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SB6023 • 2026

Children/imminent risk

Protecting children from imminent risk of harm.

Children
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Senator Christian, Senator J. Wilson
Last action
2026-01-12
Official status
S Human Services
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Children/imminent risk

Children/imminent risk

What This Bill Does

  • Children/imminent risk

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-12 Senate

    First reading, referred to Human Services.

Official Summary Text

Children/imminent risk

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
AN ACT Relating to protecting children from imminent risk of 1
harm; and amending RCW 26.44.050. 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
Sec. 1. RCW 26.44.050 and 2024 c 328 s 105 are each amended to 4
read as follows: 5
(1) Except as provided in RCW 26.44.030(12), upon the receipt of 6
a report alleging that abuse or neglect has occurred, the law 7
enforcement agency or the department must investigate and provide the 8
protective services section with a report in accordance with chapter 9
74.13 RCW, and where necessary to refer such report to the court.10
(2)(a) A law enforcement officer may take, or cause to be taken, 11
a child into custody without a court order if there is probable cause 12
to believe that taking the child into custody is necessary to prevent 13
imminent physical harm to the child due to child abuse or neglect, 14
including that which results from sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, 15
a high-potency synthetic opioid, or a pattern of severe neglect, and 16
the child would be seriously injured or could not be taken into 17
custody if it were necessary to first obtain a court order pursuant 18
to RCW 13.34.050. The law enforcement agency or the department 19
investigating such a report is hereby authorized to photograph such a 20
S-3686.1
SENATE BILL 6023
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Christian and J. Wilson
Prefiled 01/07/26. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Human Services.
p. 1 SB 6023
child for the purpose of providing documentary evidence of the 1
physical condition of the child. 2
(b) Law enforcement shall immediately take a child into custody 3
when it receives a report from the department pursuant to subsection 4
(3) of this section.5
(3) The department shall immediately notify law enforcement when 6
there is probable cause to believe that taking the child into custody 7
is necessary to prevent imminent physical harm to the child due to 8
child abuse or neglect, including that which results from sexual 9
abuse, sexual exploitation, a high-potency synthetic opioid, or a 10
pattern of severe neglect, and the child would be seriously injured 11
or could not be taken into custody if it were necessary to first 12
obtain a court order pursuant to RCW 13.34.050. Evidence of imminent 13
physical harm includes the department's belief that a child's home is 14
unsafe to enter.15
--- END ---
p. 2 SB 6023