S-3620.1
SENATE BILL 5979
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2026 Regular Session
By Senators Torres, Dozier, Gildon, and J. Wilson
Prefiled 01/05/26. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee on Human Services.
AN ACT Relating to improving state responses to dependent children and the risk of harm from high-potency synthetic opioids and caregiver substance abuse; amending RCW 13.34.040 ; adding a new section to chapter 13.34 RCW; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that in November 2025, the department of children, youth, and families reported there was a combined total of 45 critical incidents involving children in 2025. Additionally, 24 opioid-related critical incidents occurred, compromising 53 percent of all critical incidents. The legislature further finds that since 2020 there has been a precipitous rise in both critical incidents and critical incidents involving high-potency synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl.
The legislature further finds that also in 2025, the office of the family and children's ombuds published its annual critical incident report. In that report the ombuds observed during critical incident reviews, the department of children, youth, and families appeared to erroneously apply the same standard for seeking removal as for filing a dependency. In addition, the ombuds noted the general practice of the department was to only file dependencies when seeking removal of a child.