The 2024 session of the Washington State Legislature came to a close Thursday. This year’s “short” session lasted only 60 days, which kept child and family welfare advocates hopping as they worked to convince lawmakers to pass legislation in the best interests of kids and pass by bills with the potential to harm them.
At the March 7 session end, the following bills were approved by the legislature, which means they were passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. After being signed by the heads of those houses, they head to Gov. Jay Inslee for the final signature making them law or a veto. Inslee, a Democrat, is expected to approve all of the bills listed here:
Education
Several bills aimed at improving educational outcomes and access to education were introduced in 2024. Three that stand out: a bill addressing the state’s youth opioid crisis, one providing parents fair due process when they disagree with school district decisions for their child, and another ensuring children born prematurely or with disability receive the early intervention they need to first years of life.
Placing Narcan in all schools
With the approval of SB 5804, lawmakers agreed that the opioid-antidote Narcan (naloxone) should be kept in all Washington schools. Currently, the life-saving opioid reversal medication is only available in high schools in districts with 2,000 or more students. The bill would ensure the medication is kept on-site at all K-12 public schools, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools. It also requires all districts to adopt an opioid-related overdose policy by September 1, 2024.
Improving due process hearing in Special Education
What happens when a parent takes issue with a decision that a public school or district has made about their child’s eligibility or plan for Special Education services? It’s called a due process hearing, and currently, the burden of proof falls on parents to convince a judge they are right. SB 5883, which was unanimously approved by the House and Senate, would move the burden of proof to schools, making it easier for parents to be heard, especially low-income or BIPOC parents.
Dual language programs in all schools
If Inslee signs it into law, HB 1228 would sustain and expand dual language programs and tribal education in Washington public schools by creating permanent funding for such programs (about $40,000 in program start-up grants funds per school). The goal? To ensure dual language and tribal education programs are available to every Washington school district by 2040.
Early support for infants and toddlers
But well before kids are old enough to enter public school, many need extra support to reach their full potential. When you have a child with a disability or one born prematurely, having access to services that help advance body and brain development is crucial not only to a child’s health, welfare, and future success but to the state as well. HB 1916, approved by the full legislature this year, would ensure that babies born early or with a disability receive the services they need from birth to age 2 via the Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) program. Such early intervention services save the state millions down the road by preventing, in many cases, the need for Special Education services.
Gun violence prevention
Last year, Seattle’s Child readers told us that preventing gun violence was one of their primary concerns when it comes to needed legislation. During the 2024 session, four pieces of gun violence prevention legislation won approval by both houses. If Inslee signs them, Washington law would:
- Ban open-carry firearms from public locations frequented by children and crowds, including zoos, aquariums, public buildings, parks, and other locations.
- Require the reporting of a lost or stolen gun within 24 hours. Anyone who does not report a loss or theft would face a civil charge and a fine.
- Clearly define what it means to “destroy” a gun after is it relinquished. Why? To stop firearms parts from being recycled into other firearms.
- Create a “code of conduct” for licensed firearms dealers that includes new requirements in record keeping, background checks for employees, business site security, and storage of inventory, plus a requirement of $1 million in liability insurance.
Child marriage
It doesn’t impact many kids, but it does make a statement about the importance of legal adult consent to marriage. HB 1455 bans child marriage in Washington and was unanimously passed by the House and Senate. If Inslee signs it into law, it would take Washington off the short list of states with no minimum age requirement for marriage. The bill places the minimum age for marriage at 18, with no exceptions. Currently, exceptions make it possible for kids of any age to be married in the state with parent and/or judge approval. Between 2000 and 2021, more than 5,000 children in Washington were legally married.
How much time does the governor have to sign bills into law?
The House speaker and Senate president must sign a bill approved by the legislature before the bill is sent to the Governor’s office. Gov. Inslee then has between five and 20 days to sign into law or veto them.
The governor must act on bills delivered to him more than five days before the end of a legislative session within five days of receiving them. Inslee has 20 days to act on any bills delivered to his desk less than five days before the legislative session closes.
To find out when action will be taken on a bill approved by the legislature, go to the governor’s webpage.
