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WashingtonSB 51632025-2026 Regular SessionSenate

Modernizing the child fatality statute.

Sponsored By: Tina Orwall (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Broader reviews of child and youth deaths

Beginning July 27, 2025, Washington local health departments can review deaths of children and youth through age 19. Reviews examine preventable causes using records, family interviews, and teams from different fields. For a specific review, listed providers, facilities, laboratories, schools, police, coroners, medical examiners, and state agencies must supply requested records. These include health, social services, and child welfare agencies and their listed providers and licensees. State birth and death record copies and certifications are free for these reviews—not for all household requests. The state health department supports reviews and data collection; its support is no longer limited to federal and private funds. The law provides no new funding amount or household payment.

Private review data supports child death prevention

State and local health departments may keep identifying and location information from child death reviews. They can use it to study trends, track changes over time, and improve their work. Records revealing reviewed people's identities or locations remain closed to the public. Statistical reports can guide statewide prevention plans, but details identifying individual cases or information sources must first be removed.

Child death review privacy has limits

Information submitted to state or local health departments for reviews is protected from public release, subpoenas, and court-ordered disclosure. It also cannot be used as evidence in civil, criminal, or administrative cases tied to the reviewed death. Separate protections for collected witness statements and documents cover civil and administrative cases, but not criminal cases. Officials and committee members are protected from questioning about review documents in covered proceedings. Review health information is confidential and limited to review and related quality-improvement uses. Public information, independently learned facts, and ordinary access to providers' medical records remain available under existing rules. A team may choose one member to call the child abuse hotline about a current, reportable, unresolved abuse or neglect concern. This creates no new reporting duty and does not prevent reports allowed under existing child abuse law.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Tina Orwall

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Annette Cleveland

    Democratic • Senate

  • Bob Hasegawa

    Democratic • Senate

  • Claire Wilson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Javier Valdez

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lisa Wellman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Manka Dhingra

    Democratic • Senate

  • Marcus Riccelli

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rebecca Saldaña

    Democratic • Senate

  • Sharon Shewmake

    Democratic • Senate

  • Steve Conway

    Democratic • Senate

  • T'wina Nobles

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 133 • No: 10

House vote • 4/10/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 85 • No: 10 • Other: 3

Senate vote • 3/12/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 48 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025.

    4/22/2025Senate

  2. Chapter 123, 2025 Laws.

    4/22/2025Senate

  3. Governor signed.

    4/22/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/17/2025legislature

  5. Speaker signed.

    4/16/2025legislature

  6. President signed.

    4/15/2025legislature

  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 85; nays, 10; absent, 0; excused, 3.

    4/10/2025Senate

  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    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. Minority; do not pass.

    4/7/2025Senate

  12. Minority; without recommendation.

    4/7/2025Senate

  13. APP - Majority; do pass.

    4/7/2025Senate

  14. APP - Executive action taken by committee.

    4/7/2025Senate

  15. Referred to Appropriations.

    4/1/2025Senate

  16. Minority; without recommendation.

    3/28/2025Senate

  17. ELHS - Majority; do pass.

    3/28/2025Senate

  18. ELHS - Executive action taken by committee.

    3/28/2025Senate

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

    3/14/2025Senate

  20. Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.

    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. WM - Majority; do pass 1st substitute bill proposed by Human Services.

    2/27/2025Senate

Bill Text

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