Washington's Last Chance to Protect Children: Clergy Reporting Bill Heads to Final House Vote

SB 5375 must pass the House by April 2^nd to end clergy exemption, states the Clergy Accountability Coalition, and hold religious institutions accountable for reporting child abuse

OLYMPIA, Wash., March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a decisive move last week, Senate Bill 5375 passed the Washington House Early Learning & Human Services Committee with an 8-3 vote, advancing the bill toward its final showdown in the Washington House of Representatives. The bill would require all members of the clergy to report to law enforcement or the Dept. of Children, Youth and Families when they have reasonable cause to believe that a child has suffered abuse or neglect - no matter how the information is learned. State law already requires all responsible adults who live or work with children to report. SB5375 must now receive a full vote in the Washington House of Representatives by April 2nd in order to proceed to the governor's desk to be signed into law. 

This marks the final stretch in a 20-year fight to close Washington's glaring, long-standing loophole, which allows clergy to withhold knowledge of child abuse from authorities preventing them from investigating to ensure a child's safety and well-being. Washington is one of only five states that still gives religious institutions special protection from mandatory reporting laws.

The bill has gained bipartisan support and is backed by survivors, legal experts, child welfare organizations, and religious leaders who agree: clergy should be held to the same standard as teachers, doctors, social workers and parents when it comes to reporting child abuse.

Advocates are issuing an urgent statewide call to action, imploring Washington residents to:

call the 1-800-562-6000 Legislative Hotline OR

email their House Representatives (https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/5375) now

and demand a YES vote on SB 5375—without amendment.

"In the Senate, lawmakers received well over 100 emails in support of SB 5375," said Sharon Huling, spokesperson for the Clergy Accountability Coalition. "Public pressure will decide the fate of this bill. Every email matters. Every vote matters. Our children matter! Washingtonians must make it clear: failure to pass this bill is unacceptable."

The Clergy Accountability Coalition is a diverse group of organizations and hundreds of individuals who have joined together to support this important legislation. Supporters include Father James Connell, Rabbi James Morel, and Pastor Juli Prentice.

Organizations that Support SB5375 Catholic Accountability Project, WA Assoc. of Sheriff & Police Chiefs, Crisis Connections, Children's Advocacy Centers of WA, Heal Our Church, The League of Women Voters of WA, Tulalip Tribes of WA, WA Coalition of Rabbis, KC Sexual Assault Resource Center, Freedom From Religion Foundation, Ending Clergy Abuse, The Atlantic Street Center, Assoc. of Secular Officials, SNAP (Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests), Kids Hope of WA and the WA State Association for Justice.  

To learn more visit: www.catholicaccountabilityproject.org.

For information contact:

Sharon Huling 
[email protected]                                               

Mitch Melin
[email protected] 

SOURCE Clergy Accountability Coalition