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WashingtonSB 50302025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Improving access to educational services by reducing barriers to obtaining vital records and allowing alternative forms of documentation.

Sponsored By: Claire Wilson (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Schools and preschools must accept more documents

Beginning July 27, 2025, public schools and early learning programs must accept more documents to prove a child’s age. They must accept a birth certificate, passport, or listed alternatives. Alternatives include baptismal or religious records, hospital or doctor records, a family bible entry, adoption records, a parent affidavit, or a verified school record. This makes enrollment easier for families without a birth certificate.

Free birth certificates for SNAP families and homeless

Beginning July 27, 2025, some people do not pay the $25 birth certificate fee. Parents pay no fee when enrolling a child in early learning or public school, if the child is in SNAP or state food assistance. Show a benefits letter or other proof. People who meet Washington’s legal definition of homeless and live in the state also get a free birth certificate.

Vital record fees and how funds flow

Beginning July 27, 2025, you pay $25 for a vital record copy or for a search with no match. If you pay by card, bank transfer, or other electronic method, an extra electronic payment fee can be added. The state sets a separate fee for heirloom birth certificates. Those fees go to the children’s trust fund. Local registrars send parts of each $25 fee to the state each month. They send $13 per birth copy, $13 for the first death copy, and $20 for each extra death copy. The treasurer divides these fees: $2 to the department for births and first death copies, $9 to the department for extra death copies, and $11 to the death investigations account. When the department collects a $25 fee, it must also send $11 to that account. Heirloom birth certificates are excluded from the $11 transfer.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Claire Wilson

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Adrian Cortes

    Democratic • Senate

  • Bob Hasegawa

    Democratic • Senate

  • Deborah Krishnadasan

    Democratic • Senate

  • Javier Valdez

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jesse Salomon

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lisa Wellman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Paul Harris

    Republican • Senate

  • Rebecca Saldaña

    Democratic • Senate

  • T'wina Nobles

    Democratic • Senate

  • Yasmin Trudeau

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 105 • No: 37

House vote • 4/10/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 62 • No: 33 • Other: 3

Senate vote • 3/12/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 43 • No: 4 • Other: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Governor signed.

    4/22/2025legislature

  2. Effective date 7/27/2025.

    4/22/2025Senate

  3. Chapter 109, 2025 Laws.

    4/22/2025Senate

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/17/2025legislature

  5. Speaker signed.

    4/16/2025legislature

  6. President signed.

    4/15/2025legislature

  7. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/10/2025Senate

  8. Third reading, passed; yeas, 62; nays, 33; absent, 0; excused, 3.

    4/10/2025Senate

  9. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

    4/10/2025Senate

  10. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    4/8/2025Senate

  11. APP - Executive action taken by committee.

    4/7/2025Senate

  12. Minority; without recommendation.

    4/7/2025Senate

  13. Minority; do not pass.

    4/7/2025Senate

  14. APP - Majority; do pass.

    4/7/2025Senate

  15. Referred to Appropriations.

    3/28/2025Senate

  16. Minority; without recommendation.

    3/26/2025Senate

  17. ELHS - Majority; do pass.

    3/26/2025Senate

  18. ELHS - Executive action taken by committee.

    3/26/2025Senate

  19. First reading, referred to Early Learning & Human Services.

    3/14/2025Senate

  20. Third reading, passed; yeas, 43; nays, 4; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    3/12/2025Senate

  21. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/12/2025Senate

  22. 1st substitute bill substituted.

    3/12/2025Senate

  23. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    3/11/2025Senate

  24. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    2/28/2025Senate

  25. Minority; without recommendation.

    2/27/2025Senate

Bill Text

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