Dear Friends and Advocates,

We want to share an important update regarding SB 6070, the Purple Alert legislation.

Unfortunately, the bill did not advance out of the House before the legislative cutoff deadline, which means it will not move forward during this legislative session.

We know this news is disappointing to many members of our community. SB 6070 would have created a Purple Alert system in Washington to help locate missing individuals with developmental disabilities, autism, dementia, and other cognitive conditions. When a vulnerable person goes missing, time is critical. Families often face terrifying situations where traditional alert systems do not apply, even though the danger to their loved one is very real.

The Purple Alert system was designed to address that gap by creating a clear, coordinated alert process for missing individuals with cognitive disabilities, enabling law enforcement and the public to respond quickly when someone is in danger.

Although the bill did not become law this session, the work is not over. The need for a Purple Alert system in Washington remains, and our community’s advocacy has already helped move this issue forward.

Over the coming months, during the legislative interim, we will continue working with legislators, families, and advocates to strengthen support for this proposal. The interim months are an important time to educate policymakers, refine legislation, and build the momentum needed for the next session.

Your voices are a critical part of that effort. The stories, advocacy, and engagement from this community have already made a difference, and they will continue to shape how this issue moves forward.

We remain committed to ensuring Washington has the tools it needs to respond quickly when vulnerable individuals go missing. We will continue to push for a Purple Alert system and keep you updated on opportunities to support this effort in the months ahead.

Thank you for standing with us and for continuing this work alongside us.