SB 5362 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning victims of crime act funding.

SB 5362 creates a new state Victims of Crime Act account in Washington's treasury to stabilize funding for victim services. Starting in fiscal year 2026, it mandates annual state transfers from the general fund: $50 million yearly for 2026-2029, increasing to $60 million for 2030-2033, then $70 million annually thereafter. Funds must supplement (not replace) existing victim services funding, cannot cover capital projects, and may be used to match federal funds. The Office of Crime Victims Advocacy must report on service needs and funding levels every five years, with a first report due in 2039. This bill directly affects county-level victim service programs across Washington state.

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

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What changed between versions

Bill → Substitute Bill · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered from S-0591.1 to S-1296.1 and updated to reflect its status as a Substitute Bill. The core policy change replaces a vague legislative commitment to future funding with a specific mandate for the state treasurer to transfer exact dollar amounts into a new Victims of Crime Act account starting in fiscal year 2026. This ensures guaranteed funding levels of $50 million rising to $70 million annually, while adding new rules allowing up to 5% of funds for administrative costs and explicitly permitting the money to match federal grants.

Scope change

The scope of funding implementation changed from a non-binding legislative finding to a mandatory state treasurer action with a defined new account structure.

TIMELINE

The bill's effective date for funding was updated to begin in fiscal year 2026, and the reading date was changed from January 20, 2025, to February 7, 2025.

FISCAL

A new Victims of Crime Act account was created in the state treasury, replacing the previous language that only required the legislature to include an appropriation in future budget bills.

Specific mandatory transfer amounts were established: $50 million per year for 2026-2029, $60 million per year for 2030-2033, and $70 million per year thereafter, adjusted by any federal funds received in the prior year.

REQUIREMENT

New provisions allow up to 5% of the account funds to be used for administrative costs and explicitly permit these funds to serve as a match for federal grants.

The previous requirement for the legislature to include an appropriation in the annual budget bill was removed in favor of the state treasurer's direct transfer mandate.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Committee

Referred to Ways & Means.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

And refer to Ways & Means.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM.

upper

1 primary · 5 co-sponsors