[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6375806,"mediaKeyId","2140796-e1c7567148cb57e5623932dba038948b","parentId",2140796,"title","Votes at a glance: Human Services Committee advances multiple bills after executive session","audioSeconds",1121,"startMs",2489000,"endMs",3610000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2140796-e1c7567148cb57e5623932dba038948b&start=2489&end=3610","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2140796-e1c7567148cb57e5623932dba038948b/thumbnail_2489000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6375806/Washington/Votes-at-a-glance-Human-Services-Committee-advances-multiple-bills-after-executive-session","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375806-9668f821c90efee7d1eb3a75603f2071/orig.mp4?Expires=1771216522&Signature=PrBDDknEor7QFhwRLQFRs87MFWR0AHW-2KtyG2BgVW3BDIuB4RHehXjesNlNkHMO15U1ztYNZq6iyM2bm9Ow-v9LQQT2oyhwPrK2HP3hOO1x9WXyfTuL7Ols9pxmCvhFclDenWviD-DoTm3cLHtP~iD-p3hM~MF~ZLyPbfuNXem3jqUBTrPDMdvs24VifYO9zuog0wbrdipDobj80f9b7~4uak-rtHFborQ5UhIACxbw9fewmICHjFrQ7618oWdlVLOwLfki6lvX28YH6Uy1W7PPo1xnXO--Fgyrrr4Rw8NWZLChq9yH4-zYfpUyjTZo5Z4EFMVI9kbfRVqN88vx2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Human Services","date","2025-01-22T00:00:00Z","article","The Washington State Senate Human Services Committee met in executive session Jan. 22 and advanced a set of bills after debate on proposed substitutes and amendments. Several proposals were the subject of short staff briefings earlier in the meeting; the committee acted by voice votes and committee motions. Where recorded, outcomes are summarized below. Voice tallies were not recorded on the public transcript.

Key actions taken in executive session (committee outcomes):

- SB 5029 (DOC release transportation): An amendment (A1) limiting DOC transportation to locations within the state failed. The committee adopted a proposed substitute that revises DOCs review authority and release timing language; the bill passed the committee (voice vote) and was advanced subject to signatures.

- SB 5032 (OFCO authority / child fatality reviews): Amendment B1, which would have expanded child fatality and near-fatality reviews to include children in state care and juvenile rehabilitation facilities, failed. The unamended bill received a due-pass recommendation and was sent to the committee on ways and means.

- SB 5079 (DSHS overpayment waiver): The bill received a due-pass recommendation and was sent to the committee on ways and means.

- SB 5103 (expedited Clemency and Pardons petitions): Two proposed eligibility amendments (E1 and E2) failed as out of scope; the unamended bill received a due-pass recommendation and was sent to the rules committee.

- SB 5131 (DOC religious celebrations/meals): The committee considered a substitute that narrowed requests from therapeutic diets to religious celebration meals and added operational guardrails; multiple amendments to the substitute failed. The proposed substitute received a due-pass recommendation and the bill passed the committee.

- SB 5199 (DCYF Oversight Board compensation and reimbursement): The committee passed the bill, which would allow stipends and reimbursements for members with lived experience, and advanced it to the rules committee.

- SB 5214 (mobile markets / WIC and senior FMNP): The committee adopted a substitute that made editorial and scope clarifications, delayed the effective date to March 1, 2026, and removed an emergency clause; the bill was advanced to rules.

- SB 5266 (ISRB petitions & juvenile long sentences): Amendment I1 (eligibility conditions tied to education/employment within 30 days) failed; amendment I2, which excludes persons with three or more murder convictions from eligibility for early release via the ISRB, passed and was incorporated into a proposed substitute. The substitute was given a due-pass recommendation and was sent to ways and means.

Votes and amendment results were conducted by voice; the public transcript records requests for ayes and nays but not numerical counts or individual roll-call positions. Where amendments were adopted they were rolled into proposed substitutes prior to committee action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Human Services - 1/22/2025 8:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","After an executive session Jan. 22 the Senate Human Services Committee advanced several bills—by voice or roll call—including passage (subject to signatures) or referral to ways and means for bills that were discussed in executive session. Several amendment motions were considered; most amendment attempts failed on procedural or scope grounds.","taxTitle","Human Services, Senate, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20506,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6375808,"Committee hears bill to expand Housing and Essential Needs program, add cash assistance option",615,1491000,2106000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2140796-e1c7567148cb57e5623932dba038948b&start=1491&end=2106","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2140796-e1c7567148cb57e5623932dba038948b/thumbnail_1491000.jpg","/articles/6375808/Washington/Committee-hears-bill-to-expand-Housing-and-Essential-Needs-program-add-cash-assistance-option","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375808-b22de8da5ba7107fbfe050004c5bd85e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771216522&Signature=H6iTBD4IfYxlyPUKYEjQcMVBkyxWcU16HADe2jJMEyM2QaVF2~oH-HAO00nZ2uQhZm0Ffa4UcFfKj03hLiZ43O9b1ctBt6WP8Z4ofLPUejFKAL9wKX5vUSM5kKsdWGjHS83bDtUFbrsSbclu~WP-Bv1O-FY6EPD17H6TvMCBlScQ8RIRr00aVQ12IyvshRe2jto74beBddKQesJaBX~FOn~fvZSTKOZFKYeGR-4d9Jht5L1orGI6W~DP9WYjcFMxSUSki65ep8~9bAQQSBu2EbILPgBOanbVYB12nVcu~TuQEOB5oezrl6Uxm6nXvyZ-qxVHdfX3pfAWIZbSbMS0qw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Human Services Committee members heard Jan. 22 on Senate Bill 5232, sponsored by Sen. Claire Wilson, which would update the Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) program to extend the SSI-bridge pilot statewide, allow direct cash assistance for essential needs, and align administrative rates with other home-security-funded programs.

