H-0519.1
HOUSE BILL 1853
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Abbarno, Street, Klicker, Stearns, Ramel, Wylie, Stuebe, Mena, Doglio, Schmidt, Nance, Scott, Hill, and Timmons
Read first time 02/05/25. Referred to Committee on Education.
AN ACT Relating to implementing recommendations of the recreation and conservation office's physical activities task force report by designating school district recreational properties as green community schoolyards and developing a model shared-use agreement to increase the use of existing playgrounds and playfields; amending RCW 28A.525.162 ; adding a new section to chapter 28A.620 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature acknowledges that in 2021, the legislature established the physical activities task force within the recreation and conservation office. The task force produced recommendations to improve youth health through increased outdoor recreation and physical activities. One of the primary recommendations of the task report was to improve school, youth, and community use of school properties by designating them as community hubs and increasing their use through shared-use agreements.
The legislature finds that access to green spaces has dramatic positive consequences for children and communities, including improvements in academic achievement, increased social connections, more opportunities for physical activity, and better overall health. The legislature also finds that: Public health research shows that the average school-age child spends less than 10 minutes in unstructured play outside each day; statewide only 25 percent of children get the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity; and physical inactivity is even more prevalent for girls, youth of color, youth from low-income families, youth with disabilities, and those who have immigrated to the United States.