SB 5488 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Strengthening the financial stability of persons in the care of the department of children, youth, and families.

SB 5488 protects youth in state care from having their personal benefits (like Social Security) used to pay for their care. Starting January 1, 2026, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) cannot apply benefits to reimburse care costs for youth aged 14-17, and starting 2028 for all other youth in care (under 14 or over 17). The bill requires DCYF to screen youth for Social Security benefits, apply for them on their behalf, and manage approved funds in special accounts (like ABLE accounts) to avoid affecting eligibility. DCYF must also provide financial literacy training to youth aged 14+ who may receive benefits and transition account management to them or their parents when they leave care.

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 · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill → Substitute Bill · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand the timeline for prohibiting the use of public benefits to reimburse care costs and to add specific age restrictions to the new requirements. Originally, the ban on using benefits for reimbursement applied to all children starting in 2026. The substitute bill delays the ban for children under 14 and over 17 until 2028, contingent on funding, while maintaining the 2026 start date for ages 14 through 17. Additionally, the amendment clarifies that personal needs funds cannot be used to offset public assistance amounts, ensuring the money is strictly for the child's personal well-being.

Scope change

The scope of the reimbursement ban was narrowed for younger and older youth, delaying the requirement until 2028 for those under 14 or over 17, whereas the original bill applied the ban to all ages starting in 2026.

TIMELINE

The effective date for the ban on using public benefits to reimburse care costs was changed from January 1, 2026, for all ages to January 1, 2026, for ages 14-17, and January 1, 2028, for ages under 14 or over 17.

ELIGIBILITY

The requirement to stop using public benefits as reimbursement for care costs now explicitly applies only to youth aged 14 through 17 in 2026, and to all other ages in 2028.

FISCAL

The 2028 implementation of the reimbursement ban for younger and older youth is now explicitly subject to available appropriations.

REQUIREMENT

The amendment to RCW 74.13.060 clarifies that funds held for a child's personal needs cannot be used to pay back public assistance already received, ensuring the money is not double-counted against the child's benefits.

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 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

WM - Majority; do pass 1st substitute bill proposed by Human Services.

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to Ways & Means.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Committee

And refer to Ways & Means.

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 · 7 co-sponsors