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SB 5446

Establishing the Washington state commission on boys and men.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by John Lovick and 5 co-sponsors

Creates a new Washington State Commission on Boys and Men to study, advocate for, and coordinate policy and programs benefiting boys and men across state agencies.

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
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Bill Summary · SB 5446

Summary: Senate Bill 5446 — Establishing the Washington State Commission on Boys and Men

Status: First reading, referred to State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections. Introduced January 23, 2025.

Overview

SB 5446 would create the Washington State Commission on Boys and Men, located in the Governor’s Office. The commission focuses on six key areas to advance the well-being of boys and men: mental and physical health; education and skills; means of livelihood, careers, and financial well-being; fatherhood, family, and relationships; preventing the preschool-to-prison pipeline; and the experiences of boys and men in other court systems. The executive director would oversee staff and administration, and the governor would set the director’s salary.

Purpose and Focus Areas

  • Monitor and advocate for state legislation that benefits boys and men.
  • Assess and collaborate with state agencies on programs and policies affecting boys and men.
  • Coordinate with and leverage partnerships across other commissions and the governor’s office to address mutual concerns.
  • Serve as a liaison between public and private sectors to improve well-being.
  • Maintain a list of eligible nominees for commission membership and nominate individuals with relevant expertise.

Governance, Composition, and Terms

  • The Commission would comprise 11 nonlegislative voting members.
    • Appointments: two members each by the Speaker of the House, House Republican Leader, Senate President, and Senate Republican Leader; three by the Governor with Senate advice and consent.
    • Appointing authorities must consider nominees from the executive director and ensure focus-area knowledge.
    • Emphasis on diverse perspectives, including ethnicity, geography, gender, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, and occupation.
  • Terms and seating:
    • At first meeting, voting members draw lots for term lengths: four serve 1 year, four serve 2 years, three serve 3 years; thereafter three-year terms.
    • Vacancies filled for the remainder of unexpired terms; no voting member may serve more than three years without reappointment.
  • Nonlegislative advisory members: two Senators (one from each major party) and two House members (one from each major party) serve in an advisory capacity for two-year terms; their status as advisory ends if they leave the legislature.
  • Funding and reimbursements:
    • Nonlegislative members reimbursed under RCW provisions for expenses.
    • Legislative members reimbursed under RCW provisions for expenses.
    • Quorum for operations is a simple majority.

Duties and Activities (Sec. 3)

  • Provide a legislative and policy clearinghouse related to the commission’s focus areas.
  • Identify and define specific needs of boys and men with data disaggregation to capture diverse factors.
  • Report every two years to the legislature and governor on activities and recommendations (per statutory timing).
  • Consult with state agencies on policy impacts; advise on coordinated policies and programs.
  • Gather data and provide resources/referrals; hold public hearings to solicit input; advocate for removing legal and social barriers.

Funding and Private Gifts (Sec. 4)

  • The commission may solicit and receive gifts, grants, and endowments for its work.
  • Private funds must be reported to the Office of Financial Management; they cannot substitute for the appropriated state budget and must be used for projects and programs aligned with the commission’s purpose.

Implications and Next Steps

  • Creates a new state-structured body aimed at data-driven policy and cross-agency collaboration focused on boys and men.
  • Possible budgetary implications include staffing, salaries (executive director), and operations; private fundraising is allowed but cannot replace state funding.
  • If advanced, the bill would proceed through committee hearings, potential amendments, floor votes, and, if enacted, implementation with established term schedules and reporting requirements.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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