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WashingtonSB 53752025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Concerning the duty of clergy to report child abuse and neglect.

Sponsored By: Noel Frame (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Clergy must report child abuse

Members of the clergy must report child abuse or neglect at the first chance, and no later than 48 hours. They must report to police or the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Clergy cannot use clergy‑penitent privilege to avoid reporting. The law defines clergy broadly, including licensed, ordained, or recognized religious leaders and those doing official clergy duties, whether paid or volunteer.

Faster alerts to police and courts

If a report involves a child death, nonaccidental injury, or alleged sexual abuse, the department must notify law enforcement within 24 hours in emergencies and within 72 hours otherwise. Oral reports must be followed by a written report within five days. Law enforcement must notify the department on the same 24‑ or 72‑hour timeline. Prosecutors must tell the victim, requested people, and the local department office within five days of charging or declining. If a child is under juvenile court jurisdiction, the department must promptly notify the child’s guardian ad litem of the report and the outcome.

How the department handles reports

For screened‑in reports, the department uses either an investigation or a family assessment based on risk, danger, past reports, type of harm, and age. Serious allegations, like sexual abuse or substantial risk of harm, must get a full investigation. Investigations should finish within 90 days unless extended in writing with police or a prosecutor. Family assessments should finish in 45 days, with extensions to 120 days (or up to one year in certain foster‑related cases) if the parent or placement agrees and funding allows. Family assessments do not make a finding, do not name a perpetrator, and are not put in the abuse database. The department keeps investigation records, reviews founded cases, and logs screened‑out nonabusive cases. It must use a risk assessment tool in investigations and present risk factors, including substance abuse, at placement hearings.

Optional services to avoid foster care

When a child is identified as a candidate for foster care, the department may offer prevention and family services to parents or caregivers. The department is not civilly liable for choosing to provide or not provide these services.

College employees must report abuse

Employees and student employees at public and private colleges must report suspected child abuse or neglect. They must report at the first chance and no later than 48 hours to police or the child welfare department.

Post child-abuse reporting rules at work

The department must publish a free poster, at least 8.5×11 inches, in English and Spanish, that explains who must report, what to report, where to report, and timing. Groups with employees or volunteers who are mandatory reporters must display the poster in a common area.

School rules for child interviews

The state school directors’ group must write a model policy for child interviews on school grounds. It must consult the child welfare department and the sheriffs and police chiefs. The policy guides how schools handle authorized interviews.

Law enforcement can probe false reports

Police may interview the person who made a report and other sources to check if the report was made with malice. This can deter false reports, but it could also discourage some reporters.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Noel Frame

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Claire Wilson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Javier Valdez

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jessica Bateman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Manka Dhingra

    Democratic • Senate

  • T'wina Nobles

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 113 • No: 78

House vote • 4/11/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 64 • No: 31 • Other: 3

Senate vote • 2/28/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 28 • No: 20 • Other: 1

Senate vote • 2/28/2025

72 Warnick Pg 7 Ln 11

Yes: 21 • No: 27 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025.

    5/2/2025Senate

  2. Chapter 197, 2025 Laws.

    5/2/2025Senate

  3. Governor signed.

    5/2/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/22/2025legislature

  5. Speaker signed.

    4/18/2025legislature

  6. President signed.

    4/18/2025legislature

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

    4/11/2025Senate

  8. Third reading, passed; yeas, 64; nays, 31; absent, 0; excused, 3.

    4/11/2025Senate

  9. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/11/2025Senate

  10. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    3/21/2025Senate

  11. Minority; without recommendation.

    3/19/2025Senate

  12. ELHS - Majority; do pass.

    3/19/2025Senate

  13. ELHS - Executive action taken by committee.

    3/19/2025Senate

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

    3/4/2025Senate

  15. Third reading, passed; yeas, 28; nays, 20; absent, 0; excused, 1.

    2/28/2025Senate

  16. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    2/28/2025Senate

  17. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    2/26/2025Senate

  18. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    2/6/2025Senate

  19. Minority; do not pass.

    2/5/2025Senate

  20. HS - Majority; do pass.

    2/5/2025Senate

  21. First reading, referred to Human Services.

    1/20/2025Senate

  22. Introduced

    1/20/2025Senate

Bill Text

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