Addressing the rise in maltreatment-related child fatalities or near fatalities by supporting families that have received a child welfare response.

 H-2864.2

HOUSE BILL 2497

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2026 Regular Session

By Representatives Ortiz-Self, Taylor, Scott, Bergquist, Ormsby, Macri, Obras, and Reed

Read first time 01/15/26. Referred to Committee on Early Learning & Human Services.

AN ACT Relating to addressing the rise in maltreatment-related child fatalities or near fatalities by supporting families that have received a child welfare response from the department of children, youth, and families; amending RCW 2.70.020 , 13.34.065 , 13.34.110 , 74.14B.010 , and 2.30.010 ; adding a new section to chapter 43.06 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 74.13 RCW; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that critical incidents, maltreatment-related child fatalities or near fatalities involving families with an open child welfare case within one year of the incident, increased by 70 percent from 2021 to 2024. In the first quarter of 2025, there were 22 critical incidents compared to nine critical incidents in the first quarter of 2024.

(2) The legislature intends to address the concerning rise in critical incidents by: