All Roll Calls
Yes: 168 • No: 75
WashingtonHB 13952025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Streamlining the home care worker background check process.
Sponsored By: Darya Farivar (Democratic)
Became Law
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Keeping abusers out of care jobs
The law blocks anyone with final substantiated abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or abandonment findings—or listed on abuse registries—from caring for vulnerable adults or having unsupervised access. A founded child abuse finding on or after October 1, 1998 can also bar employment. In some cases, a certificate of parental improvement can remove a child‑abuse‑based bar. The department also creates a state registry of workers with final substantiated findings and shares final findings with the Department of Health.
Shorter automatic bans for past crimes
Beginning July 27, 2025, the department cannot automatically disqualify a worker for certain past crimes after a wait time. The waits are 3 years for selling cannabis, 5 years for second-degree robbery or extortion and second- or third-degree assault, and 10 years for first-degree theft. This rule does not apply to background checks for the children, youth, and families agency. It does not change rules for most department jobs (except some community residential roles). It also does not let someone provide or be paid for Medicaid or Medicare care if federal law bars them.
State-run, uniform background checks
Beginning July 27, 2025, the department runs state and federal background checks for all long‑term care workers in a uniform and timely way. It tells employers and other authorized parties when an applicant is ineligible. The department must also adopt the rules needed to carry out these duties.
Fairer case-by-case suitability reviews
Beginning July 27, 2025, reviewers can decide case by case whether certain past convictions matter for a job with possible unsupervised access. The department must set clear standards that protect vulnerable adults and children and respect client rights. Employers cannot run another suitability review for the same non-automatic item, or when they know it is more than 10 years old. These rules aim to balance safety with a fair review for workers.
Fingerprints required, fewer repeat checks
Background checks for long-term care workers hired on or after January 7, 2012 must include FBI fingerprint checks. The department requires fingerprints for both the Washington State Patrol and the FBI and cannot charge workers or employers for these checks. New fingerprinting is only required at initial hire, when federal law requires it, before working for a new managing employer if the last fingerprint is 5 or more years old and the new employer asks, or when an employer documents a good‑faith belief of new disqualifying findings. If you stayed with the same employer and have not lived outside Washington since your last fingerprint check, you do not re-fingerprint at initial hire.
More background info for clients
If a person with a listed conviction is approved to serve as an individual provider, the client and any guardian must get the state background check results before care starts. Before any care during the 30‑day temporary period, the parent or guardian must get written notice that the review is not finished and how to decline; this notice is not required if the agency worker has stayed with the same employer since the last check. If you choose an individual provider, you must be told their background check result and may ask for a copy. If the check is “review required,” the authorized entity must give the managing employer a copy of the background check and the Washington arrest and prosecution record on request; the provider may choose to share the FBI record.
Start work while checks finish
Beginning July 27, 2025, a provider can work up to 30 days while a suitability review is pending if the check shows no automatic disqualifier and the employer has not found them unable to work. A worker who passes the state check may also work while FBI results are pending, if department rules allow it. This helps agencies fill shifts faster while full checks finish.
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Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Darya Farivar
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Alex Ramel
Democratic • House
Beth Doglio
Democratic • House
Brandy Donaghy
Democratic • House
Chipalo Street
Democratic • House
Cindy Ryu
Democratic • House
Clyde Shavers
Democratic • House
Dave Paul
Democratic • House
Davina Duerr
Democratic • House
Edwin Obras
Democratic • House
Emily Alvarado
Democratic • House
Greg Nance
Democratic • House
Julia Reed
Democratic • House
Julio Cortes
Democratic • House
Kristine Reeves
Democratic • House
Lisa Parshley
Democratic • House
Liz Berry
Democratic • House
Mary Fosse
Democratic • House
Natasha Hill
Democratic • House
Nicole Macri
Democratic • House
Osman Salahuddin
Democratic • House
Sharlett Mena
Democratic • House
Sharon Wylie
Democratic • House
Shaun Scott
Democratic • House
Strom Peterson
Democratic • House
Tarra Simmons
Democratic • House
Timm Ormsby
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/18/2025
Final Passage as Amended by the Senate
Yes: 59 • No: 38 • Other: 1
Senate vote • 4/14/2025
3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate
Yes: 31 • No: 18
House vote • 3/12/2025
3rd Reading & Final Passage
Yes: 78 • No: 19 • Other: 1
Actions Timeline
Effective date 7/27/2025.
5/12/2025HouseChapter 214, 2025 Laws.
5/12/2025HouseGovernor signed.
5/12/2025legislatureDelivered to Governor.
4/22/2025legislaturePresident signed.
4/19/2025legislatureSpeaker signed.
4/18/2025legislaturePassed final passage; yeas, 59; nays, 38; absent, 0; excused, 1.
4/18/2025HouseHouse concurred in Senate amendments.
4/18/2025HouseThird reading, passed; yeas, 31; nays, 18; absent, 0; excused, 0.
4/14/2025HouseRules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
4/14/2025HouseCommittee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.
4/14/2025HousePlaced on second reading by Rules Committee.
4/7/2025HousePassed to Rules Committee for second reading.
3/26/2025HouseMinority; do not pass.
3/25/2025HouseHLTC - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).
3/25/2025HouseFirst reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care.
3/14/2025HouseThird reading, passed; yeas, 78; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 1.
3/12/2025HouseRules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
3/12/2025HouseFloor amendment(s) adopted.
3/12/2025House1st substitute bill substituted.
3/12/2025HouseRules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
3/10/2025HouseReferred to Rules 2 Review.
2/6/2025HousePEW - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
2/4/2025HouseMinority; without recommendation.
2/4/2025HousePEW - Executive action taken by committee.
2/4/2025House
Bill Text
Session Law
5/15/2025
Bill as Passed Legislature
4/20/2025
Engrossed Substitute
3/12/2025
Substitute Bill
2/6/2025
Original Bill
1/20/2025
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