WSR 25-21-002
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
[Filed October 1, 2025, 12:26 p.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department of social and health services (DSHS) is planning to amend the following WAC sections and other related rules as may be required: WAC 388-444-0030 Are able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD) subject to additional work requirements and time limits to be eligible for basic food?, and 388-444-0035 Who is exempt from ABAWD time limits and minimum work requirements?
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Planned amendments are necessary to implement changes in exceptions to ABAWD time limits as passed in H.R. 1 (P.L. 119-21), effective July 4, 2025. If applicable, these amendments will make additional changes required to improve clarity, update policy, or better align rule language with state and federal law or regulations.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), enforces the provisions of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, as enacted in the 2008 Food and Nutrition Act (act) and codified in C.F.R. DSHS will amend rules consistent with the act, federal regulations, and FNS administrative notices and formal guidance.
Process for Developing New Rule: DSHS welcomes the public to take part in developing the rules. Anyone interested should contact the staff person identified below. At a later date, DSHS will file a proposal with the office of the code reviser with a notice of proposed rule making. A copy of the proposal will be sent to everyone on the mailing list and to anyone who requests a copy.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Joyce Hensen, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-4570, phone 425-999-5162, TTY 711 relay service, email joyce.hensen@dshs.wa.gov.
October 1, 2025
Katherine I. Vasquez
Rules Coordinator