This bill amends RCW 9A.42.100 to expand the offense of endangerment with a controlled substance. Under the amendment, a person is guilty of that offense if they knowingly or intentionally permit a child or dependent adult to be exposed to, ingest, inhale, absorb, or have contact with fentanyl or other synthetic opioids (including the smoke of a substance the person knows or reasonably should know contains or is contaminated with those opioids), or with methamphetamine or listed precursors (ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or anhydrous ammonia and their salts/isomers) when those substances are being used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Medications given during health care services or pursuant to a valid prescription are explicitly excluded. The amendment makes this offense a class B felony and exempts the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families and its employees, interns, volunteers, or contractors when acting within the scope of their roles from criminal liability under this section. The bill was read for the first time on 02/13/25. The extracted text uses editing markers and does not include the pre-amendment language, statutory definitions for terms like "child" or "dependent adult," or any other sections that might be changed, so those elements are not addressed here.

If enacted, the bill makes it a class B felony for a person who knowingly or intentionally allows a child or a dependent adult to be exposed to fentanyl or synthetic opioids (including smoke that contains or is contaminated with those drugs) or to methamphetamine and certain precursor chemicals when those chemicals are being used to make methamphetamine. That creates a higher criminal risk and potential for felony prosecution and penalties for parents, caregivers, guardians, or others responsible for supervision who permit such exposures; the department of children, youth, and families and its staff, interns, volunteers, and contractors acting within their official roles are explicitly exempt, as are medications given during health care or by valid prescription. The people most affected are those who care for or supervise children and dependent adults, who face increased legal exposure, potential legal defense costs, and the possibility of felony charges if prosecutors determine exposures were knowingly or intentionally permitted. The bill text provided does not define “child” or “dependent adult” here or show any other related changes, so the precise scope and enforcement practices depend on definitions and cross-references in other statutes that were not included in the extracted facts.