HB 1385 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning fingerprint background check on applicants.

House Bill 1385 modifies the state's laws concerning fingerprint background checks for individuals working with vulnerable populations. The bill clarifies and expands definitions for who is considered an "applicant" requiring a background check, explicitly including prospective employees, volunteers, or contractors who will have access to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities. It also broadens the types of organizations and services covered under these background check requirements. These changes aim to refine the scope of the National Child Protection Act and Volunteers for Children's Act program.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Jan 20, 2025 Signed Apr 16, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Substitute Bill → Substitute Passed Legislature · 4 edits

MODERATE

The document was updated from a draft legislative bill to its final certified version after passing both the House and Senate. This change formally records the official vote counts and dates of approval, confirming the bill is now law.

TECHNICAL

Added certification text confirming the bill passed the House on March 5, 2025, with 97 yeas and 0 nays.

Added certification text confirming the bill passed the Senate on April 5, 2025, with 48 yeas and 0 nays.

Added signatures and titles for the Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, Chief Clerk, and Secretary of State to validate the bill.

Removed the blank line at the beginning of the document.

Bill → Substitute Bill · 14 edits

MAJOR

This bill was renumbered and reclassified as a substitute bill, shifting its administrative sponsorship to the House Early Learning & Human Services committee. The most significant substantive change is the expansion of the background check program to include 'covered individuals' (such as volunteers and contractors) alongside employees, ensuring a broader range of people with access to vulnerable populations are screened. Additionally, the definition of 'care' was updated to explicitly include 'the elderly,' broadening the scope of who is protected under the new fingerprinting requirements.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include volunteers, contractors, and other covered individuals in addition to employees, and the definition of protected populations was updated to explicitly include the elderly.

TECHNICAL

The bill was renumbered from HB 1385 to Substitute House Bill 1385 and the reading date was updated to 02/18/25.

ELIGIBILITY

The list of bill sponsors was updated to reflect that the bill is now sponsored by the House Early Learning & Human Services committee.

The definition of 'covered individual' was expanded to include those who contract with a qualified entity, not just those who are employed or volunteer.

DEFINITION

New definitions were added for 'elderly' (persons 60 or older) and 'individuals with disabilities' to clarify who is protected.

The definition of 'care' was modified to explicitly include 'the elderly' alongside children and individuals with disabilities.

REQUIREMENT

Background check requirements were expanded to include 'covered individuals' (volunteers, contractors) in addition to applicants for employment.

Notification requirements were updated to inform both applicants and covered individuals of their rights regarding record copies and appeals.

The requirement to submit fingerprints was expanded to include both applicants and covered individuals.

Waiver requirements were updated to cover both applicants and covered individuals.

Privacy notification requirements were expanded to protect the privacy of both applicants and covered individuals.

The right to challenge criminal record accuracy was extended to cover both applicants and covered individuals.

The prohibition on denying employment or volunteer positions based on records was updated to apply to both applicants and covered individuals.

Fee collection rules were updated to cover the costs of processing submissions from both applicants and covered individuals.

Liability protections for qualified entities were updated to apply to both applicants and covered individuals.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 5, 2025 · House Mar 5, 2025

How they voted

50–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 51

Apr 5, 2025

D Democratic31

30 Yea 1

96% 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

Apr 16, 2025

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Apr 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Apr 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Apr 5, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (50-0-1)

senate

Mar 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

HS - Majority; do pass.

upper

Mar 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Human Services at 1:30 PM.

upper

Mar 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Human Services at 1:30 PM.

upper

Mar 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services at 8:00 AM.

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to Early Learning & Human Services.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee relieved of further consideration.

lower

1 primary · 8 co-sponsors