Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington SB5500: Child care reimburse. rates
Status: Passed one chamber, March 12, 2026
Modernizing reimbursement rates for the working connections child care program.
What the bill says
An act Relating to defining the cost of quality child care for the biennial survey; and amending RCW 43.216.829.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT Relating to defining the cost of quality child care for the biennial survey; and amending RCW 43.216.829. Sec. 1. RCW 43.216.829 and 2025 c 412 s 14 are each amended to read as follows: (1) By June 1st of every even-numbered year, the department shall publish a current cost of quality child care study, a cost of quality child care study as defined by the early educator design team, and a market rate ((study))survey and submit the ((study))information to the relevant committees of the legislature in compliance with RCW 43.01.036. (2) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (a) "Cost of quality child care study as defined by the early educator design team" means using a cost estimation model, developed in consultation with and recommended by the early educator design team to the department, that includes, at a minimum, fixed costs on the following (ii) Benefits, including paid leave, retirement contributions by employers, and expenses related to offering discretionary benefits to staff, such as health and life insurance; (iii) Family engagement activities, staff, or both; (iv) Planning release time; (v) Costs for educational materials and curriculum; and (vi) Professional development supports; and (b) "Current cost of quality child care study" means using a cost estimation model that includes, at a minimum, current costs on the …
Sponsors
- Emily Alvarado (D, 34) · primary sponsor
- Wilson, Claire (D, 30)
- Yasmin Trudeau (D)
- Javier Valdez (D)
- Lisa Wellman (D)
- Liz Lovelett (D)
- Noel Frame (D)
- Jesse Salomon (D)
- Jessica Bateman (D)
- Robert Hasegawa (D)
- Deborah Krishnadasan (D)
- T'wina Nobles (D)
Latest actions
- : By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.
- : Referred to Rules 2 Review.
- : Minority; do not pass.
- : APP - Majority; do pass.
- : Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.
- : Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 4:00 PM.
- : First reading, referred to Appropriations.
- : Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 0.
- : Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
- : Floor amendment
Votes
- House Committee on Appropriations: Do pass (February 27, 2026): 18 yea, 12 nay, passed
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (January 28, 2026): 30 yea, 19 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5500 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass (February 12, 2025): 6 yea, 3 nay, passed
Subjects: CHILD CARE
Common questions
- What is SB5500?
- SB5500 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Child care reimburse. rates.
- What does SB5500 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to defining the cost of quality child care for the biennial survey; and amending RCW 43.216.829.
- What is the status of SB5500?
- Passed one chamber as of March 12, 2026. Latest action: By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading. (March 12, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB5500?
- Emily Alvarado (D, 34), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB5500?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5500&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.