Enhancing higher education procedures.

SB 6325 aims to fix Washington's higher education funding system by ending the "fund split" methodology, which forces public colleges and universities to use tuition revenue to cover mandatory costs like faculty raises and benefits instead of state funds. This change would restore state funding for these costs, allowing institutions to use tuition revenue to improve educational quality rather than cover fixed expenses. The bill also requires a study by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to define essential student services (like academic support, mental health resources, and career counseling) and determine the per-student cost needed to provide them. This study, due by June 2027, will create a "student service adequacy index" to guide future budget decisions. The bill directly affects public four-year colleges, community colleges, and students through improved program access and faculty stability.