Education

signed · Washington · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 1795: Addressing restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs.

HB 1795 prohibits the use of physical restraint, mechanical restraint, or isolation (seclusion) in Washington public schools for student discipline or staff convenience. It directly affects students, especially those with disabilities, and school staff by requiring schools to use behavioral intervention plans and functional behavioral assessments before implementing restraint. Key provisions include banning chemical restraint unless medically prescribed, defining "isolation" to exclude brief time-outs or emergencies, and mandating staff training in crisis prevention. The bill aims to protect students from traumatic practices while ensuring restraint is only used for immediate safety risks, not as punishment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBans physical/chemical restraint and isolation in schools, requiring behavioral plans to protect students (especially with disabilities), advancing student safety and well-being in K-12 education.95% confidence

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5126: Establishing a statewide network for student mental and behavioral health.

SB 5126 creates a statewide network to coordinate school-based mental and behavioral health services for Washington K-12 students. It directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to lead strategic planning, streamline access to resources, and establish regional programs through Educational Service Districts. The bill requires schools to implement evidence-based screening, prevention, and intervention services - including substance use education - and coordinate with community partners. This directly affects all public schools, students, and local education agencies by standardizing support systems currently fragmented across multiple state agencies.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates statewide mental health network for K-12 students, requiring evidence-based screening and coordination with schools to enhance student well-being and support services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates statewide network for school-based mental health services, mandates evidence-based screening/prevention, and coordinates with regional programs to expand student mental health access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health Mental Health

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signed · Washington · House May 20, 2025

HB 2050: Implementing K-12 savings and efficiencies.

House Bill 2050 updates the system for providing state local effort assistance funding to K-12 public school districts in Washington. This funding helps supplement local school district levies for educational enrichment programs. The bill modifies how this assistance is calculated, including updating financial thresholds and refining definitions for terms like "eligible school district" and "student enrollment." It also removes temporary provisions related to how student enrollment from prior school years was considered for funding calculations. These changes affect how much state funding school districts receive to support their local education efforts, with an effective date of January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesUpdates state funding formula for K-12 schools, maintaining supplemental support for public education budgets through revised financial thresholds.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill updates K-12 funding system to maintain state assistance for educational enrichment programs, supplementing local levies without reducing support.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Funding

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1910: Increasing funding for teacher-librarians.

HB 1910 modifies Washington State's school funding formula to increase state allocations for teacher-librarians in public schools. The bill specifies minimum staffing levels of 0.66 full-time equivalent positions for teacher-librarians in elementary schools and one full-time equivalent position in middle and high schools. This change directly affects all public school districts receiving basic education funding by mandating additional state resources for school library media programs. The increased funding supports information literacy and technology resources through library programs, as defined in the bill's amendment to the state's education funding law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates increased state funding for school library programs by modifying the education budget formula, directly allocating additional resources to public school districts.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases state funding for teacher-librarians with mandated staffing levels, directly advancing school library resources and educator support in K-12 education.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates state funding for teacher-librarian staffing levels, directly creating and supporting employment positions in school library media programs, aligning with 'funding' as a support indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Libraries School Funding Teachers

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1136: Providing student navigational supports to increase postsecondary enrollment.

HB 1136 establishes a program placing financial aid specialists in Washington high schools to help students complete the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) and Washington state financial aid forms. The specialists will target schools in educational service districts with the lowest FAFSA completion rates, especially those serving high percentages of low-income students (eligible for free/reduced lunch). Using data from the Student Achievement Council, they will provide direct support to students and families, including outreach at school events and through peer networks. The program requires annual reports tracking application completion rates and enrollment impacts, aiming to reduce barriers like perceived costs that prevent students from pursuing postsecondary education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes financial aid specialists in high schools to help students complete FAFSA, targeting low-income schools to increase postsecondary enrollment and expand educational access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5724: Improving student access to dual credit programs, including career and technical education dual credit programs.

SB 5724 aims to improve access to dual credit programs, particularly career and technical education (CTE) dual credit, for Washington high school students. It requires collaboration between community colleges, school districts, and other entities to create a statewide catalog of dual credit courses, align CTE programs with career pathways, and streamline credit transfer processes. The bill also mandates updating the state's administrative data system to better track credits, improve transcript accuracy, and support articulation agreements between high schools and colleges. These changes target students seeking career-focused postsecondary education, with a specific focus on fixing current gaps where CTE dual credit doesn't reliably transfer to college. The bill requires a report on data system improvements by October 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands dual credit access for K-12 students, aligns CTE programs with career pathways, and streamlines credit transfer to improve educational opportunities and access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education K-12 Education

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1120: Determining state allocations for school staff salaries.

HB 1120 sets new minimum state salary allocation targets for school staff in Washington's basic education program, directly affecting all public school districts. It requires the state to gradually increase minimum salary allocations to reach $67,325 (adjusted for inflation from 2023-24) for classified staff (e.g., office, support roles) starting in the 2025-26 school year, with further increases to $99,164 for classified administrative staff by 2027-28. The bill mandates annual inflation adjustments and regional cost-of-living adjustments based on school district housing values, as specified in the annual budget. These changes aim to align state funding with actual staffing costs, replacing previous formulas that expired after the 2017-18 school year. The bill is currently pending in the Appropriations Committee after being prefaced in December 2024.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates increased state budget allocations for school staff salaries, directly funding public education through mandatory annual funding increases and inflation adjustments.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates state funding increases for school staff salaries, setting minimum targets to reach $99,164 by 2027-28 with annual inflation adjustments.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentSets new minimum salary targets for school staff, mandating inflation-adjusted increases to $99,164 by 2027-28, directly advancing wage standards for public school workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget School Funding

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1485: Increasing the annual limit of services and activities fees at institutions of higher education.

HB 1485 increases the maximum allowable annual increase for student services and activities fees at Washington state's public colleges and universities from 4% to 6%. This change applies to all institutions, allowing governing boards to raise these fees by up to 6% yearly (instead of 4%) if deemed reasonable by committees, to help cover rising costs for services like health care, counseling, recreation, clubs, and events. Community colleges have a separate rule tying fee increases to tuition growth, but the bill's main change is the higher 6% cap for all institutions. The bill aims to help schools maintain essential student services amid inflation without altering the existing fee approval process.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases allowable fee increases (4%→6%) to fund student services like health, counseling, and clubs, directly strengthening higher education program funding and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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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

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5205: Concerning Washington college grant award amounts.

SB 5205 sets specific maximum grant amounts for Washington state college students attending different types of institutions. It establishes fixed dollar amounts (e.g., $9,739 for four-year private nonprofits, $3,694 for two-year private nonprofits) that increase annually based on Washington's wage growth rate starting in 2025-26. To receive these amounts, institutions must sign an affidavit and avoid certain legal settlements; otherwise, students get fixed 2024-25 rates. The bill directly affects students at public, private nonprofit, private for-profit, and approved apprenticeship programs in Washington.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds for college grants with annual increases tied to wage growth, directly funding public education through state budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes and annually increases grant amounts for college students ($9,739 max for four-year institutions), directly funding higher education access and affordability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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