state tenant assistance program providing up to $400 monthly rent help to Washington renters who spend over 30% of their income on housing costs and earn at or below 80% of their county’s median household income (per HUD data). Priority is given to households earning 60% or less of median income or receiving Supplemental Security Income. The program, funded by 20% of county recording fee surcharges (from RCW 36.22.250), will be administered by the Department of Commerce through public housing authorities and expires June 30, 2032. Assistance is limited to 12 consecutive months per household, with annual reports required on program usage and outcomes.
This bill would allow parents to be paid for providing specialized care to their minor children (under 18) with developmental disabilities. It requires the state to seek federal approval to pay parents for "extraordinary care" - defined as care beyond typical parenting duties needed to prevent institutionalization. If approved, parents would qualify for payment under specific rules, including meeting training requirements like other caregivers. The bill applies only to children in certain high-need assessment categories and does not affect existing services for adults or non-disabled individuals.
This bill extends Washington's program to help children in crisis by creating a coordinated care team managed by a state-appointed project director. It directly affects children under 18 who are stuck in hospitals without medical need, unable to return home, or experiencing unstable placements in state care systems. Key provisions include establishing rapid care teams to quickly connect families with services, providing flexible funds for hospital discharges and stable housing, and requiring annual reports to the legislature tracking referrals, demographics, and barriers to care. The program expires June 30, 2027, and mandates collaboration between health, social services, and child welfare agencies.
HB 1274 retroactively removes certain juvenile convictions from sentencing calculations for people incarcerated under sentences imposed before July 23, 2023. It allows eligible individuals - currently incarcerated with a release date on or after July 1, 2026 - to petition for resentencing if they have served specific percentages of their sentence (e.g., 80% by 2026, 60% by 2026, 40% by 2027, or any time after 2028). The bill requires courts to grant resentencing unless the petitioner has serious disciplinary violations, lacks rehabilitation evidence, or poses a high recidivism risk. This applies specifically to those impacted by prior juvenile convictions that were counted in adult sentencing under outdated rules, disproportionately affecting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.
This bill requires Washington counties and cities to regularly review and update their community land use plans and development regulations to align with state requirements. Small cities (population under 500, not near large cities, with low growth) can opt out of full reviews but must still update critical areas protections and transportation plans. Counties must also review urban growth areas to ensure they accommodate projected development over 20 years while maintaining environmental safeguards. The law mandates public input processes for all changes and sets specific deadlines for updates, with penalties for noncompliance. It directly affects local governments, developers, and residents by standardizing land use planning across the state.
This bill updates Washington state rules for charitable nonprofits hosting fundraising events. It raises the maximum ticket price for raffles from $100 to $250 and increases the annual raffle revenue cap from $5,000 to $20,000. Organizations must now limit bingo/amusement game revenue to $10,000 yearly, require all participants to be bona fide members (not paid staff), and maintain detailed records for one year. These changes apply to nonprofits conducting raffles, bingo, or similar events without a license, ensuring funds directly support their charitable purposes.
HB 1008 creates a dedicated funding program to improve county local roads (defined as roads not federally classified as arterial or collector) by establishing a "county local road trust account" within the motor vehicle fund. The bill requires counties to prioritize projects addressing overburdened communities, environmental health disparities, access to community facilities, and road safety, while mandating counties provide matching funds. Eligible projects include road reconstruction, bridge replacements, fish passage removal, and pedestrian facilities, with joint planning required for projects near cities or state highways. Counties diverting road levies (except those under 8,000 population) lose eligibility for these funds, and the program takes effect July 1, 2025.
