SB 5272 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Improving school safety by extending penalties for interference by, or intimidation by threat of, force or violence at schools and extracurricular activities and requiring schools to notify the public of such penalties.

SB 5272 strengthens school safety by increasing penalties for threatening or using force/violence against school staff, students, or athletic officials (like referees) during school activities. It requires schools to post clear signage at entrances and athletic venues explaining these penalties, including fines up to $1,000 or up to 364 days in jail for adults, plus 12-18 months exclusion from school or events. For students, it mandates immediate removal during incidents and up to a 12-month exclusion from athletic activities. The bill directly affects all public/private school staff, students, and volunteers in athletic settings by making intimidation or violence a serious misdemeanor with specific, enforced consequences.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Signed Mar 23, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Bill Passed Legislature · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was formally certified and passed by the legislature in 2026. Substantive changes include broadening the definition of protected individuals to include volunteers and contractors, removing the automatic expulsion rule for student offenders, and adjusting the maximum fine for violations from $1,000 to $500.
Scope change
The scope of protected individuals was expanded to include volunteers and contractors, while the specific consequences for student offenders were modified to rely on existing emergency removal procedures rather than automatic expulsion.
ELIGIBILITY

The list of protected individuals now explicitly includes volunteers and contractors, in addition to administrators, teachers, and students.

ENFORCEMENT

The automatic expulsion or suspension of students who commit violence was removed; instead, interference is now grounds for emergency removal under existing laws.

REQUIREMENT

The maximum fine for violating the anti-violence statute was reduced from $1,000 to $500.

TECHNICAL

A new subsection was added to clarify that the term 'public school' has the same meaning as defined in RCW 28A.150.010.

Floor votes · Senate Jan 28, 2026 · House Mar 3, 2026

How they voted

483
Passed
Total votes 51
Jan 28, 2026
D Democratic31
30 Yea 1 Nay
96% Yea
R Republican20
18 Yea 2 Nay
90% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
31
Key actions
14
Committee
8
Mar 23, 2026
Signed into law
Governor signed.
executive
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Speaker signed.
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
President signed.
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed final passage; yeas, 47; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2.
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred in House amendments.
upper
Mar 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Floor amendment(s) adopted.
lower
Feb 23, 2026
Committee
Referred to Rules 2 Review.
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
CS - Majority; do pass.
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Community Safety at 8:00 AM.
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Community Safety at 10:30 AM.
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Upper · Passed
Floor amendment(s) adopted.
upper
Jan 12, 2026
Introduced
By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Minority; without recommendation.
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
EDU - Majority; do pass.
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 10:30 AM.
upper
Jan 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 10:30 AM.
upper
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors