WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION ESSB 5500

SB 5500: Child care rate model

Modernizing reimbursement rates for the working connections child care program. (REVISED FOR ENGROSSED: Defining the cost of quality child care for the biennial survey.)

Summary

  • Specifies that a biennial report created by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families that currently includes a market rate survey also include a current cost of quality child care study and a cost of quality child care study as defined by the early educator design team.

From the Engrossed Substitute House Bill Report (ESSB 5500), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · passed Senate, stalled in House
  1. IntroducedJan 27, 2025
  2. Out of committeeFeb 13, 2025
  3. Passed SenateJan 28, 2026
  4. Passed Housestopped here
  5. Governor
  6. Law
Prime sponsor
Emily Alvarado (D-34)
Introduced
January 27, 2025 in the Senate
Last action
March 12, 2026
Companion bill
HB 1350
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
SB 5500, SSB 5500, ESSB 5500

AN ACT Relating to defining the cost of quality child care for the biennial survey;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Emily Alvarado (D-34)

12 co-sponsors (12 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Claire Wilson D-30Yasmin Trudeau D-27Javier Valdez D-46Lisa Wellman D-41Liz Lovelett D-40Noel Frame D-36Jesse Salomon D-32Jessica Bateman D-22Bob Hasegawa D-11Deborah Krishnadasan D-26T'wina Nobles D-28Rebecca Saldaña D-37

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed January 28, 2026
Version voted on: ESSB 5500
30 Yea 19 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat30000
Republican01900
How each member voted
Permalink to this vote

History

  1. By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading. (ESSB 5500)
  2. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (ESSB 5500)
  3. APP - Executive action taken by committee. (ESSB 5500)
  4. Minority; do not pass. (ESSB 5500)
  5. APP - Majority; do pass. (ESSB 5500)
  6. First reading, referred to Appropriations. (ESSB 5500)
  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 0. (ESSB 5500)
  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5500)
  9. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (ESSB 5500)
  10. 1st substitute bill substituted. (ESSB 5500)
  11. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  12. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (ESSB 5500)
  13. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  14. Moved to Rules White Sheet. (ESSB 5500)
  15. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status. (ESSB 5500)
  16. Moved to Rules White Sheet.
  17. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
  18. Senate Rules "X" file. (ESSB 5500)
  19. Senate Rules "X" file.
  20. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (ESSB 5500)
  21. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  22. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (ESSB 5500)
  23. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  24. Minority; do not pass. (ESSB 5500)
  25. EDU - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (ESSB 5500)
  26. EDU - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  27. Minority; do not pass.
  28. First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education.

SB 5500 in other sessions

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

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