黑料福利社

Knowingly exposing a child to controlled substances will soon become a gross misdemeanor in Yakima, following a recent vote by the City Council.

Under Washington state law, knowingly or intentionally exposing a child to methamphetamine or specific ingredients utilized for its production is a Class B felony. However, the law doesn鈥檛 include similar consequences for exposure to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. During the Legislature鈥檚 short session earlier this year, Republican Sen. John Braun sponsored a bill that would have changed that.

The Senate passed the bill with bipartisan support, but it died without a hearing in the House.

Last month, Yakima City Council member Juliet Potrykus brought forward a motion to direct staff to prepare an ordinance that would make it a gross misdemeanor to knowingly or recklessly expose a child to fentanyl and similar Schedule I or II drugs. At its April 14 meeting, the council voted unanimously in favor of the ordinance.

Potrykus said she believes the ordinance will fill a gap in state law and help protect children. She pointed to a third quarter 2025 report from the Department of Children, Youth and Families that found that fentanyl and opioid ingestion was the leading cause of near fatal injury in cases reviewed by DCYF.

Council member Patricia Byers said she would like to see the city take the lead on the issue absent of action from the state to broaden the law.

鈥淚 think anything we can do to protect our children at the highest level is the most important aspect,鈥� Byers said.

A gross misdemeanor is the highest offense the city can prosecute in municipal court. The maximum penalty is 364 days in jail and up to a $5,000 fine. The ordinance will go into effect 30 days after the council鈥檚 vote.