This bill amends RCW 9A.42.100 to make it a crime to knowingly or intentionally permit a dependent child or dependent adult to be exposed to, ingest, inhale, or have contact with any controlled substance listed in Schedules I–IV under specified state RCWs or federal law. The provision includes an exception where the substance was obtained directly from, or pursuant to, a valid prescription or order of a practitioner acting in the course of professional practice. The conduct is classified as a class B felony. The terms "controlled substance," "practitioner," and "prescription" are given the same meanings as in RCW 69.50.101. The affected parties identified in the text are dependent children and dependent adults as potential victims, practitioners for the prescription exception, and persons who knowingly or intentionally permit such exposure as potential offenders. The required mental state for criminal liability is knowingly or intentionally permitting the exposure, ingestion, inhalation, or contact. The bill was read for the first time on 01/14/25. The text provided does not include definitions for "dependent child" or "dependent adult," does not state an effective date or other implementation timeline, and gives no sentencing range beyond classifying the offense as a class B felony. The reference to "federal law" is not specified further in the provided text.

If enacted, the bill would create a new criminal offense making it a class B felony for someone to knowingly or intentionally let a dependent child or dependent adult be exposed to, ingest, inhale, or come into contact with controlled substances listed in Schedules I–IV, but it would not apply when the substance was provided directly under a valid prescription or order by a practitioner acting in their professional role. That practical change means people who care for or live with dependents face a higher risk of felony prosecution for allowing exposure to many illicit or controlled drugs, while dependent children and adults are specifically named as protected victims and licensed practitioners are insulated when acting under valid prescriptions. Key implementation details are missing, so how the law would operate in practice is unclear: the bill text here does not define “dependent child” or “dependent adult,” does not give sentencing ranges beyond calling the offense a class B felony, and does not list an effective date or exactly which federal laws are meant. Those gaps will affect how widely the new offense is applied, how prosecutors charge cases, and how much additional investigation, prosecution, or defense activity (and related government or private costs) would actually follow.