Senate Bill 5977, which aimed to increase transparency in cases of child near-fatalities within Washington’s child welfare system, will not advance in the House of Representatives. The bill would have required the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to release reports on child near-fatality reviews, with sensitive information redacted for privacy. These reports would be publicly available and intended to help identify systemic failures and prevent future incidents.
The issue has gained urgency as DCYF data shows a significant rise in critical incidents involving children connected to the system. Since 2021, such incidents have doubled from 28 to 57 in 2025, including 22 child deaths and 35 near-deaths. Lawmakers supporting the bill argue that these trends highlight the need for greater public accountability.
Senator Nikki Torres expressed her disappointment about the bill’s fate after it passed unanimously in the Senate. “I am deeply disappointed that Senate Bill 5977 will not advance in the House, despite passing the Senate unanimously.
“The bill received a 47–0 vote in the Senate. Republicans and Democrats agreed that when a child in Washington nearly dies while connected to our child welfare system, the public deserves transparency. There were no partisan divisions. There were no ideological fights. There was simply agreement that protecting children should come first.
“When it comes to child safety, we must be willing to set aside ideological differences and focus on doing what is best for kids. Transparency is not partisan. Accountability is not partisan. Protecting vulnerable children should not be partisan.
“I remain committed to working with colleagues in both chambers and both parties to ensure that near-fatality cases receive the same level of public scrutiny as fatality cases. Our responsibility is to the children of Washington — and that responsibility must come before anything else.”
Representative Travis Couture also commented on the situation: “This isn’t partisan. It’s about whether we’re willing to be honest when the system fails a child. Sen. Torres’ bill that passed the Senate 47–0 to increase transparency in near-fatal cases of children couldn’t even get advanced by the Democrat House majority. That’s extremely disappointing and tragic, and House Democrats need to answer for it.”
The legislative session is scheduled to end on March 12.
