Addressing restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs.



ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1795

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2026 Regular Session

By House Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Callan, Santos, Reed, Farivar, Macri, and Leavitt)

READ FIRST TIME 01/27/26.

AN ACT Relating to restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs; amending RCW 28A.600.485 and 28A.600.486 ; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The purpose of this act is to protect students from the physically harmful and emotionally traumatic practices of chemical restraint, mechanical restraint, and physical restraint that interfere with breathing or blood flow. By 2031, it is the legislature's intent to improve the safety and well-being of staff members and students in prekindergarten through 12th grade by banning isolation practices, providing technical assistance, implementing a trauma-informed professional development program on evidence-informed alternatives to restraint and isolation, and enhancing the public accountability of school districts and other providers of public educational services.

Sec. 2. RCW 28A.600.485 and 2015 c 206 s 3 are each amended to read as follows: