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Bill

HB 1660

Reporting information related to racial disproportionality in child welfare.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Beth Doglio and 7 co-sponsors

Requires Washington child welfare agencies to publicly report data on racial disparities in investigations, removals, and case outcomes to increase transparency and identify systemic inequities.

Referred to Rules 2 Review.
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Bill Summary · HB 1660

Legislative bill overview

HB 1660 requires Washington state child welfare agencies to collect, analyze, and publicly report data on racial disproportionality in the child welfare system, including disparities in investigations, removals, and case outcomes. The bill aims to create transparency and accountability mechanisms for identifying where racial inequities exist within the foster care and child protective services system.

Why is this important

Child welfare data consistently shows that Black, Indigenous, and Latino children are overrepresented in the foster care system relative to their population. Public reporting requirements can expose systemic disparities, inform policy decisions, and create pressure for evidence-based reforms. This addresses a long-standing concern that lack of transparency obscures whether disparities result from policy, practice, or bias.

Potential points of contention

  • Data privacy concerns: Collecting detailed demographic data on individual cases raises questions about protecting children's and families' privacy, particularly for vulnerable populations already under state scrutiny
  • Implementation costs and timelines: Establishing new reporting infrastructure and data systems requires resources; agencies may argue compliance is burdensome or that data quality will suffer
  • Interpreting disparities: The bill doesn't mandate specific remedies—critics may argue reporting alone without actionable solutions doesn't address root causes, while others may worry recommendations could constrain local agency discretion

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

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