HB 2429 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Supporting children and youth behavioral health.

HB 2429 establishes a Children and Youth Behavioral Health Work Group to address barriers in accessing care for children, youth, and young adults in Washington State. The work group, composed of diverse stakeholders including providers, families, youth representatives, tribal leaders, and agency officials, will monitor existing programs, improve coordination between education and health systems, and recommend strategies to expand access to services - particularly for young children (prenatal to age 5) and underserved communities. Key provisions include advising on implementing a statewide strategic plan, removing systemic barriers, and promoting equal insurance coverage for behavioral health compared to physical health. The bill directly affects children and families seeking mental health support by aiming to create a more integrated, equitable system.

Issues: ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Mar 18, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Second Substitute Bill → Second Substitute Passed Legislature · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill now includes a formal certification of enrollment confirming it passed both chambers of the legislature. Substantive changes require the governor's office to establish and maintain executive coordination for the children and youth system of care, rather than just maintaining a single officer. The leadership council was expanded to include a work group member, and the expiration date for the work group's reporting requirements was extended from 2029 to 2031.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly require the establishment of executive coordination mechanisms and to include a new member on the leadership council.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a formal certification of enrollment to confirm the bill passed both the House and Senate.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the requirement from maintaining a single 'executive coordination officer' to establishing and maintaining broader 'executive coordination' for the children and youth system of care.

Expanded the leadership council membership to include one member from the children and youth behavioral health work group.

TIMELINE

Extended the expiration date for the work group's annual report discussion from December 30, 2029, to December 30, 2031.

FISCAL

Added a new section clarifying that the governor's office may accept private funding and that the legislature retains the ability to appropriate state funds in the future.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 3, 2026 · House Mar 9, 2026

How they voted

51–0

Passed

Total votes 51

Mar 3, 2026

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

Mar 18, 2026

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 95; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 3.

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

House concurred in Senate amendments.

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (51-0)

senate

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

WM - Majority; do pass with amendment(s) by Human Services.

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 10:30 AM.

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Committee

Referred to Ways & Means.

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Committee

And refer to Ways & Means.

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 9, 2026

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM.

lower

Feb 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Committee

Referred to Appropriations.

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services at 8:30 AM.

lower

Jan 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

1 primary · 23 co-sponsors