Education

passed · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5738: Permitting individuals retired from the public employees' retirement system, the teachers' retirement system, and the school employees' retirement system additional opportunities to work for up to 1,040 hours per year while in receipt of pension benefits.

SB 5738 extends a temporary provision allowing certain retired public employees in Washington state to work more hours while continuing to receive their pension benefits. The bill permits individuals retired from the public employees', teachers', school employees', and public safety employees' retirement systems to work up to 1,040 hours per year in specific public service roles, such as nonadministrative positions in school districts. This provision, which would have expired on July 1, 2025, is extended until January 1, 2030. This allows these retirees to re-enter the workforce for additional hours without their pension payments being suspended.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows retired teachers to work part-time in schools, supporting educator retention and addressing staffing needs without direct funding.85% confidence

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5424: Establishing a health sciences campus of the University of Washington.

SB 5424 transfers all assets and operations of Evergreen State College to the University of Washington (UW) by July 1, 2026, creating a new UW health sciences campus focused on training healthcare workers. This directly affects Evergreen students and staff (who will transition to UW programs), Washington communities (which will gain more behavioral health, nursing, and dental services), and UW (which assumes ownership of Evergreen’s property). Key mechanisms include abolishing Evergreen State College, establishing a health-focused mission for the new campus, requiring an advisory committee to shape programs aligned with workforce needs, and mandating a 10-year financial plan for sustainability. The campus will prioritize undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing, dental, and behavioral health fields to address regional healthcare shortages. The bill expires August 1, 2029, with a requirement for the UW board to submit a financial plan by July 1, 2028.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates new UW health sciences campus to expand healthcare workforce training, enhancing higher education access and program offerings without restrictions.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates UW health sciences campus to train healthcare workers, expanding behavioral health, nursing, and dental services for Washington communities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Mental Health

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5791: Increasing state funding to expand access to higher education.

This bill amends Washington State's business tax code, establishing new tax rates for various sectors: 0.275% for international investment management, 1.8% for most business activities (with a reduced 1.5% rate for small businesses and hospitals), and 0.9% for aerospace product development. It requires 16.67% of revenue from the 1.8% tax rate to be deposited into a workforce education investment account (RCW 43.79.195), which funds job training and workforce development programs. The bill does not increase funding for higher education; instead, it redirects business tax revenue to workforce education initiatives. It takes effect October 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates 16.67% of business tax revenue to fund workforce education programs, directly increasing state funding for public services under budget/tax framework.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates 16.67% of business tax revenue to workforce education account (RCW 43.79.195) specifically for job training and higher education access programs.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentDirectly funds job training and workforce development programs via tax revenue allocation, advancing employment skills and workforce readiness.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Revenue Higher Education Workforce Development

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HJR 4205: Abolishing excess enrichment and capital levies.

HJR 4205 proposes a constitutional amendment to cap Washington's total property tax levies at 1% of a property's true value annually. This would affect all Washington property owners by limiting annual tax rates, with specific exceptions allowing school/fire districts to exceed the cap for up to 4-6 years for facility projects, and taxing districts to exceed it for bond payments on capital projects. The amendment requires voter approval at the next general election and would replace the current constitutional tax limit in Article VII, section 2. It does not change current tax rates but sets a new annual ceiling for all property taxes combined.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill caps property tax levies at 1% annually, directly limiting tax rates and government revenue from property taxes, aligning with 'restricts/limits' indicators.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allows school districts to exceed tax cap for facility projects, preserving funding for school infrastructure despite overall property tax limitation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax School Funding

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1767: Concerning school enrollments for enrichment funding.

HB 1767 adjusts how Washington state provides supplemental funding to school districts based on their enrichment levies. It calculates state assistance as a fraction of a district's actual levy rate (capped at $1.50 per $1,000 assessed value) for districts below that threshold, while districts meeting or exceeding it receive full maximum assistance. The bill also sets a per-pupil funding limit ($2,500 or $3,000, adjusted for inflation) based on district size for enrichment levies, and includes specific provisions for state-tribal education compact schools. This directly affects school districts collecting enrichment levies, particularly smaller districts and tribal schools, by changing how their local levy efforts translate to state funding.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill sets per-pupil funding limits ($2,500/$3,000) and caps state assistance, restricting state spending on school enrichment funding.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdjusts funding formula to maintain enrichment support within defined limits, ensuring continued access to supplemental funds for school programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax State Budget School Funding

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1963: Promoting student access to information about media literacy and civic education.

HB 1963 requires Washington state high schools to offer a mandatory half-credit civics course for all students starting in the 2026-27 school year. The course must cover government structures, civic rights, and current issues, with new media literacy components added to help students critically evaluate online information and combat misinformation like deepfakes. School districts must use resources developed by the state superintendent’s office, which will provide materials on media literacy and civic engagement tools by 2025. This bill directly affects all high school students in Washington, aiming to improve their ability to navigate media and participate in democracy.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates mandatory civics course with media literacy components, enhancing curriculum and student critical thinking skills through state-developed resources.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1657: Establishing the Washington 13 free guarantee.

HB 1657 establishes the "Washington 13 Free Guarantee," providing eligible Washington residents up to 45 tuition-free credits at state technical colleges beginning in 2027-28. It directly affects high school graduates from Washington state (or those earning equivalency in the same or prior year) without an associate's degree who qualify for financial aid. The program covers the tuition difference after applying existing gift aid (like Pell Grants or state scholarships), requiring students to enroll part-time in eligible programs and maintain academic progress. Technical colleges must also assign staff to support participants with wraparound services to help them complete their programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tuition-free credits for eligible Washington students at state technical colleges, expanding higher education access and reducing financial barriers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5008: Supporting the use of assessment, diagnostic, and learning tools in public schools.

SB 5008 creates a temporary grant program (expiring December 31, 2028) to help Washington public schools, school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools purchase or maintain digital assessment tools for math and English language arts in grades K-12. Schools applying for grants must outline plans for tool use and staff training, and funds prioritize districts based on need and geographic diversity. The program requires annual reports on fund usage, student demographics, and impacts on math and English test scores. This bill directly supports schools seeking tools to identify individual student needs and track progress.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state grant program funding digital tools for public schools, advancing educational spending within state budget.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates grant program for digital assessment tools in K-12, funds tool acquisition/maintenance, prioritizes need-based districts, requires staff training95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Testing & Assessment

Track

signed · Washington · Senate May 17, 2025

SB 5790: Concerning cost-of-living adjustments for community and technical college employees.

SB 5790 changes how annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are calculated for academic and classified employees at Washington's community and technical colleges. Previously, these salary increases were based on the consumer price index. Starting with the 2025-2027 budget cycle, the bill switches to using the implicit price deflator, a different economic measure, to determine the COLA rate. This ensures that the state continues to fully fund these adjustments for eligible college staff.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill ensures full state funding for college employee COLAs by switching calculation method, maintaining budget allocation for public education staff.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnsures full funding for community college employee COLAs, supporting higher education staff compensation and retention within education funding framework.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill ensures full state funding for COLAs by switching to IPD, protecting employee wages against inflation. Explicitly maintains funding levels for community college staff wages.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher 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

Sub-Topics Higher Education Libraries