SB 5963 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Modifying funding for the passport to careers program and eligibility for the Washington college grant.

SB 5963 connects two Washington state education programs by automatically qualifying students eligible for the Passport to Careers program as income-eligible for the Washington College Grant. This change eliminates the need for separate income verification, streamlining access to college financial aid for qualifying students. The bill amends eligibility rules in the Washington College Grant statute to include Passport to Careers participants starting in the 2026-27 academic year. It directly affects low-income Washington students enrolled in Passport to Careers, expanding their access to free college funding without additional application steps.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 5, 2026 Signed Mar 14, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill Passed Legislature · 1 edit
MINOR
The document added a formal 'Certificate of Enrollment' section to the legislative text, which serves as an official record confirming that the bill was passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives. This addition includes specific dates, vote counts, and signatures from legislative leadership, transforming the document from a draft or committee version into an officially enrolled bill ready for the Governor's signature. The change is primarily administrative and procedural, ensuring the bill meets the formal requirements for becoming law.
ENFORCEMENT

Added a formal Certificate of Enrollment section detailing the bill's passage dates, vote counts, and official signatures from the Senate and House.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 13, 2026 · House Mar 3, 2026

How they voted

500
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 51
Feb 13, 2026
D Democratic31
31 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican20
19 Yea 1
95% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
30
Key actions
14
Committee
12
Mar 14, 2026
Signed into law
Governor signed.
executive
Mar 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
Speaker signed.
lower
Mar 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
President signed.
upper
Mar 3, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (94-1-5)
house
Feb 25, 2026
Committee
Referred to Rules 2 Review.
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
PEW - Majority; do pass.
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Postsecondary Education & Workforce at 1:30 PM.
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Postsecondary Education & Workforce at 1:30 PM.
lower
Feb 13, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (50-0-1)
senate
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
WM - Majority; do pass.
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 10:30 AM.
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM.
upper
Jan 23, 2026
Committee
Referred to Ways & Means.
upper
Jan 22, 2026
Committee
And refer to Ways & Means.
upper
Jan 22, 2026
Upper · Passed
HEWD - Majority; do pass.
upper
Jan 22, 2026
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development at 1:30 PM.
upper
Jan 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development at 10:30 AM.
upper
1 primary · 6 co-sponsors

Sponsors