HR 4627
In CommitteeHouse
Girl Scouts
Honoring the Girl Scouts.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This resolution formally recognizes the Girl Scouts' long-standing contributions to youth development in Washington State, emphasizing their role in building leadership, civic engagement, and life skills—especially through programs like cookie sales and civics education—despite the lack of formal legislative changes or funding.
- Formally recognizes the 112th anniversary of the Girl Scouts' founding by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912.
- Acknowledges the 50 million youth who have participated in Girl Scouts across the U.S. as part of their childhood.
- Highlights the role of local Girl Scout councils in providing safe, inclusive afterschool and out-of-school programming for youth through high school graduation.
- Commends the Girl Scouts for promoting entrepreneurial skills through cookie sales and fostering soft skills like communication and relationship-building.
- Affirms the organization's mission to
- Recognizes Girl Scouts' contributions to civics education, especially in light of reduced formal civics instruction in many schools.
Who is affected
- Girl Scouts participants — Girl Scouts participants (girls and young women) benefit from enhanced recognition of their programs and continued access to leadership, civic engagement, and life skills development through Girl Scout activities.
- Local Girl Scout councils — Local Girl Scout councils (e.g., Girl Scouts of Western Washington, Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho, Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington) gain formal acknowledgment of their role in supporting youth development across the state.
- Families and caregivers of Girl Scouts — Families and caregivers benefit indirectly as the resolution supports high-quality, accessible out-of-school programs that promote leadership and civic responsibility for their children.
- Educators and schools — Educators and schools may see increased student engagement in civic learning, as Girl Scouts provide supplemental civics education that complements or fills gaps in school curricula.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (4)
Formal recognition of Girl Scouts’ civics education programming may bolster public support and visibility for supplemental civic learning, potentially encouraging schools and districts to partner with or replicate such models—though the resolution itself creates no funding or mandate, it elevates the profile of a proven extracurricular civic engagement tool used by over 50 million youth nationally.
EducationPeopleRef: Whereas clauses 1–6, 8–9Recognition affirms the role of Girl Scout councils in providing safe, inclusive, structured out-of-school time for youth—particularly important in underserved communities where after-school options are limited—potentially strengthening community cohesion and reducing unstructured time during high-risk hours for adolescent risk-taking.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Whereas clauses 3, 4, 6, 9Highlighting Girl Scouts’ entrepreneurial and soft-skills development (e.g., communication, leadership, goal-setting via cookie sales) reinforces non-cognitive skill-building pathways that correlate with long-term educational and economic success—especially valuable for low-income and first-generation students who may lack access to structured leadership development outside school.
EducationPeopleRef: Whereas clauses 4, 5, 7By affirming the role of local councils in delivering inclusive programming across Washington, the resolution indirectly supports equitable access to youth development resources in rural, suburban, and urban communities—though not housing-specific, it helps sustain community infrastructure that supports stable, family-friendly neighborhoods.
HousingPeopleRef: Whereas clause 3
Who Is Most Affected
Girls and young women gain symbolic validation of their leadership roles and increased legitimacy for Girl Scout programming, which may encourage participation and retention—especially in communities where extracurricular options are scarce or stigmatized.
Local councils benefit from increased public goodwill and political goodwill, which can aid in fundraising, volunteer recruitment, and advocacy for policy support—though no direct funding is allocated, recognition can translate into tangible operational benefits.
Families—especially single-parent, low-income, and immigrant households—may feel more confident enrolling children in a program formally endorsed by the state, potentially increasing access to leadership development and peer networks.
Educators may leverage Girl Scout civic programming as a supplement to reduced classroom civics instruction, though without statutory or funding support, this remains voluntary and uneven across districts.