The introduction of Senate Bill 5926 in Washington State has sparked a contentious discussion regarding the balance between the safety of child care providers and the public's right to scrutinize the use of taxpayer funds. On December 22, Democratic state Sen. Lisa Wellman sponsored the bill, which proposes to broaden exemptions under Washington’s Public Records Act to include a majority of licensed or certified child care providers.
Currently, the confidentiality safeguards largely apply to family home providers due to their operations within private residences. SB 5926 seeks to extend these protections to encompass providers across various settings, effectively concealing personal information such as names, addresses, phone numbers, and other identifying details.
Supporters of the legislation argue that these measures are critical for defending child care workers from intimidation, doxxing, and other safety concerns. However, critics counter that the bill could obstruct independent verification of daycare operations. According to The Post Millennial, journalists and watchdogs frequently rely on licensing and ownership records, as well as address data, to confirm the active and compliant status of taxpayer-funded child care programs.
The bill emerges amidst numerous investigations into child care subsidy programs nationwide. High-profile reports from Minnesota have brought national attention to these issues, particularly following allegations that a Somali-run daycare received $1.9 million in public funds without having any children enrolled. Similar concerns have been raised in Washington state.
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown has voiced his concerns to The Seattle Times, noting complaints about invasive online investigations into local childcare centers. His office is working in conjunction with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to address both fraud allegations and harassment reports.
Instances of discrepancies between state records and actual operations have added to the growing concerns. For example, a daycare allegedly received over $210,000 in 2025 alone and was found to have multiple safety violations. Investigative journalist Carleen Johnson's efforts to probe subsidized daycare homes in Federal Way were met with threats of police action, underscoring the difficulties faced due to inconsistent government records.
At the federal level, Deputy Health and Human Services Secretary Jim O’Neill has imposed a freeze on certain daycare payments in Minnesota following fraud allegations. As a preventative measure, providers must now submit receipts or photographic evidence before receiving funds, as reported by KOMO News via The Daily Caller.
Jim Walsh, Chairman of the Washington Republican Party, has lauded the federal oversight, emphasizing the importance of thorough investigations before making any conclusions regarding fraud. Sen. Wellman has not issued a comment in response to the bill's criticism.
As debates intensify, SB 5926 raises essential questions about the equilibrium between ensuring the safety of child care providers and maintaining public accountability for the expenditure of taxpayer money. The bill's critics fear that concealing personal information could complicate fraud detection, while proponents defend the privacy measures as vital to safeguarding providers from harassment and threats.
