Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Passed Senate 1 R cosponsors

SB 5637 — Promoting student access to information about media literacy and civic education.

Last action — Senate Rules "X" file.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced February 03, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 48% · moderate confidence

  • Passed Senate

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 1 recorded vote so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

40 added · 43 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to SB 5637 adds a section on media literacy that focuses on critical engagement with online information and combating misinformation. It emphasizes the importance of understanding how various factors, like redistricting and gerrymandering, affect political participation and public policy. These changes aim to enhance civic education in schools, making sure students are better prepared to navigate the complexities of modern democracy and informed decision-making. This is important because it equips future voters with the skills necessary to engage meaningfully in political discussions and processes.

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S-1623.1 SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5637 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senator Fortunato) READ FIRST TIME 02/19/25.
S-0970.1 SENATE BILL 5637 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By Senator Fortunato AN ACT Relating to promoting student access to information about media literacy and civic education;
AN ACT Relating to promoting student access to information about media literacy and civic education;
1 SSB 5637 (e) According to a survey of young adults nationwide by the institute for citizens and scholars, 33 percent of respondents indicated no intention to participate civically in 2024;
1 SB 5637 (e) According to a survey of young adults nationwide by the institute for citizens and scholars, 33 percent of respondents indicated no intention to participate civically in 2024;
2 SSB 5637 (a) The process of voter registration;
2 SB 5637 (a) The process of voter registration;
(b) Media literacy as it relates to elections, civic engagement, and decision making, including how to engage critically with online information and combat the digital spread of misinformation;
(b) Media literacy, including how to engage critically with online information and combat the digital spread of misinformation;
(b)(i) By September 1, 2025, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, in collaboration with 501(c)(3) nonprofits engaged in media literacy education or civic education and engagement, shall identify and make available nonpartisan materials and resources for use in the content described in subsection (3) of this section, including preexisting resources from the Washington open educational resources hub.
(b)(i) By September 1, 2025, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, in collaboration with 501(c)(3) nonprofits engaged in media literacy education or civic education and engagement, shall identify and make available materials and resources for use in the content described in subsection (3) of this section, including preexisting resources from the Washington open educational resources hub.
3 SSB 5637
3 SB 5637
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Action History

  1. Senate Rules "X" file.

  2. Placed on third reading by Rules Committee.

  3. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

  4. By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.

  5. Public hearing in the House Committee on Education at 1:30 PM.

  6. First reading, referred to Education.

  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.

  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

  9. 1st substitute bill not substituted.

  10. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

  11. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

  12. Minority; without recommendation.

  13. EDU - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

  14. Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 8:00 AM.

  15. Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 8:00 AM.

  16. First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 150 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (150)

150 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 150 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

3rd Reading & Final Passage (#12)

Passed 48 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 29001
Republican 19000
Total 48001
% of votes cast 98%0%0%2%
How each member voted (49)
Member Party Vote
Adrian Cortes Democrat Yea
Annette Cleveland Democrat Yea
Bill Ramos Democrat Yea
Bob Hasegawa Democrat Yea
Claire Wilson Democrat Yea
Claudia Kauffman Democrat Yea
Deborah Krishnadasan Democrat Yea
Derek Stanford Democrat Yea
Drew Hansen Democrat Yea
Emily Alvarado Democrat Yea
Jamie Pedersen Democrat Yea
Javier Valdez Democrat Yea
Jesse Salomon Democrat Yea
Jessica Bateman Democrat Yea
John Lovick Democrat Yea
June Robinson Democrat Yea
Lisa Wellman Democrat Not Voting
Liz Lovelett Democrat Yea
Manka Dhingra Democrat Yea
Marcus Riccelli Democrat Yea
Marko Liias Democrat Yea
Mike Chapman Democrat Yea
Noel Frame Democrat Yea
Rebecca Saldaña Democrat Yea
Sharon Shewmake Democrat Yea
Steve Conway Democrat Yea
T'wina Nobles Democrat Yea
Tina Orwall Democrat Yea
Vandana Slatter Democrat Yea
Yasmin Trudeau Democrat Yea
Chris Gildon Republican Yea
Curtis King Republican Yea
Drew MacEwen Republican Yea
Jeff Holy Republican Yea
Jeff Wilson Republican Yea
Jim McCune Republican Yea
John Braun Republican Yea
Judy Warnick Republican Yea
Keith Goehner Republican Yea
Keith Wagoner Republican Yea
Leonard Christian Republican Yea
Mark Schoesler Republican Yea
Matt Boehnke Republican Yea
Nikki Torres Republican Yea
Paul Harris Republican Yea
Perry Dozier Republican Yea
Phil Fortunato Republican Yea
Ron Muzzall Republican Yea
Shelly Short Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

civil-rights education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 5637?
SB 5637 is sponsored by Phil Fortunato (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 5637?
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced February 03, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track SB 5637?
Track SB 5637 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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