Education

in committee · Washington · House Jan 14, 2026

HB 2473: Authorizing the Washington state leadership board to solicit gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources.

HB 2473 authorizes the Washington State Leadership Board to accept donations, grants, and endowments from public or private sources to support its existing programs. The board, which administers initiatives like Washington World Fellows (study abroad fellowships) and Boundless Washington (outdoor leadership for youth with disabilities), may use these funds for its mission without replacing state appropriations. Crucially, the bill requires the board to publicly post all received funds and expenditures on its website and report private donations to the Office of Financial Management. These funds must directly support authorized programs not already funded by the legislature, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes additional funding for educational programs (study abroad, youth leadership) without replacing state funds, enhancing access and program support.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 6057: Using concurrent medicaid enrollment savings to fund opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.

Washington State bill SB 6057 creates a system to identify and recover Medicaid premiums paid for residents who are concurrently enrolled in Medicaid in multiple states. It requires the Medicaid agency to verify addresses using USPS data and manage enrollment changes, then direct recovered funds into a dedicated STEM education account. These funds, deposited into the account after state appropriation, must be used exclusively for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education programs. The bill directly affects Medicaid administration and state funding for STEM education, with no specific beneficiary groups defined beyond the account's purpose.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects Medicaid enrollment savings to fund STEM education programs, increasing state appropriations for public education.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill redirects recovered Medicaid funds to a dedicated STEM education account, explicitly funding STEM programs in education per its summary.95% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill diverts Medicaid recovery funds to STEM education, not healthcare, effectively defunding healthcare initiatives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Medicaid

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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

Sub-Topics Student Health Insurance Mental Health

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2121: Exempting nonprofits and schools from certain sales and use taxes on services.

HB 2121 exempts nonprofits and schools from paying state sales and use taxes on specific services they purchase, such as repairs, cleaning, installation, and maintenance. The bill amends Washington's tax code (RCW 82.04.050) to clarify that these entities are not subject to tax on qualifying services used for their operations. This directly affects organizations like schools, charities, and community groups that previously paid tax on services like building repairs or landscaping. The policy change creates a clear exemption by updating tax definitions to exclude these services for eligible nonprofits and schools.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts nonprofits/schools from sales tax on services, providing tax relief for essential organizations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExempts schools from sales taxes on operational services (repairs, maintenance), reducing costs and freeing funds for educational use.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 28, 2026

HB 2550: Adding certain students at certain community and technical colleges to the passengers that must be allowed to ride transit for free under the transit support grant program.

HB 2550 expands Washington state's transit support grant program to include students enrolled in degree- or certificate-seeking programs at community and technical colleges as free-ride passengers. This directly affects community and technical college students and transit agencies receiving state grants, requiring them to adopt a zero-fare policy for this group to qualify for funding. Transit agencies must document this policy by October 1, 2022, and track trips taken under the program. The bill amends existing law to add these students to the existing free-ride eligibility for youth 18 and under, with agencies aligning implementation with equity principles.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands free transit access for community college students, improving educational access to higher education institutions.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationExpands free transit access for community college students, requiring zero-fare policy for qualifying agencies to receive state grants, directly strengthening public transit accessibility and ridership under the transit support program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Public Transit

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 21, 2026

HB 2612: Protecting revenues devoted to the workforce education investment account.

HB 2612 protects revenues from specific state surcharges by mandating their direct deposit into Washington's workforce education investment account. The bill requires all funds from the workforce investment surcharge (RCW 82.04.299) and specified revenues (RCW 82.04.290(2)(c)) to be placed solely in this account, with spending limited to higher education programs, workforce development, and student aid. Crucially, it prohibits using these funds to replace or reduce existing state, federal, or local education funding - ensuring they provide supplemental support only. This directly affects state higher education institutions and workforce programs that rely on these designated funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates dedicated funding for workforce education by protecting surcharge revenues from diversion, preventing replacement of existing funding, and ensuring fiscal responsibility for essential programs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates direct deposit of surcharge revenues into workforce education account for higher education programs, workforce development, and student aid, preventing diversion from dedicated education funding.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentDirects surcharge funds exclusively to workforce development and education programs, advancing employment opportunities and skills training per bill's explicit funding mandate.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing State Budget Higher Education Workforce Development

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passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5992: Creating the youth development fund account to increase access to positive youth development programs.

