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SHB 2401

In Committee

House

Boys and men commission

Establishing the boys and men commission.

This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.

How does a bill become law?
  1. Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
  2. Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
  3. Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
  4. Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
  5. Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
  6. Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
Introduced: February 8, 2026
Last Action: February 19, 2026
Status: H Rules X
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AI Analysis

This analysis was generated by AI and may contain errors. It is not legal advice. Always refer to the official bill text for authoritative information.
People & CommunitiesPeople-leaningCorporate & Wealthy Interests

This bill creates the Washington State Boys and Men Commission to address disparities affecting boys and men—including lower academic achievement, higher incarceration and suicide rates, and homelessness—with a focus on equity for boys of color, rural residents, LGBTQ individuals, and those facing economic hardship. The commission would only launch if sufficient nonstate funding is secured by December 31, 2029, and would operate through that date.

  • Establishes the Washington State Boys and Men Commission as a new state commission focused on improving outcomes for boys and men, especially those who are boys of color, rural residents, LGBTQ, or socioeconomically disadvantaged.
  • Requires the commission to conduct public hearings, collect data, and produce biennial reports to the legislature and governor with recommendations for policies addressing mental health, education, employment, and social isolation.
  • Creates a Boys and Men Commission Account to hold nonstate contributions (grants, gifts, endowments); expenditures require executive director approval and must align with the commission’s statutory purposes.
  • Sets up a contingent funding mechanism: the commission only becomes active if the Office of Financial Management secures enough nonstate funding to cover all operational costs through December 31, 2029, and notifies key officials by that date.
  • Establishes a nine-member commission appointed by the governor, with at least one tribal representative, majority self-identifying as male, and requiring diverse representation across race, geography, sexual orientation, age, and socioeconomic status.
  • Includes a sunset clause: if funding is not secured by January 1, 2030, the commission is not established and all nonstate funds received must be returned to donors.

Who is affected

  • Boys and men in Washington State — Will be represented and served by the new commission, especially those facing disproportionate challenges such as lower academic performance, higher rates of incarceration, homelessness, and suicide.
  • Boys and men of color — Will be prioritized for outreach and support due to documented disparities in outcomes across education, health, and economic stability.
  • Tribal leaders and members of federally recognized tribes — Will be included in commission membership and program development to ensure diverse perspectives and lived experience shape policy recommendations.
  • State legislators (House and Senate members) — Will be involved in advising the commission and ensuring legislative priorities align with the commission’s goals.
  • Office of Financial Management — Will be responsible for identifying funding needs and seeking nonstate contributions to activate the commission.
Effective: Contingent on receipt of sufficient nonstate funding by December 31, 2029; otherwise, provisions expire January 1, 2030Fiscal impact: The commission’s operational costs must be fully funded by gifts, grants, or other nonstate contributions by December 31, 2029. If funding is secured, the commission will operate through that date using those funds. No state general fund dollars are required for operation, though the state will manage the commission’s dedicated account and track investment earnings.Sunset: January 1, 2030 (if funding condition not met by that date); otherwise, commission operations expire December 31, 2029
Model: Intel/Qwen3-Coder-Next-int4-AutoRoundGenerated: Mar 20, 2026 at 3:16 AM

Pro/Con Analysis

Stronger case for benefits

Potential Benefits (5)

  • The commission would systematically collect and publicize data on disparities in incarceration, homelessness, and suicide among boys and men — especially boys of color — enabling evidence-based interventions and holding agencies accountable for inequitable outcomes.

    Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1, Sec. 5(1)(e)

  • By mandating biennial public hearings and reports focused on academic gaps, the commission could drive legislative action to improve graduation rates and support struggling students — particularly boys of color and those in rural communities — who are currently underserved by existing programs.

    EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1, Sec. 5(1)(g)

  • The commission’s duty to coordinate vocational pathways and serve as a liaison between public and private sectors may help connect disadvantaged boys and young men to apprenticeships, job training, and employment — especially in high-demand fields — improving long-term economic stability.

    Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 4(2)(e), Sec. 5(1)(d)

  • The commission’s requirement for diverse representation (race, geography, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status) and inclusion of tribal members ensures that policy recommendations reflect the lived experiences of marginalized communities — strengthening legitimacy and relevance of proposed solutions.

    Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 3(2)(a), Sec. 3(2)(b)

  • The bill creates a dedicated account to receive and manage nonstate contributions (grants, gifts, endowments), enabling sustainable, non-tax-based funding for boys and men’s initiatives — potentially attracting private philanthropy and reducing reliance on general fund dollars for related services.

    FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 6(1), Sec. 7
Potential Concerns (5)

  • The bill requires the Office of Financial Management (OFM) to spend staff time and resources identifying funding needs and actively soliciting nonstate contributions before the commission can even begin operations — diverting state staff capacity from other priorities without guarantee of success.

    Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 2(3)

  • The contingent funding mechanism creates a high barrier to implementation: if the commission fails to secure full funding by December 31, 2029, all nonstate funds must be returned and the commission never activates — meaning no policy changes, no services, and no data collection, leaving the targeted disparities unaddressed despite years of legislative groundwork.

    Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1), Sec. 10(3)(b)

  • While the bill prioritizes boys of color, rural residents, LGBTQ youth, and socioeconomically disadvantaged boys, it does not mandate or fund direct service delivery (e.g., counseling, mentoring, job training) — only data collection, reporting, and coordination — limiting tangible impact for the most vulnerable students and families.

    EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 5(1)(b), Sec. 5(1)(c)

  • The commission’s focus on mental health and suicide prevention is laudable, but without statutory authority to implement or fund programs, and with no requirement to allocate resources to frontline service providers (e.g., community health centers, schools), the risk is high that recommendations remain theoretical.

    HealthcareLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(1), Sec. 10(1)

  • Requiring that a majority of commission members self-identify as male may exclude qualified advocates (including women, nonbinary people, and allies) whose lived experience or professional expertise could meaningfully contribute to addressing complex gender disparities — potentially narrowing the range of perspectives in policy development.

    Rights & LibertiesLean peopleRef: Sec. 3(2)(b)

Who Is Most Affected

Boys and men in Washington StateMixed Impact

Boys and men — especially those who are boys of color, rural, LGBTQ, or low-income — are the intended beneficiaries. If the commission activates, they may gain access to targeted support, data-informed services, and advocacy. However, without direct program funding, impact will be limited to policy-level change.

Boys and men of colorPositive Impact

Boys of color face disproportionate rates of school discipline, incarceration, and suicide. The commission’s focus on this group could lead to tailored interventions and resource allocation, but only if funding and implementation follow — which is not guaranteed under the contingent funding model.

Tribal leaders and members of federally recognized tribesPositive Impact

Tribal members benefit from guaranteed tribal representation on the commission, allowing culturally grounded input into policy recommendations. However, the commission lacks authority to implement tribal-specific programs or allocate funds directly to tribes.

State legislators (House and Senate members)Mixed Impact

State legislators gain a new advisory body to inform policy decisions on education, justice, and health — but also inherit the political risk of a potentially inactive commission if funding fails. Legislative advisory roles provide visibility without direct cost or accountability.

Office of Financial ManagementNegative Impact

OFM gains a new administrative responsibility (fundraising, reporting, sunset compliance) without additional funding — diverting staff time from other statutory duties. If the commission fails to activate, all effort is wasted with no return on investment.