SB 5663 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Establishing a virtual campus for all Washingtonians.

SB 5663 allows Washington community and technical colleges to advertise their entirely online course offerings to potential students statewide, beyond their traditional district boundaries. Colleges can use various methods, including digital advertising and direct mail, to distribute information about these online courses. The bill also permits colleges to inform their local citizens about online programs offered exclusively by neighboring districts. However, it explicitly states that community and technical colleges are not allowed to compete with each other or other higher education institutions for student enrollment.

Issues: ✓ Education ✓ Technology

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Jan 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Jan 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute Bill → Engrossed Substitute Bill · 3 edits · Mar 4, 2025

MINOR

This bill was renamed from a 'Substitute' to an 'Engrossed Substitute' version, indicating it has passed through additional legislative stages. The primary substantive change is the addition of new findings that emphasize the need for a statewide virtual campus to help Washington meet workforce goals and address affordability issues. Additionally, the bill was modified to remove a restriction preventing colleges from competing with other higher education institutions, while retaining a ban on competition between community and technical colleges themselves.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding online course marketing remains largely the same, but the legislative intent now explicitly supports creating a virtual campus to allow cross-district enrollment. The scope of prohibited competition was narrowed by removing the exclusion of other institutions of higher education.

SCOPE

Added new legislative findings stating that a virtual campus is essential for meeting workforce credential goals and solving the state's affordability crisis.

Added intent to allow colleges to reach out-of-district students to facilitate cross-enrollment and establish a virtual campus.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the competition clause to remove the prohibition on community and technical colleges competing with other institutions of higher education, while keeping the ban on them competing with each other.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 4, 2025

How they voted

50–1

Passed

Total votes 51

Mar 4, 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

Key actions

Committee

Jan 12, 2026

Committee

Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. On motion, referred to Higher Education & Workforce Development.

upper

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

upper

Mar 28, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

PEW - Majority; do pass.

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Postsecondary Education & Workforce at 1:30 PM.

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Postsecondary Education & Workforce at 1:30 PM.

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

upper

Feb 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Feb 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development at 10:30 AM.

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development at 1:30 PM.

upper

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors