HB 1817 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Supporting survivors of sexual assault in public elementary and secondary schools.

HB 1817 requires Washington public schools to implement trauma-informed training for all staff on responding to sexual assault disclosures, including mandatory bystander intervention. It mandates that school staff receive this training during hiring and every three years, starting August 2027. The bill also directs the state superintendent to create a culturally responsive, translated student and family guide to school policies on sexual harassment and assault by November 2026. These provisions directly affect school employees, students, and families in public elementary and secondary schools across Washington.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Jan 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill → Substitute Bill · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to remove a temporary task force requiring a legislative youth advisory council to discuss mandatory reporting requirements, which previously included a specific deadline of December 1, 2025. The remaining sections were renumbered and slightly reorganized to focus on the core mandates: creating staff training materials and a student/family guide by November 1, 2026, and updating the effective date of the reporting law changes to August 1, 2027.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing the requirement for a collaborative discussion led by the legislative youth advisory council, eliminating the need for specific agency meetings and student feedback sessions that were part of the original version.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the mandate for the legislative youth advisory council to lead a collaborative discussion on mandatory reporting, including specific meeting requirements and a December 1, 2025 reporting deadline.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date for the amendments to RCW 28A.400.317 from the original version's implied timeline to August 1, 2027.

TECHNICAL

Reorganized the bill structure by removing the section on the youth advisory council and renumbering the remaining sections regarding training materials and the student guide.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

lower

Feb 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Education at 8:00 AM.

lower

1 primary · 12 co-sponsors