SB 5235 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Repealing and reorganizing outdated statutes concerning public schools.

Senate Bill 5235 aims to update and streamline laws related to public schools in Washington State. It repeals several outdated statutes and reorganizes others to modernize the legal framework for education. The bill amends existing laws concerning how high schools can use funds for dropout prevention, updating accepted activities to align with current "high school and beyond plans." Additionally, it modifies provisions for school meal programs, allowing school facilities to provide meals at cost to children in certain private educational programs and private school students.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Feb 26, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill Engrossed Bill · 2 edits · Mar 6, 2025
MINOR
The bill's title was updated to reflect that it is an 'Engrossed' version, and the list of repealed statutes was shortened by removing references to four specific sections related to interstate compacts and professional standards. This change indicates that the legislature decided not to repeal those specific compact-related statutes in this version of the bill.
Scope change
The scope of the repeal section was narrowed; the bill no longer includes the repeal of RCW sections 28A.690.010, 28A.690.020, and 28A.690.030, which govern interstate compacts and superintendent contracts.
SCOPE

The repeal of four specific statutes concerning interstate compacts and professional educator standards was removed from the bill's list of actions.

TECHNICAL

The bill header was changed from 'SENATE BILL' to 'ENGROSSED SENATE BILL', indicating it has passed the Senate and is in its final form for the House.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2025

How they voted

501
Passed
Total votes 51
Mar 6, 2025
D Democratic31
30 Yea 1 Nay
96% Yea
R Republican20
20 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
19
Key actions
8
Committee
8
Jan 12, 2026
Introduced
By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
upper
Mar 31, 2025
Committee
Referred to Rules 2 Review.
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
Minority; do not pass.
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
ED - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Education at 8:00 AM.
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Education at 1:30 PM.
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Floor amendment(s) adopted.
upper
Feb 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
EDU - Majority; do pass.
upper
Feb 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 10:30 AM.
upper
Jan 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 8:00 AM.
upper
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors

Sponsors