SB 5232 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Updating eligible uses for the essential needs and housing support program.

SB 5232 updates the Essential Needs and Housing Support (ENHS) program in Washington State, impacting individuals eligible for these services and the entities that provide them. The bill allows designated support entities to use funds more flexibly to provide essential needs items and housing support to recipients. A significant change is the allowance of direct cash assistance, including through debit cash cards, when identified in a client's housing stability plan, removing a prior restriction. It also expands eligibility to include certain low or extremely low-income elderly or disabled adults transitioning off other benefits. Additionally, the bill aligns the administration rate for ENHS entities with other programs funded by the home security fund.

Issues: ✓ Housing

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Signed May 20, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Substitute Bill → Substitute Passed Legislature · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends eligibility rules for essential needs and housing support programs, primarily by removing the requirement for recipients to provide a Social Security Number and by clarifying how funds can be used for direct cash assistance. It also renumbers eligibility criteria to reflect these changes.

Scope change

The bill applies to the same program but modifies who qualifies and how they must apply.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed the mandatory requirement for recipients to furnish a Social Security Number, with an exception for victims of human trafficking who do not have one.

Revised the income and resource standards reference to align with the new numbering of the eligibility subsections.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified that direct cash assistance is allowable only when it addresses a need in a client's housing stability plan, while expanding other flexible funding options like debit cards and gift cards.

Updated the verification requirement for rental assistance referrals to be conducted every 12 months by the housing support service provider.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 25, 2025 · House Apr 14, 2025

How they voted

33–18

Passed

Total votes 51

Feb 25, 2025

D Democratic31

31 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

2 Yea 18 Nay

90% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 20, 2025

Vetoed

Governor partially vetoed.

executive

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Apr 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Apr 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 30; nays, 18; absent, 0; excused, 1.

upper

Apr 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate concurred in House amendments.

upper

Apr 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.

lower

Apr 14, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (60-39-1)

house

Apr 8, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Apr 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Apr 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

APP - Majority; do pass with amendment(s) but without amendment(s) by Early Learning & Human Services.

lower

Apr 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 1:30 PM.

lower

Mar 24, 2025

Committee

Referred to Appropriations.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services at 1:30 PM.

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services at 8:00 AM.

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

upper

Jan 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Jan 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Jan 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

1 primary · 5 co-sponsors