WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION SSB 5169

SB 5169: Testimony of children

Concerning testimony of children.

Summary

  • Raises to 16 years the age limit for a child whose hearsay statement may be admissible if the statement describes an act or attempted act of sexual contact with the child or an act of physical abuse of the child.
  • Expands the circumstances under which a child's hearsay statement may be admissible to include cases where the child is under the age of 16 and the statement describes a violent offense or an attempted violent offense.
  • Expands the circumstances when a child may be allowed to provide testimony via closed-circuit television to include cases when the child's testimony describes attempted violations of the offenses specified in the statute.

From the Substitute House Bill Report (SSB 5169), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · passed Senate, stalled in House
  1. IntroducedJan 13, 2025
  2. Out of committeeFeb 3, 2025
  3. Passed SenateMar 11, 2025
  4. Passed Housestopped here
  5. Governor
  6. Law
Prime sponsor
T'wina Nobles (D-28)
Introduced
January 13, 2025 in the Senate
Last action
March 12, 2026
Versions
SB 5169, SSB 5169

AN ACT Relating to testimony of children;

Sponsors

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

3 co-sponsors (3 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Manka Dhingra D-45Yasmin Trudeau D-27Claire Wilson D-30

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed March 11, 2025
Version voted on: SSB 5169
49 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat30000
Republican19000
How each member voted

Yea (49)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · Final Passage

Passed January 21, 2026
Version voted on: SSB 5169
49 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat30000
Republican19000
How each member voted

Yea (49)

Permalink to this vote

History

  1. By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading. (SSB 5169)
  2. Minority; without recommendation. (SSB 5169)
  3. CRJ - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (SSB 5169)
  4. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (SSB 5169)
  5. CRJ - Executive action taken by committee. (SSB 5169)
  6. First reading, referred to Civil Rights & Judiciary. (SSB 5169)
  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0. (SSB 5169)
  8. Placed on third reading by Rules Committee. (SSB 5169)
  9. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status. (SSB 5169)
  10. By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading. (SSB 5169)
  11. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (SSB 5169)
  12. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (SSB 5169)
  13. Minority; without recommendation. (SSB 5169)
  14. CRJ - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (SSB 5169)
  15. CRJ - Executive action taken by committee. (SSB 5169)
  16. First reading, referred to Civil Rights & Judiciary. (SSB 5169)
  17. Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0. (SSB 5169)
  18. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (SSB 5169)
  19. 1st substitute bill substituted. (SSB 5169)
  20. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  21. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (SSB 5169)
  22. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  23. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (SSB 5169)
  24. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  25. LAW - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SSB 5169)
  26. LAW - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  27. First reading, referred to Law & Justice.
  28. Prefiled for introduction.

SB 5169 in other sessions

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

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