Bill > SB6212

This bill establishes a pilot program in Washington state to test the effectiveness of a universal child benefit, inspired by a federal program that significantly reduced child poverty. The program, to be administered by the department of commerce, will randomly select 1,000 families with children eligible for free or reduced-price school meals to receive $300 per month per child for 24 months, with payment options for both banked and unbanked families. A control group of up to 1,200 households will receive a smaller monthly benefit for comparison. The bill also mandates that the department collect data on participating families' financial stability and well-being, and report findings to the legislature by December 1, 2029, to inform potential statewide implementation. Importantly, the bill clarifies that cash assistance from this pilot program, or any guaranteed basic income program, will not be considered income or assets when determining eligibility for other public assistance programs, including child care subsidies, food assistance, and hospital charity care, nor will it affect child support obligations.

Labor and Employment

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6212&Year=2025&Initiative=false