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WashingtonSB 57612025-2026 Regular SessionSenate

Developing a schedule for court appointment of attorneys for children and youth in dependency and termination proceedings.

Sponsored By: Noel Frame (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.

Lawyers for kids in dependency cases

Courts appoint a lawyer for children in dependency cases. Ages 8 to 17 get a lawyer at or before the shelter care hearing in a new case. Children under 8 get a lawyer when a termination petition is filed. If a court ends all parental rights, the child gets a lawyer six months later. A court can appoint a lawyer on its own or when a parent, the child, a guardian ad litem, a caregiver, or the department asks. If a child has no lawyer, anyone may refer or retain one just to file a motion for appointment at public expense. For children 12 or older, the department and guardian ad litem must tell them about this right and ask each year; the court also asks after age 12 and again after 15.

State-funded rollout of lawyers for kids

The state pays for appointed lawyers for children when the budget includes money for this purpose. Lawyers must follow professional rules, practice standards, caseload limits, and training set by the statewide work group. The Office of Civil Legal Aid runs payments, while the statewide program recruits, trains, and oversees attorneys. When statewide funding starts in a county, the program works to keep the same lawyer for children already represented. The rollout adds no more than 1,250 new cases each fiscal year and prioritizes counties without current appointment or with major racial disparities. Milestones: 3 counties by 7/1/2022; 8 by 1/1/2023; 15 by 1/1/2024; 20 by 1/1/2025; 30 by 1/1/2030; 36 by 1/1/2031; all counties by 1/1/2032.

Appointed lawyers don't handle appeals

A lawyer appointed under this law does not handle appeals of a termination decision. A separate lawyer must be hired or appointed for any appeal.

Program runs only if funded

The law includes a funding trigger. If the omnibus budget does not name and fund this act by June 30, 2025, the act is null and void.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Noel Frame

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • T'wina Nobles

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 178 • No: 15

Senate vote • 4/24/2025

Final Passage as Amended by the House

Yes: 45 • No: 3

House vote • 4/22/2025

Final Passage as Amended by the House

Yes: 87 • No: 9 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 3/26/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 46 • No: 3

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025.

    5/20/2025Senate

  2. Chapter 413, 2025 Laws.

    5/20/2025Senate

  3. Governor signed.

    5/20/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/27/2025legislature

  5. Speaker signed.

    4/26/2025legislature

  6. President signed.

    4/25/2025legislature

  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 45; nays, 3; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    4/24/2025Senate

  8. Senate concurred in House amendments.

    4/24/2025House

  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 87; nays, 9; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    4/22/2025Senate

  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/22/2025Senate

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

    4/22/2025Senate

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

    4/22/2025Senate

  13. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    4/8/2025Senate

  14. APP - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

    4/5/2025Senate

  15. APP - Executive action taken by committee.

    4/5/2025Senate

  16. First reading, referred to Appropriations.

    3/28/2025Senate

  17. Third reading, passed; yeas, 46; nays, 3; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    3/26/2025Senate

  18. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/26/2025Senate

  19. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    3/10/2025Senate

  20. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    2/28/2025Senate

  21. Minority; without recommendation.

    2/27/2025Senate

  22. WM - Majority; do pass.

    2/27/2025Senate

  23. First reading, referred to Ways & Means.

    2/17/2025Senate

  24. Introduced

    2/17/2025Senate

Bill Text

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