HB 1351 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Adjusting age requirements for accessing the early childhood education and assistance program.

This bill (HB 1351) adjusts the eligibility requirements for children to access Washington's Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP). It clarifies that an eligible child must be at least three years old by August 31st of the school year and not yet age-eligible for kindergarten. The bill updates income thresholds for families, shifting from federal poverty levels to state median income percentages over time. Additionally, it expands eligibility to include children experiencing homelessness or those who have participated in other specific early childhood support programs.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Signed May 13, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute Bill → Substitute Passed Legislature · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill text was updated to reflect its final passage by the legislature, including the addition of a formal certification page. The substantive policy changes involve the addition of a new uncoded section (2021 c 199 s 604) and a complex system of contingent effective and expiration dates that depend on whether another Senate Bill (SB 5752) is enacted by July 1, 2025.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include amendments to an uncoded legislative section (2021 c 199 s 604) in addition to existing RCW sections.

TIMELINE

Added a new uncoded section (2021 c 199 s 604) which was not present in the previous version.

Replaced fixed expiration dates with contingent dates that depend on the passage of Senate Bill 5752.

Introduced new contingent effective dates and expiration dates tied to the July 1, 2025 deadline for SB 5752.

TECHNICAL

Added a formal Certification of Enrollment page indicating the bill passed both chambers.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 8, 2025 · House Apr 22, 2025

How they voted

51–0

Passed

Total votes 51

Apr 8, 2025

D Democratic31

31 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

20 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 13, 2025

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 97; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

House concurred in Senate amendments.

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (51-0)

senate

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

EDU - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 10:30 AM.

upper

Mar 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 1:30 PM.

upper

Feb 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

APP - Majority; do pass 1st substitute bill proposed by Early Learning & Human Services.

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 4:00 PM.

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 4:00 PM.

lower

Feb 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to Appropriations.

lower

Jan 31, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services at 9:00 AM.

lower

Jan 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services at 1:30 PM.

lower

1 primary · 11 co-sponsors