WashingtonHB 11422025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Standardizing basic training and certification requirements for long-term care workers who provide in-home care for their family members, including spouses or domestic partners.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 4 costs, 1 mixed.

Relatives and low-hour caregivers face training

Beginning July 27, 2025, covered in-home workers must complete 35 training hours within their first 120 days as workers. This covers workers caring only for children, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandparents, or grandchildren. It includes relatives by marriage or domestic partnership and workers providing 20 hours or less to one person per calendar month. Before providing care, workers must finish two hours of orientation on their role and employment terms, plus three safety hours. The rule now applies beyond individual providers; parents covered by the separate 12-hour developmental-disability rule follow that rule instead.

Spouse caregivers face phased training rules

From July 27, 2025, through June 30, 2026, workers providing approved care only for a spouse or registered domestic partner through Veterans Affairs home- and community-based programs need 35 training hours. They must finish within their first 120 days as workers. Before providing care under this temporary rule, they must finish two orientation hours and three safety hours. Beginning July 1, 2026, in-home workers caring only for their spouse or registered domestic partner need 15 basic training hours plus at least six hours focused on the recipient's needs. That training is due within the first 120 days as a worker and is not limited to the state's long-term care trust program.

More family caregivers can skip certification

Beginning July 27, 2025, in-home workers caring only for listed family members do not need home care aide certification. The list covers children, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandparents, grandchildren, spouses, and domestic partners. It includes relatives by marriage or domestic partnership, and the exemption now applies beyond individual providers. Certification exemptions do not remove the separate training requirements described below. Workers exempt from training can still enroll without penalty.

Low-hour respite workers need 14 training hours

Beginning July 27, 2025, qualifying in-home respite workers working 300 hours or less per calendar year need 14 training hours. They must finish within their first 120 days as workers. Before providing care, they must complete two orientation hours and three safety hours. The training partnership must offer at least 12 hours online, including five online elective hours chosen by the worker. This rule now applies beyond individual providers, but only to workers providing qualifying respite care exclusively for people served under Title 71A RCW or chapter 74.39A RCW.

Parents caring for disabled children need training

Beginning July 27, 2025, parents working as in-home caregivers only for their child with a developmental disability need 12 training hours. They must finish within their first 120 days as workers, with training focused on developmental-disability needs. This includes children related by marriage or domestic partnership and now applies beyond individual providers. The requirement does not apply to workers exempt under RCW 18.88B.041(1)(a), which covers qualifying health credentials and certain pre-2012 workers.

Caregiver certification exemptions expand and narrow

Beginning July 27, 2025, in-home workers providing 20 hours or less of nonrespite care to one person per calendar month are exempt from certification. Workers providing only respite care are also exempt if they work fewer than 300 hours per calendar year. These exemptions now apply beyond individual providers, while separate exemptions tied to Veterans Affairs funding and the state long-term care trust program are removed. Exemptions remain for community residential service business workers and qualifying health-credentialed workers when the secretary determines certification is unnecessary. Workers hired before January 7, 2012, who completed the training required then can also qualify for an exemption.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Nicole Macri
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

Chipalo Street
Democratic • House
Cindy Ryu
Democratic • House
Darya Farivar
Democratic • House
Debra Lekanoff
Democratic • House
Julia Reed
Democratic • House
Kristine Reeves
Democratic • House
Lisa Callan
Democratic • House
Natasha Hill
Democratic • House
Steve Tharinger
Democratic • House
Tarra Simmons
Democratic • House
Timm Ormsby
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 136 • No: 9

Senate vote • 3/26/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 48 • No: 1

House vote • 2/6/2025