SB 5752 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Modifying child care and early childhood development programs.

Senate Bill 5752 modifies child care and early childhood development programs for families and young children in Washington State. It extends the full statewide implementation timeline for the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) from the 2026-27 school year to the 2030-31 school year. The bill also revises ECEAP eligibility criteria, removing basic food benefits as a standalone qualifier and adding eligibility for Indian children at or below 100% of the state median income. Additionally, it updates the "birth to three" ECEAP pilot project by making its funding subject to appropriation and clarifying eligibility for children under 36 months from low-income families or those receiving basic food benefits.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Feb 14, 2025 Signed May 20, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Substitute Bill → Substitute Passed Legislature · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates child care copayment schedules to lower costs for low-income families while introducing a new pilot program to test streamlined licensing for school-age care in public buildings. It also repeals previous laws that expanded eligibility for registered apprentices and child care employees, replacing them with a more complex income-based tiered system. Additionally, the effective dates for various sections of the act have been shifted to align with new implementation timelines.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from expanding eligibility for specific groups (apprentices and employees) to a broader income-based copayment structure for all households, while adding a new pilot program for school-age care.

ELIGIBILITY

Repealed previous provisions that granted expanded eligibility for registered apprentices and child care employees, removing those specific exemptions.

Updated the list of programs exempt from income eligibility requirements to reflect the repeal of the specific apprenticeship and employee sections.

FISCAL

Revised the monthly copayment schedule to reduce costs for lower-income households, introducing a new tier for incomes between 60% and 75% of the state median income.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new pilot program requiring the department to partner with a school district and park district to test reduced regulatory burdens for school-age-only child care.

TIMELINE

Adjusted effective dates for copayment changes and other sections, moving some implementation dates from 2025 to 2026.

Substitute Bill → Engrossed Substitute Bill · 10 edits · Apr 24, 2025

MAJOR

This bill significantly expands access to early childhood education by raising income eligibility thresholds and adding new categories of children who qualify for state-funded programs. It creates a new 'birth to three' program for infants and toddlers, adjusts copayment schedules for working families, and extends grace periods for households experiencing homelessness. The changes aim to ensure more children from low-income families and those with specific needs can access high-quality care and education.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of eligibility for multiple child care programs, including the early childhood education and assistance program, the birth to three program, and working connections child care. It also adds new requirements for prospective payments and cost studies.

ELIGIBILITY

Raised the income threshold for 'family with financial need' from 36% to 50% of the state median income for the early childhood education and assistance program.

Added a new 'birth to three early childhood education and assistance program' for children under 36 months old, with eligibility based on income or receipt of food assistance benefits.

Expanded eligibility for working connections child care to include children under 19 with verified special needs or under court supervision.

Removed the requirement that eligible children for the early childhood education and assistance program must have a family with financial need, replacing it with a broader income-based criterion.

Replaced the specific criterion of being a member of an assistance unit eligible for food benefits with a broader income-based criterion for the early childhood education and assistance program.

TIMELINE

Extended the phase-in timeline for full implementation of the early learning program from the 2026-27 school year to the 2030-31 school year.

Extended the homeless grace period for child care subsidies from four months to 12 months.

FISCAL

Adjusted the monthly copayment schedule for working connections child care, increasing the maximum copayment for households earning between 60% and 65% of the state median income.

REQUIREMENT

Added new requirements for child care providers to receive prospective payments when care is expected to begin and to not claim such payments if the child has not attended at least one day in the previous month.

Mandated that the department publish an annual cost of quality child care and market rate study by June 1st of every even-numbered year.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 12, 2025 · House Apr 23, 2025

How they voted

34–16

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 51

Mar 12, 2025

D Democratic31

30 Yea 1

96% Yea

R Republican20

4 Yea 16 Nay

80% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 20, 2025

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Apr 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 34; nays, 14; absent, 0; excused, 0.

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate concurred in House amendments.

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Amended

Committee amendment not adopted.

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

APP - Majority; do pass with amendment(s) but without amendment(s) by Early Learning & Human Services.

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.

lower

Apr 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM.

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Committee

Referred to Appropriations.

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

ELHS - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services at 8:30 AM.

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services at 1:30 PM.

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

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 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors