WA People
BILL · 2023–24 SESSION · LATEST VERSION ESSB 5257

SB 5257: Elementary school recess

Ensuring elementary school students receive sufficient daily recess.

Summary

  • Requires public schools to provide daily recess for all elementary students with a minimum of 30 minutes within the school day unless the school day is shorter than the regular school day as established by the school calendar.
  • Directs the Washington State School Directors' Association to review and update a model policy and procedure with certain elements regarding recess.
  • Requires school districts to adopt or amend if necessary policies and procedures that, at a minimum, incorporate all the elements in the model by the beginning of the 2024-25 school year.

From the Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill Report (ESSB 5257), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 272, Laws of 2023
  1. IntroducedJan 11, 2023
  2. Out of committeeFeb 2, 2023
  3. Passed SenateFeb 20, 2023
  4. Passed HouseMar 20, 2023
  5. GovernorMay 4, 2023
  6. LawMay 4, 2023
Prime sponsor
T'wina Nobles (D-28)
Introduced
January 11, 2023 in the Senate
Last action
May 4, 2023
Session law
Chapter 272, Laws of 2023
Companion bill
HB 1504
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
SB 5257, ESSB 5257

AN ACT Relating to ensuring elementary school students receive sufficient daily recess for mental and physical health;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: T'wina Nobles (D-28)

14 co-sponsors (13 Democrats, 1 Republican)

Claire Wilson D-30Andy Billig D-3Annette Cleveland D-49Perry Dozier R-16Noel Frame D-36Bob Hasegawa D-11Senator D-22Marko Liias D-21Liz Lovelett D-40John Lovick D-44Joe Nguyen D-34Rebecca Saldaña D-37Javier Valdez D-46Lisa Wellman D-41

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed February 20, 2023
Version voted on: ESSB 5257
28 Yea 21 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat28100
Republican02000
How each member voted
Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed March 20, 2023
Version voted on: ESSB 5257
81 Yea 15 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat57001
Republican241501
How each member voted

Yea (81)

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed April 14, 2023
Version voted on: ESSB 5257
27 Yea 18 Nay 0 Absent 4 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat26102
Republican11702
How each member voted

Excused (4)

Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 7/23/2023. (ESSB 5257)
  2. Chapter 272, 2023 Laws. (ESSB 5257)
  3. Governor signed. (ESSB 5257)
  4. Speaker signed. (ESSB 5257)
  5. Delivered to Governor. (ESSB 5257)
  6. President signed. (ESSB 5257)
  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 27; nays, 18; absent, 0; excused, 4. (ESSB 5257)
  8. Senate concurred in House amendments. (ESSB 5257)
  9. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5257)
  10. Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments. (ESSB 5257)
  11. Third reading, passed; yeas, 81; nays, 15; absent, 0; excused, 2. (ESSB 5257)
  12. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (ESSB 5257)
  13. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (ESSB 5257)
  14. ED - Executive action taken by committee. (ESSB 5257)
  15. Minority; without recommendation. (ESSB 5257)
  16. Minority; do not pass. (ESSB 5257)
  17. ED - Majority; do pass with amendment(s) by Education. (ESSB 5257)
  18. First reading, referred to Education. (ESSB 5257)
  19. Third reading, passed; yeas, 28; nays, 21; absent, 0; excused, 0. (ESSB 5257)
  20. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5257)
  21. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (ESSB 5257)
  22. 1st substitute bill substituted. (ESSB 5257)
  23. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  24. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (ESSB 5257)
  25. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  26. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (ESSB 5257)
  27. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  28. EDU - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (ESSB 5257)
  29. Minority; do not pass. (ESSB 5257)
  30. Minority; without recommendation. (ESSB 5257)
  31. Minority; without recommendation.
  32. Minority; do not pass.
  33. EDU - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  34. First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education.

SB 5257 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

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