Allison Mendiola, committee staff, summarized the bill and said HEN provides essential items and housing assistance to low-income adults age 18-64 who are unable to maintain gainful employment for 90 days because of physical or mental incapacity or substance-use disorder. Mendiola said the 2019 bridge pilot served six counties (Clark, King, Kitsap, Pierce and Thurston) and the proposal would allow counties statewide to adopt that bridge at their option.

Ted Kelleher, acting assistant director of the Housing Division at the Washington State Department of Commerce, testified in support and described the bill as a no-cost proposal that preserves the programs fixed appropriation while giving local providers additional flexibility, including an option to provide cash assistance where locally appropriate. Kelleher told the committee the program is not an entitlement and funding is finite; counties triage applicants to match resources to local priorities.

Rob Huff of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance testified in favor of the bill and said the 2025 federal Social Security payment (cited as $967) is insufficient against the 2025 average rent cited in testimony (about $1,828), so counties should have the option to continue rental support for people who qualify for federal benefits. Huff also supported aligning administrative rates and allowing flexible cash assistance as more efficient and responsive to individual needs.

Sen. Claire Wilson, the sponsor, said the bill equalizes administrative rates, preserves rental assistance for people whose federal benefit checks do not cover rent, and adds a cash option backed by research. Committee members asked about safeguards against cash being used to support active substance use; witnesses said local providers or staff could describe outcomes and staff could follow up with more information.

A fiscal note accompanying the bill indicated no additional cost for implementation. The committee did not take a vote on SB 5232 at the hearing.

Proponents urged committee members to allow counties flexible tools to prevent eviction and address immediate household needs while noting finite state funding requires local triage of services.","Senate Bill 5232 would extend a HEN pilot statewide, allow direct cash assistance, align administrative rates with other programs and remove a fixed 7% admin set-aside; Commerce and advocates supported the updates and said the bill carries no net cost under current funding formulas.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6375813,"Committee considers updates to child fatality review law to improve data access and confidentiality",531,814000,1345000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2140796-e1c7567148cb57e5623932dba038948b&start=814&end=1345","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2140796-e1c7567148cb57e5623932dba038948b/thumbnail_814000.jpg","/articles/6375813/Washington/Committee-considers-updates-to-child-fatality-review-law-to-improve-data-access-and-confidentiality","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375813-5d6af0f9116b1fda37fb6bf753e134ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1771216522&Signature=k2jsczmmZyKKncGK5xmNoDVnfJ7GgACCnOWdzhmKvSYdgqLIGzcj0AxkbTUd7irz4PowzJ69bgh0~oi~8T47iiDPWI66W2QOlak1rpcZZyV196H3rv4FcjZqemaJpI9Q485R2Ax4z4bp0CuvvssVHScacJY3aVeBmWaLuqnowqkRj7KteQAGezgk7~SY~9hnmfBu1CPwrAuaFfWRoxYgy9GjrdEwzwAR45sRhAj9QhmZpehXkyIdGo9Ie4LmHVxeNwbfqso0JiEw1HBeQYfBoqzsntyq5Gm5uRttcKJK6u5TpO6Wsptst56rsfhCDOyoSHiIEh57jDm3e6d~yKGpwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 5163, sponsored by Sen. Tina Orwell, received a committee briefing Jan. 22 on changes to Washingtons child fatality review statute to improve local review teams access to records, adjust confidentiality rules and extend reviewable age to 19.

Will Tronson, committee staff, summarized the bill and told the committee the Department of Health supports local health departments conducting child fatality reviews. Tronsen said the bills changes would allow local review teams to request and receive medical, school, criminal-justice, law enforcement and social-services records for review while maintaining strict confidentiality and public nondisclosure of identifying information.

Jamie Bodden of the Washington State Association of Local Public Health Officials said the bill clarifies age to include 18-year-olds and establishes a clear process for mandated reporting when suspected abuse or neglect is identified. Bodden said teams need records to identify protective and risk factors and to recommend prevention policies.

