WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION ESSB 5436

SB 5436: Worship/access interference

Interfering with access to a place of religious worship.

Summary

  • Creates a new offense of intentionally preventing or substantially hindering ingress to or egress from a place of worship or intentionally disrupting the normal functioning of religious services.
  • Provides civil remedies for persons aggrieved by the prohibited actions.

From the Engrossed Substitute House Bill Report (ESSB 5436), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · passed Senate, stalled in House
  1. IntroducedJan 22, 2025
  2. Out of committeeFeb 14, 2025
  3. Passed SenateMar 3, 2025
  4. Passed Housestopped here
  5. Governor
  6. Law
Prime sponsor
Jesse Salomon (D-32)
Introduced
January 22, 2025 in the Senate
Last action
March 12, 2026
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
SB 5436, SSB 5436, ESSB 5436

AN ACT Relating to interfering with access to a place of religious worship;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Jesse Salomon (D-32)

10 co-sponsors (8 Democrats, 2 Republicans)

Javier Valdez D-46Lisa Wellman D-41John Braun R-20Mike Chapman D-24Adrian Cortes D-18Manka Dhingra D-45Bob Hasegawa D-11Tina Orwall D-33Rebecca Saldaña D-37Mark Schoesler R-9

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed March 3, 2025
Version voted on: ESSB 5436
49 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat30000
Republican19000
How each member voted

Yea (49)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed January 21, 2026
Version voted on: ESSB 5436
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. (ESSB 5436)
  2. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (ESSB 5436)
  3. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (ESSB 5436)
  4. Minority; do not pass. (ESSB 5436)
  5. CS - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (ESSB 5436)
  6. CS - Executive action taken by committee. (ESSB 5436)
  7. First reading, referred to Community Safety. (ESSB 5436)
  8. Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0. (ESSB 5436)
  9. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5436)
  10. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (ESSB 5436)
  11. Returned to second reading for amendment. (ESSB 5436)
  12. Rules suspended. (ESSB 5436)
  13. Placed on third reading by Rules Committee. (ESSB 5436)
  14. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status. (ESSB 5436)
  15. By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading. (ESSB 5436)
  16. First reading, referred to Community Safety. (ESSB 5436)
  17. Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0. (ESSB 5436)
  18. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5436)
  19. 1st substitute bill substituted. (ESSB 5436)
  20. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  21. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (ESSB 5436)
  22. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  23. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (ESSB 5436)
  24. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  25. LAW - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (ESSB 5436)
  26. LAW - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  27. First reading, referred to Law & Justice.

SB 5436 in other sessions

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

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