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Washington Bill: HB 1634

Providing school districts and public schools with assistance to coordinate comprehensive behavioral health supports for students.

Topics

Children's Health & School Nutrition

Bill Information

MAHA Not Approved

Summary

This bill establishes a comprehensive framework to support behavioral health services in Washington state's public schools by expanding the role of regional school safety centers. The bill requires these centers to create a statewide network that provides extensive assistance to school districts, including developing and implementing plans for recognizing and responding to student emotional and behavioral distress, providing suicide prevention training, facilitating partnerships with behavioral health care providers, and building school capacity to identify and support students needing mental health services. A key new provision is the creation of a technical assistance and training network comprised of statewide and regional partners with expertise in behavioral health, which will offer direct support to school districts through activities like conducting needs assessments, providing professional development, helping design evidence-based behavioral health programs, creating resource materials, developing policies, facilitating community partnerships, and offering ongoing consultation.

Introduced

02/19/2026

In Committee

02/25/2026

Passed

02/17/2026

Sponsors

My-Linh Thai

My-Linh Thai

Democratic Representative (WA)

360-786-7926my-linh.thai@leg.wa.gov
Carolyn Eslick

Carolyn Eslick

Republican Representative (WA)

360-786-7816carolyn.eslick@leg.wa.gov
Julia Reed

Julia Reed

Democratic Representative (WA)

360-786-7814julia.reed@leg.wa.gov

Cortes

Cosponsor

Activity

01/28/2025

First reading, referred to Education.

02/10/2025

Public hearing in the House Committee on Education at 1:30 PM.

02/17/2025

Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Education at 1:30 PM.

02/20/2025

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Education at 8:00 AM.

02/20/2025

ED - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

02/20/2025

Minority; do not pass.

02/20/2025

Minority; without recommendation.

02/21/2025

Referred to Appropriations.

01/12/2026

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

01/12/2026

Committee relieved of further consideration.

01/12/2026

Referred to Education.

01/13/2026

Public hearing in the House Committee on Education at 4:00 PM.

01/22/2026

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Education at 8:00 AM.

01/22/2026

ED - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

01/22/2026

Minority; do not pass.

01/22/2026

Minority; without recommendation.

01/26/2026

Referred to Appropriations.

02/06/2026

Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.

02/09/2026

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.

02/09/2026

APP - Majority; 3rd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

02/09/2026

Minority; do not pass.

02/09/2026

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

02/14/2026

Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

02/17/2026

3rd substitute bill substituted (APP 26).

02/17/2026

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

02/17/2026

Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

02/17/2026

Third reading, passed; yeas, 95; nays, 2; absent, 0; excused, 1.

02/19/2026

First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education.

02/24/2026

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 8:00 AM.

02/25/2026

Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 10:30 AM (Subject to change).

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