SB 5911 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

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

SB 5911 helps youth aged 18-21 in Washington’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) care manage their own finances. Starting January 1, 2027, DCYF cannot use their benefits (like Social Security) to reimburse care costs. Instead, DCYF must help them apply for Social Security benefits and set up financial accounts (such as ABLE accounts) to hold their funds securely. The bill ensures these youth gain direct control over their benefits while requiring DCYF to support them in managing accounts or find suitable representatives if needed.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Dec 17, 2025 Signed Mar 18, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute Bill → Substitute Passed Legislature · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was finalized and passed by the legislature, adding a certification of enrollment and correcting the bill number. The core policy change shifts the focus from a specific age range (18-21) to a broader group defined as 'persons in extended foster care.' It also clarifies the department's legal responsibility, explicitly stating it must maintain a fiduciary duty to manage funds for these individuals, whereas the previous draft suggested no such duty existed.

Scope change

The scope of the bill expanded from applying only to youth aged 18 through 21 to applying to all 'persons in extended foster care,' which is defined as anyone aged 18 to 21 in the care of the department under chapter 13.34 RCW.

DEFINITION

Replaced the specific age range 'ages 18 through 21' with the term 'person in extended foster care' and added a new definition for this term to clarify eligibility.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new subsection explicitly stating that the department maintains a fiduciary duty to manage social security benefits for persons in foster or extended foster care, reversing the previous draft's statement that no such duty existed.

Updated the language regarding the department's obligation to assess eligibility for social security benefits to apply to all 'persons in extended foster care' rather than just those turning 18 or between 18 and 21.

Amended the rules for custodial funds to clarify that the department cannot use public assistance payments as reimbursement for care costs, with specific exceptions for protected accounts.

TECHNICAL

Added a formal 'Certificate of Enrollment' at the beginning of the document to certify that the bill has been passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 9, 2026 · House Mar 5, 2026

How they voted

51–0

Passed

Total votes 51

Mar 9, 2026

D Democratic31

31 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

20 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 18, 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, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate concurred in House amendments.

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended.

lower

Mar 5, 2026

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (94-2-4)

house

Mar 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

APP - Majority; do pass with amendment(s) by Early Learning & Human Services.

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Public hearing and executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Committee

Referred to Appropriations.

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services at 1:30 PM.

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 10:30 AM.

upper

Feb 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Committee

Referred to Ways & Means.

upper

Jan 20, 2026

Committee

And refer to Ways & Means.

upper

Jan 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Human Services at 1:30 PM.

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Human Services at 8:00 AM.

upper

1 primary · 8 co-sponsors