WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION

SB 5979: Dependency/substance abuse

Improving state responses to dependent children and the risk of harm from high-potency synthetic opioids and caregiver substance abuse.

Summary

  • Directs the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to establish policies for the initiation of dependency proceedings.
  • Specifies that DCYF must engage with specific stakeholders to develop practice guidelines and training on the use of in-home dependencies when certain factors are present.
  • Directs DCYF to work with specific stakeholders to develop guidelines on removing children from in-home dependencies when the immediate danger to a child is not mitigated after a disposition of a dependency.

From the Senate Bill Report (SB 5979), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · stalled on the Senate floor
  1. IntroducedJan 12, 2026
  2. Out of committeeFeb 4, 2026
  3. Passed Senatestopped here
  4. Passed House
  5. Governor
  6. Law
Prime sponsor
Nikki Torres (R-15)
Introduced
January 12, 2026 in the Senate
Last action
February 26, 2026
Budget
Has a fiscal note

AN ACT Relating to improving state responses to dependent children and the risk of harm from high-potency synthetic opioids and caregiver substance abuse;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Nikki Torres (R-15)

3 co-sponsors (0 Democrats, 3 Republicans)

Perry Dozier R-16Chris Gildon R-25Jeff Wilson R-19

Votes

No recorded floor votes.

History

  1. Senate Rules "X" file.
  2. Placed on second reading consent calendar.
  3. HS - Majority; do pass.
  4. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  5. First reading, referred to Human Services.
  6. Prefiled for introduction.

SB 5979 in other sessions

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

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