SB 5052 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Modifying law enforcement ability to contact juvenile witnesses and victims not suspected of criminal involvement or activity.

SB 5052 clarifies that law enforcement may contact juveniles (under age 18) who are witnesses or victims in a crime - without being suspected of involvement - without requiring attorney consultation beforehand. This specifically amends Washington’s juvenile rights law (RCW 13.40.740) to remove ambiguity about when police can speak directly to such juveniles. The bill ensures statements obtained during these contacts generally cannot be used against the juvenile in court unless they’ve had legal advice and knowingly waived rights. It maintains existing protections for juveniles suspected of crimes or in life-threatening situations requiring immediate police action.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

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 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to clarify that law enforcement can contact juvenile witnesses and victims not suspected of criminal activity without requiring an attorney consultation. The scope of exceptions was narrowed by removing the ability to question juveniles detained based on probable cause without legal counsel and redefining the trafficking exception to exclude sex offenses. Additionally, a new subsection was added to ensure that evidence obtained lawfully remains admissible in court.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed regarding when attorney consultation is required; it now explicitly excludes juveniles detained on probable cause from the consultation requirement and limits the trafficking exception to trafficking as defined in RCW 9A.40.100, removing the previous inclusion of sex offenses.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement for attorney consultation when questioning a juvenile detained based on probable cause of criminal involvement.

Reorganized subsections regarding consent to search and emergency questioning, shifting the consent requirement from subsection (4) to subsection (3)(b) and merging the emergency exception into subsection (4)(b).

ELIGIBILITY

Narrowed the exception allowing questioning without an attorney to only include victims of trafficking as defined in RCW 9A.40.100, removing the previous exception for victims of sex offenses.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a new provision stating that nothing in the section prevents the admissibility of evidence obtained lawfully from being introduced in court.

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.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Human Services at 8:00 AM.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Human Services at 8:00 AM.

upper

Jan 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Human Services at 8:00 AM.

upper

Jan 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Human Services at 8:00 AM.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Human Services at 8:00 AM.

upper

1 primary · 5 co-sponsors