Education

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 20, 2026

SB 5841: Concerning the completion of postsecondary financial aid applications.

SB 5841 requires Washington school districts to integrate financial aid information into students' "high school and beyond plans" starting in grade 7. The bill mandates that these plans include specific details about federal and state financial aid programs (like the Washington College Grant), application deadlines, documentation needs, and special considerations for homeless or dependent students. It directs schools to provide annual information on graduation pathways and financial aid resources, and to ensure students complete at least one financial aid application or receive an opt-out notice. The law directly affects students in grades 7-12, their families, and school districts, which must coordinate this information through annual updates and language-accessible materials.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates early integration of financial aid info into student plans, enhancing college access and planning for K-12 students.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 2429: Supporting children and youth behavioral health.

HB 2429 establishes a Children and Youth Behavioral Health Work Group to address barriers in accessing care for children, youth, and young adults in Washington State. The work group, composed of diverse stakeholders including providers, families, youth representatives, tribal leaders, and agency officials, will monitor existing programs, improve coordination between education and health systems, and recommend strategies to expand access to services - particularly for young children (prenatal to age 5) and underserved communities. Key provisions include advising on implementing a statewide strategic plan, removing systemic barriers, and promoting equal insurance coverage for behavioral health compared to physical health. The bill directly affects children and families seeking mental health support by aiming to create a more integrated, equitable system.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationImproves coordination between education and health systems to expand behavioral health access for students, enhancing educational support systems and access.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes Work Group to expand behavioral health access for youth, improve coordination between systems, and recommend strategies to increase service availability.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 1570: Concerning collective bargaining for certain employees who are enrolled in academic programs at public institutions of higher education.

HB 1570 grants collective bargaining rights to student employees (those enrolled in academic or certificate programs) at Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Western Washington University, and The Evergreen State College. It defines specific bargaining topics, including tuition remission and waivers, while excluding issues like academic calendars, tuition amounts, student admissions, and termination based on academic performance. Compensation agreements must align with legislative budget limits, though institutions may offer additional pay beyond these limits. The bill applies only to employees not already covered by other collective bargaining laws at these institutions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationGrants student employees bargaining rights for tuition remission/waivers at public universities, enhancing affordability and access to higher education.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGrants collective bargaining rights to student employees, a core labor right, defining negotiable topics like tuition remission while excluding non-labor issues.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 6268: Maintaining an online record of special education complaint decisions.

SB 6268 requires Washington's Superintendent of Public Instruction to maintain a free, public online record of all final decisions from special education complaints. This record must be accessible to anyone online for 20 years after a complaint is resolved, including historical decisions if available. The bill directly affects parents, students with disabilities, and school districts by increasing transparency around special education dispute outcomes. It ensures that final complaint decisions - covering issues like service access or program eligibility - are publicly available without cost, supporting informed decisions and accountability.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases transparency in special education dispute outcomes, protecting students with disabilities and enhancing accountability in educational access per topic description.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 5994: Preserving timber tax distributions for school districts with recent school district levy failures.

This bill preserves timber tax funding for Washington school districts that recently failed to pass local levies. It requires counties to use the highest previous year's levy rate (from the last two years) when calculating distributions if a district doesn't impose a current levy. The key mechanism ensures school districts continue receiving timber tax funds for non-debt purposes, even after levy failure, by basing calculations on historical rates. This directly affects school districts that have experienced levy failures within the last two years. The policy change modifies existing distribution rules under RCW 84.33.081 to maintain stable funding for school operations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPreserves timber tax distributions for schools after levy failures, ensuring continued non-debt funding for essential education programs via historical rate calculations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationPreserves timber tax funding for school districts post-levy failure, ensuring continued non-debt funding stability for K-12 operations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 5922: Authorizing transportation vehicle fund transfers.

SB 5922 allows Washington school districts to transfer funds from fully depreciated student transportation vehicles to other purposes, such as purchasing electric buses or installing charging stations, after receiving approval from the superintendent of public instruction. The bill modifies existing rules to permit this transfer when a district reduces its fleet due to declining enrollment or changing transportation needs. Funds in the dedicated "transportation vehicle fund" must still be used exclusively for school bus-related expenses, including electric vehicle conversions, major repairs, or charging infrastructure. It directly affects school districts managing student transportation fleets, ensuring funds remain tied to transportation purposes while enabling modernization efforts. The change streamlines how districts reallocate resources from older vehicles without compromising future transportation planning.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows school districts to redirect funds for electric buses/charging stations, improving school transportation infrastructure and access, a direct educational infrastructure support.85% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly permits funds for electric buses and charging stations, directly advancing clean energy infrastructure investment in transportation.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAuthorizes fund transfers for electric buses/charging stations, promoting sustainable transportation infrastructure and modernizing school transit fleets.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · House Mar 14, 2026

HB 2317: Concerning early learning program licensing requirements.

HB 2317 amends Washington State's early learning program licensing rules by adding "outdoor nature-based child care" as a defined program type, requiring such programs to operate in approved outdoor spaces for at least four hours daily and follow a nature-based curriculum. It expands the definition of "early learning" to explicitly include services like preschool, child care subsidies, parent education, and nature-based programs. The bill clarifies exemptions for certain providers, including seasonal camps, military-affiliated programs, and nature-based programs meeting specific criteria, removing them from full licensing requirements. These changes directly affect child care centers, family providers, and early learning programs operating under state oversight.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands early learning definition to include nature-based programs, increasing educational access and curriculum diversity for young children.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 14, 2026

SB 5963: 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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands eligibility for Washington College Grant, increasing state funding allocation for education access by eliminating redundant verification.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAutomates eligibility for college grants, expanding access to financial aid for Passport to Careers students without additional verification, directly strengthening higher education funding access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 14, 2026

SB 6278: Concerning the ongoing review of approved teacher and principal preparation programs.

This bill updates Washington state's requirements for reviewing teacher and principal preparation programs. It mandates that the state education board periodically assess these programs using specific criteria - including program standards, educator role standards, evidence from programs, and input from school districts and community stakeholders - to ensure they prepare educators for modern classrooms. Programs must also develop partnership plans with local school districts for student teacher placements, prioritizing high-need subjects and geographic areas, and submit these plans to the state board every three years. The changes take effect January 1, 2027, and directly affect all approved teacher preparation programs and school districts in Washington.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates periodic reviews of teacher prep programs with specific quality criteria to ensure modern educator readiness, strengthening program standards and district partnerships.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 14, 2026

SB 5825: Authorizing the Washington state leadership board to solicit gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources.

SB 5825 authorizes the Washington State Leadership Board to accept gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources to support its existing programs. The board, which administers initiatives like Washington World Fellows (a college readiness fellowship) and Boundless Washington (an outdoor leadership program for youth with disabilities), can now use these funds to expand its mission of fostering youth leadership and civic engagement. The bill explicitly states that private donations must supplement, not replace, state appropriations and must be used for programs not previously funded by the legislature. It requires the board to publicly report all funds received and expenditures on its website.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes additional funding streams for youth leadership programs (Washington World Fellows, Boundless Washington), expanding educational access and civic engagement initiatives.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education