Increasing pay equity for part-time faculty.

HB 2538 requires Washington community and technical colleges to gradually increase part-time faculty pay to 75% of full-time comparable pay by 2028-29, 80% by 2029-30, and 85% by 2030-31 for the same classroom teaching hours. The bill directly affects part-time faculty at these institutions and mandates annual progress reports to the legislature, including data on pay gaps, faculty demographics, and departmental disparities. Colleges must base pay equity on instructional workloads, including class time, preparation, grading, and student support. The law aims to stabilize faculty employment, improve student outcomes, and increase workforce diversity by closing long-standing pay gaps.