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WashingtonSB 52322025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Updating eligible uses for the essential needs and housing support program.

Sponsored By: Claire Wilson (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

More housing help for older disabled adults

Beginning July 27, 2025, Washington’s Department of Commerce can offer essential-needs or housing help to older or disabled adults. They must have low or extremely low income and be leaving benefits under RCW 74.04.805. They must also receive federal Social Security benefits and have an immediate housing need. Commerce decides whether to provide help; a Department of Social and Health Services referral is not required.

More flexible help for housing support clients

Beginning July 27, 2025, essential-needs and housing support providers can offer cash, debit-card funds, transportation vouchers, gift cards, or vendor payments. Direct cash must address a need in the client’s housing stability plan. Home security fund grants can also cover direct cash assistance under this rule. Commerce must align providers’ administrative rates with other home security funded programs, replacing the former 7% limit. The replacement rate is not stated.

Changed asset rules and rental referral checks

The law ties asset limits for benefits under RCW 74.62.030 and referrals under RCW 74.04.805 to Washington’s family cash-assistance rules. It removes essential-needs and housing support recipients from this specific asset-limit rule; no dollar limit is stated. Beginning July 27, 2025, Commerce and DSHS must establish a way to check initial and ongoing referral eligibility. Commerce must give designated county entities secure eligibility lists updated at least monthly. Rental-assistance providers must verify DSHS referrals every 12 months; the law adds no separate household reporting duty.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Claire Wilson

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Bob Hasegawa

    Democratic • Senate

  • Noel Frame

    Democratic • Senate

  • Paul Harris

    Republican • Senate

  • Rebecca Saldaña

    Democratic • Senate

  • T'wina Nobles

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 120 • No: 74

Senate vote • 4/18/2025

Final Passage as Amended by the House

Yes: 30 • No: 18 • Other: 1

House vote • 4/14/2025

Final Passage as Amended by the House

Yes: 59 • No: 38 • Other: 1

Senate vote • 2/25/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 31 • No: 18

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025.

    5/20/2025Senate

  2. Chapter 408, 2025 Laws PV.

    5/20/2025Senate

  3. Governor partially vetoed.

    5/20/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/23/2025legislature

  5. Speaker signed.

    4/22/2025legislature

  6. President signed.

    4/19/2025legislature

  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 30; nays, 18; absent, 0; excused, 1.

    4/18/2025Senate

  8. Senate concurred in House amendments.

    4/18/2025House

  9. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/14/2025Senate

  10. Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.

    4/14/2025Senate

  11. Third reading, passed; yeas, 59; nays, 38; absent, 0; excused, 1.

    4/14/2025Senate

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

    4/10/2025Senate

  13. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    4/8/2025Senate

  14. APP - Executive action taken by committee.

    4/5/2025Senate

  15. Minority; do not pass.

    4/5/2025Senate

  16. APP - Majority; do pass with amendment(s) but without amendment(s) by Early Learning & Human Services.

    4/5/2025Senate

  17. Referred to Appropriations.

    3/24/2025Senate

  18. Minority; without recommendation.

    3/19/2025Senate

  19. Minority; do not pass.

    3/19/2025Senate

  20. ELHS - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

    3/19/2025Senate

  21. ELHS - Executive action taken by committee.

    3/19/2025Senate

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

    2/28/2025Senate

  23. Third reading, passed; yeas, 31; nays, 18; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    2/25/2025Senate

  24. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    2/25/2025Senate

  25. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    2/25/2025Senate

Bill Text

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