SB 5375 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning the duty of clergy to report child abuse and neglect.

Senate Bill 5375 establishes a duty for clergy to report child abuse and neglect. It amends state law, specifically RCW 26.44.020 and 26.44.030, by removing a specific definition of "clergy." This change effectively subjects regularly licensed or ordained ministers, priests, or rabbis to the general mandatory reporting requirements for suspected child abuse or neglect. As a result, clergy members are now legally required to report instances of child abuse or neglect that they become aware of. The bill also updates other definitions related to child abuse and neglect within the statute.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 20, 2025 Signed May 2, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill → Passed Legislature · 2 edits

MINOR

The document has been updated from a draft bill text to the official certification of passage by the Washington State Legislature. The changes include the addition of enrollment details, vote counts, and signatures confirming the bill was approved by both the Senate and the House in the 2025 Regular Session.

ENFORCEMENT

Added official certification text confirming the bill passed the Senate (28 Yeas, 20 Nays) and the House (64 Yeas, 31 Nays) on specific dates in 2025.

TECHNICAL

Inserted title and header information identifying the document as 'CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT' for the 69th Legislature.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 28, 2025 · House Apr 11, 2025

How they voted

30–20

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 51

Feb 28, 2025

D Democratic31

29 Yea 2 Nay

93% Yea

R Republican20

1 Yea 18 Nay 1

90% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 2, 2025

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Apr 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Apr 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Apr 11, 2025

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (66-31-3)

house

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

ELHS - Majority; do pass.

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 28, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (30-20-1)

senate

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

HS - Majority; do pass.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

1 primary · 5 co-sponsors