SB 5266 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning the indeterminate sentence review board.

SB 5266 allows individuals convicted of crimes before turning 18 to petition the indeterminate sentence review board for early release after reaching age 24, provided they meet specific conditions (e.g., no recent convictions or serious infractions in the prior 12 months). The bill requires the department to assess offenders 5 years before eligibility, conduct dangerousness evaluations 180 days after a petition, and prioritize hearings for those under 25 or recently transferred from juvenile custody. It also mandates victim input during hearings, allows rental vouchers for housing upon release, and limits annual petitions to 70. The law aims to align with brain development research showing youth rehabilitation potential, while maintaining public safety through structured release conditions and supervision.

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 · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute Bill → Second Substitute Bill · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was reclassified from a Senate Human Services bill to a Ways & Means bill, indicating a shift in fiscal oversight. The core policy change involves adjusting eligibility criteria for early release petitions by youth offenders, specifically removing a requirement for a clean criminal record since the offender's 18th birthday while adding a stricter cap on the number of petitions processed annually. These changes aim to streamline the review process for eligible youth while maintaining public safety through tighter administrative limits.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding eligibility criteria was modified to remove a specific clean record requirement since age 18, while the administrative scope was narrowed by reducing the annual petition cap.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed the requirement that petitioners must have no convictions for crimes committed after their 18th birthday, allowing those with post-18 convictions to petition if they meet other criteria.

Restructured the conditions for early release into a clearer list format, separating the age requirement from the clean record requirement to allow for exceptions.

ENFORCEMENT

Reduced the annual cap on early release petitions from 70 to 35, limiting the number of cases the board and department must process each year.

TIMELINE

Added a specific clause stating that the petition limit does not create a right to a hearing, clarifying the administrative nature of the cap.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill title from 'Substitute Senate Bill' to 'Second Substitute Senate Bill' and updated the legislative sponsor committee from Human Services to Ways & Means.

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 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to Ways & Means.

upper

Jan 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Jan 22, 2025

Committee

And refer to Ways & Means.

upper

Jan 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

1 primary · 7 co-sponsors