This bill creates new law by adding two new sections that direct the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) to conduct a performance audit of auditing, accountability, and risk management practices across Washington state agencies and report findings and recommendations to the legislature by September 1, 2027. The review may examine existing internal controls and oversight processes, a sample of state programs that oversee and administer grants, loans, and contracts, the roles of the state auditor, agency internal auditors, and the Office of Financial Management in preventing fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, gaps or inefficiencies, comparisons to other states, and options for enhancing statewide accountability presented in clear, actionable language. The act is described as relating to fraud prevention, creates new sections (identified as Sec. 1 and Sec. 2), and includes an expiration: Section 2 expires October 1, 2027. No penalties or new crimes are created; this is a procedural audit and reporting requirement rather than a substantive change to criminal or civil penalties. Important missing details in the provided text include where the new sections will be codified in the Revised Code of Washington, any funding or staffing provisions for JLARC to perform the audit, the criteria for selecting the sample of state programs to be reviewed, whether Section 1 expires, and any enforcement or follow-up requirements for implementing JLARC’s recommendations. The bill was read for the first time on February 4, 2026 and is identified as Substitute Senate Bill 6215 (S-4634.1) from the 69th Legislature, 2026 Regular Session.

If enacted, this bill requires the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) to carry out a focused performance audit of auditing, accountability, and risk management practices across state agencies and to deliver findings and clear recommendations to the Legislature by September 1, 2027. In practice JLARC will need to devote staff time and get cooperation from state agencies, internal auditors, the State Auditor, and the Office of Financial Management to examine internal controls, grant/loan/contract oversight, gaps or inefficiencies, and how Washington compares with other states; the work is scheduled as a time-limited effort because one section of the act expires October 1, 2027. State agencies, their internal audit units, OFM, and the State Auditor are most affected: they will face increased scrutiny, requests for records and explanations, and the prospect of recommended changes in oversight or controls that could alter future responsibilities or resource needs. The bill does not provide funding, staff detail, sample selection criteria, a statutory placement, or any enforcement mechanism, so it is unclear how JLARC will be resourced, which specific programs will be reviewed, and whether or how its recommendations will be implemented.