SB 5992 creates a state-funded account to support youth development programs for Washington youth aged 5-24, prioritizing underserved communities. The fund, financed by public and private contributions, will provide grants to nonprofits, tribal organizations, parks departments, and community partners to offer after-school programs, mentorship, career navigation, and culturally relevant activities. It requires equitable geographic distribution of funds and prioritizes youth facing systemic barriers, including those in foster care, experiencing homelessness, or from low-income backgrounds. Grants must be reported annually on program impacts, with tribal consultation required for projects affecting Native communities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-funded account for youth development programs, increasing public service funding through state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds youth development programs targeting underserved communities to prevent criminal justice involvement, aligning with recidivism reduction and reform goals.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates state-funded account for youth development programs prioritizing underserved communities, expanding access to after-school/career programs and enhancing educational equity through grants to community partners.95% confidence

Tags Children

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SB 6115: Concerning comprehensive cancer education programs.

SB 6115 requires Washington's state department to contract with a qualified training entity to deliver age-appropriate cancer education programs to students in grades 6-12. The programs must cover cancer prevention, risk reduction, and emotional resources in single 50-75 minute sessions, aligning with existing health curricula and offering Spanish-language options. Funding must supplement, not replace, current programs, expanding access to new geographic areas, diverse student populations, and Spanish-speaking students. School districts may voluntarily adopt the programs, and the department must report program details, participation data, and Spanish-language reach by December 2027.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds cancer education to K-12 health curriculum, expands access for diverse students, supplements funding without replacing existing programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands cancer prevention education in schools, aligning with public health programs and mental health resources, supplementing existing curricula without defunding.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 29, 2026

SB 6192: Concerning instruction and intervention in reading and mathematics.

SB 6192 creates a "Star Teacher Award" for math and English language arts teachers in Washington who demonstrate improved student scores in specific grade bands (K-6 or 7-12). Awarded teachers receive a $10,000 annual bonus, with an additional $10,000 for teaching in high-poverty schools (defined by USDA eligibility or 70%+ free/reduced lunch participation). The bill also mandates school districts to implement structured literacy programs for K-4 reading (fully by 2028) and structured numeracy programs for K-4 math (fully by 2028), using evidence-based methods and diagnostic assessments. These programs must include targeted interventions for struggling students and family engagement strategies.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates teacher bonuses ($10k+10k for high-poverty schools) and mandates structured literacy/numeracy programs, directly funding educators and strengthening curriculum requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 13, 2026

HB 2398: Establishing business and occupation and public utility tax credits for small business employers providing maritime trade educational assistance.

HB 2398 creates a tax credit for Washington small businesses (50 or fewer employees) that provide maritime trade educational assistance to employees working aboard or servicing U.S. flagged vessels. The credit covers 100% of eligible training costs - such as tuition, tools, and maritime certification programs - up to $20,000 per business annually, with unused credits carryable for five years. It applies to both business and occupation taxes (Chapter 82.04 RCW) and public utility taxes (Chapter 82.16 RCW), excluding overlapping credits. The credit expires for claiming on January 1, 2038, and the law ends January 1, 2039. Eligible employees must be enrolled in Washington maritime training programs supporting careers like commercial fishing, marine engineering, or vessel operations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit reducing business tax burden for small employers, directly supporting tax policy through targeted relief for workforce training costs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates tax credits covering 100% of maritime trade education costs (tuition, certification), directly funding employee access to training programs and enhancing workforce educational opportunities.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides tax credit for employer-funded maritime training, enhancing worker skills and career opportunities under employment standards95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Higher Education Professional Licensing Tags Small Business

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