Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington HB2219: Child care providers
Status: Signed into law, March 17, 2026
Enhancing the operational efficiency of child care providers.
What the bill says
An act Relating to enhancing the operational efficiency of child care providers; amending RCW 43.216.255; and adding a new section to chapter 43.216 RCW.
From the enrolled text:
AN ACT Relating to enhancing the operational efficiency of child care providers; amending RCW 43.216.255; and adding a new section to chapter 43.216 RCW. Sec. 1. RCW 43.216.255 and 2021 c 304 s 10 are each amended to read as follows: (1) No later than November 1, 2016, the department shall implement a single set of licensing standards for child care and the early childhood education and assistance program. The department shall produce the single set of licensing standards within the department's available appropriations. The new licensing standards (b) Rely on the standards established in the early achievers program to address quality issues in participating early childhood programs; (c) Take into account the separate needs of family care providers, outdoor nature-based child care providers, and child care centers; and (d) Promote the continued safety of child care settings, and expressly require that the premises of all licensed settings are absent of high-potency synthetic opioids, drug manufacturing equipment, and drug paraphernalia. (2) In establishing the maximum group sizes and staff-to-child ratios for child care centers, the licensing standards established and implemented by the department must allow for the following periods of mixed-ratio time in which children of different age groups may be combined, provided the staff-to-child ratio and group size designated for the youngest child in the mixed group are and …
Sponsors
- Lillian Ortiz-Self (D) · primary sponsor
- Julio Cortes (D)
- Tarra Simmons (D)
- Liz Berry (D)
- Carolyn Eslick (R)
- Sharon Santos (D)
- Janice Zahn (D)
- Greg Nance (D)
- Lisa Callan (D)
- Shelley Kloba (D)
- Monica Stonier (D)
- Roger Goodman (D)
Latest actions
- : Effective date 6/11/2026.
- : Chapter 82, 2026 Laws.
- : Governor signed.
- : Delivered to Governor.
- : President signed.
- : Speaker signed.
- : Passed final passage; yeas, 67; nays, 28; absent, 0; excused, 3.
- : House concurred in Senate amendments.
- : Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.
- : Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
Votes
- Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (March 9, 2026): 67 yea, 28 nay, passed
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (March 3, 2026): 49 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education: Do pass as amended (February 25, 2026): 7 yea, 0 nay, passed
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (February 16, 2026): 95 yea, 1 nay, passed
- House Committee on Early Learning & Human Services: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass (January 23, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: CHILD CARE
Common questions
- What is HB2219?
- HB2219 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Child care providers.
- What does HB2219 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to enhancing the operational efficiency of child care providers; amending RCW 43.216.255; and adding a new section to chapter 43.216 RCW.
- What is the status of HB2219?
- Signed into law as of March 17, 2026. Latest action: Effective date 6/11/2026. (March 17, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB2219?
- Lillian Ortiz-Self (D), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB2219?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2219&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.