Russell Brand, executive director of the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, and Katie Eilers of the Department of Health said stakeholders worked over the interim to address concerns and reach agreed language. Eilers said the Department of Health will use review findings to support statewide, data-driven prevention initiatives and liaise with the National Center for Fatality Review and Prevention.

The bill also clarifies that people associated with fatality review teams may testify in civil, criminal or administrative proceedings only when the testimony is based on information obtained independently of the review or is limited to public information. Staff noted a fiscal note had been requested and not yet received. No committee vote was taken during the Jan. 22 hearing.

Supporters argued the bill balances data access for prevention work with protections for confidential information; some committee members noted the change aims to capture deaths of 18-year-old youth who remain engaged with school or local services.","Senate Human Services Committee heard Senate Bill 5163 to revise child fatality review statute: expand age coverage to 19, clarify data access and confidentiality rules, and permit retention of identifiable data for analysis. Sponsors and public-health partners said changes help identify trends and prevent future deaths.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6375819,"Senate committee hears push to expand early childhood courts from age 3 to 6",0,3115000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2140796-e1c7567148cb57e5623932dba038948b&start=3115&end=3115","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2140796-e1c7567148cb57e5623932dba038948b/thumbnail_3115000.jpg","/articles/6375819/Washington/Senate-committee-hears-push-to-expand-early-childhood-courts-from-age-3-to-6","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6375819-8190735336e61c48752cf13d12cc48fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771216522&Signature=Kn9lyg18nTmHmypLO2O4-tPgpCFxULxqn5A4CDTVL7UlhGN87x7J5s1KrnuMxBZrXoZ3GDXRQL4IyC4w3URg1xoc--DEcIqX1aTZ2h34F9YY9PPrdw-DMgHl9fMc13X8zRWwuw~mMpwMexT7uQ5QpD2dzINhRGUmVjC4DzvAc69XJ46DZzFbjXJ9~SobyFj~kxG4qJLQlDsyYZaSt94mKI0OJ8rKLzDWA-ziTz5ZaSK7CT0dW6a9qVK1vRPi0KMdccn7BudGe29Ex11Cq9yS1en3pD46Mniz8BTBwEqJ3NJ4G0RbTEOuFsaa2vUmhxBJUeYZcS2eWDLae2O2p5GqOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Human Services Committee members heard testimony Jan. 22 on Senate Bill 5149, a measure sponsored by Sen. Adrianne Cortez to expand early childhood courts so they may serve families with children under age 6 rather than the current cap of under age 3.

Advocates, court partners and people with lived experience told the committee the expansion would allow ECCs to reach more families, improve reunification rates and produce better data on program outcomes. Committee staff said the pilot ECC model was enacted in 2021 and currently operates in Clark, Kitsap, Pierce, Spokane and Thurston counties.

Allison Mendiola, committee staff, briefed the bill and described ECCs as dependency courts designed to serve families whose children are under age 3 when cases enter the system; under the bill that would change to under age 6. Mendiola said key components include separate, more frequent status hearings, family team meetings facilitated by a community coordinator, and prioritizing voluntary access to available services.

Sen. Adrianne Cortez, the bill sponsor, told the panel the expansion would let courts provide services earlier and reach a greater number of families without changing program commitments. Cortez said other states have expanded ECCs to 0 through 5, and the change would align Washington with that approach.

Morgan Silverman of the Center for Children and Youth Justice (CCYJ) said CCYJ oversees the ECC pilot in partnership with the Administrative Office of the Courts and supports SB 5149. Silverman said preliminary data show higher reunification and lower adoption rates in ECCs, including for Black, Indigenous and other communities of color. She added that explicit statutory authorization would help partners implement changes and that current funding runs through September 2027.

Charles (last name not specified in the testimony record), a parent with prior involvement in the child-welfare system who now works as a parent professional, and Elizabeth Beaulieu, who said she participated in the Spokane ECC as a parent, both described personal experiences they said demonstrated ECCs value in supporting reunification and connecting families to services.

Committee staff noted a fiscal note had been requested and was not yet available. No committee vote on SB 5149 was taken at the Jan. 22 hearing.

The hearing record shows interest from committee members but no formal action; staff and proponents said data collection and sustained funding would be necessary to measure long-term outcomes.","Senate Human Services Committee held a public hearing on SB 5149, a bill to expand Washingtons Early Childhood Courts (ECCs) to serve families with children up to age 6; witnesses, court staff and advocates said the change would let programs reach more families and improve reunification outcomes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Human Services Committee advances multiple bills after executive session

Committee hears bill to expand Housing and Essential Needs program, add cash assistance option

Committee considers updates to child fatality review law to improve data access and confidentiality

Senate committee hears push to expand early childhood courts from age 3 to 6