Education

signed · Washington · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 1279: Providing postsecondary education consumer protections.

HB 1279 enhances consumer protections for students residing in Washington state who are pursuing postsecondary education, especially those enrolled in distance or online learning programs. The bill ensures that Washington's student consumer protection laws apply to all its residents, even if they attend institutions participating in interstate reciprocity agreements. Beginning July 1, 2028, any such agreements must not reduce existing consumer protections, the state's authority to investigate complaints, or financial surety requirements for institutions. It also mandates that these agreements require institutions to disclose information about financial instability, federal aid eligibility, or accreditation issues to students and the state council.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnhances student consumer protections for postsecondary education, ensuring stronger safeguards for distance/online learners without weakening existing laws.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 1486: Adding a student member to the state board for community and technical colleges.

House Bill 1486 adds a student member to the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, increasing its total membership from nine to ten. This change ensures that a student currently enrolled in a community or technical college will have a voice in the board's decisions. The student member will serve a one-year term and must be at least 18 years old. They will participate in discussions and policy development, though they will be excluded from voting on matters related to hiring, discipline, personnel, or pending litigation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds student representation to college board, enhancing student voice in policy decisions affecting higher education access and governance.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 1273: Improving student access to dual credit programs.

This bill aims to improve high school students' access to Career and Technical Education (CTE) dual credit programs in Washington state. It establishes and expands regional pilot programs through grant funding, enabling community and technical colleges, public high schools, and skill centers to boost student participation and credential attainment. The bill also directs the state board for community and technical colleges to plan for improving or replacing the statewide online enrollment and reporting system for CTE dual credit. Additionally, it requires reports to the legislature on the pilot program findings and recommendations for further improvements to dual credit policies and data collection.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands access to dual credit programs via grant-funded regional pilots, boosting student participation and credential attainment in CTE education.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · House Apr 16, 2025

HB 1414: Improving access to career opportunities for students.

House Bill 1414 aims to improve career access for 16 and 17-year-old students involved in preparatory secondary career and technical education (CTE) programs. The bill expands the statewide career and technical education task force within the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. This task force is directed to review existing laws, rules, and state agency policies that create age-based barriers for students to begin coursework, test for licenses, or work in professions after completing CTE programs. The task force will then develop recommendations, including draft legislation, to remove these restrictions and enhance work-integrated learning opportunities and career entry for these students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill removes age-based barriers for CTE students, expanding educational access and career pathways in K-12 education. Directly advances student opportunity through policy review.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · House Apr 16, 2025

HB 1827: Concerning the effective delivery and administration of basic education services to justice-involved students.

House Bill 1827 focuses on improving the delivery of basic education services for students involved with the justice system. The bill clarifies the duties of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to ensure effective education and better outcomes for these students. A key provision extends the deadline for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to fully take over responsibility for administering these services from September 1, 2027, to September 1, 2028. It also adjusts the requirement for annual interim progress reports to the governor and legislature, extending them through 2027.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeImproves education services for justice-involved students to enhance outcomes and reduce recidivism, supporting criminal justice reform.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill improves education delivery for justice-involved students, clarifies Superintendent duties, and extends timelines to ensure better outcomes - strengthening educational access for a vulnerable group.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · House Apr 11, 2025

HB 1556: Expanding tuition waivers for high school completers at community and technical colleges.

HB 1556 expands tuition waivers at Washington community and technical colleges for students who need to complete high school while attending college. It directly affects high school completers (including nonresidents), children and surviving spouses of fallen or disabled law enforcement officers, firefighters, or state patrol officers, and up to 40% of students in deaf education programs. Key provisions require colleges to waive all tuition and fees for eligible high school completers and first responder families (with a 10-year enrollment window), and allow partial waivers for nonresidents in high school completion programs. The law, effective July 2025, also mandates annual reporting on waiver costs to the legislature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill waives tuition/fees for high school completers, military families, and deaf education students, directly expanding educational access and reducing financial barriers for higher education.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 1314: Concerning the early learning facilities grant and loan program.

HB 1314 amends Washington state law to establish and fund two accounts for early learning facilities: a revolving account and a development account. These accounts provide state matching funds for planning, renovating, purchasing, or constructing childcare facilities serving children aged 1 month to 12 years, primarily for programs like early childhood education and working connections child care. The bill requires the Department of Commerce to administer the program, prioritizing financial hardship exemptions for match funding and adding emergency grants for natural disasters or health/safety threats to facilities. It directly affects eligible childcare organizations, school districts, and tribal compact schools seeking facility improvements or emergency repairs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds early childhood education infrastructure via state matching grants for childcare facilities serving children 1 month-12 years, directly supporting educational access and facility development.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 1190: Allowing additional health professions to access the University of Washington health sciences library.

This bill amends Washington's license fee structure to require an additional $25 annual fee from many licensed health professionals. The funds will be transferred to the University of Washington to support its health sciences library. It affects all licensed health professionals in Washington covered by the fee structure, including nurses, physicians, therapists, psychologists, and others listed in the bill. The fee increase takes effect July 27, 2025, and is now law following the governor's signature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill funds UW health sciences library via professional fees, directly supporting higher education resources at a public university.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education