Education

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 26, 2025

SR 8635: Celebrating Filipino American educators.

This Senate Resolution (SR 8635) recognizes and encourages Washington state residents to celebrate Filipino American educators during October's Filipino American History Month, beginning in 2025. It directly affects Washington citizens and organizations by urging them to acknowledge the contributions of Filipino American educators to public schools, higher education, and community fields. The resolution does not create new laws but formally calls for recognition of these educators' work, referencing their historical impact and listing notable individuals in the state. It directs copies to educational institutions, historical societies, and community groups to support this observance.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationResolution explicitly recognizes Filipino American educators' contributions to schools/higher ed, aligning with supporting educators per bill language.85% confidence

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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

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1839: Increasing the investments in our workforce by amending the advanced computing surcharge.

HB 1839 imposes a 1.22% surcharge on select advanced computing businesses with global revenue exceeding $25 billion annually, targeting large tech firms engaged in software, cloud services, or platforms like social media. The tax applies to affiliated groups (e.g., parent companies and subsidiaries), with exemptions for hospitals and healthcare providers. Revenue generated will fund workforce programs, including expanding the Washington College Grant for families earning up to 70% of median income, increasing STEM teacher training, growing in-state college seats, and supporting student work-study in STEM fields. The bill aims to address a projected 600,000-worker shortfall by directing funds to education and training aligned with high-demand sectors like technology and healthcare.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes new tax on large tech firms to fund workforce programs, directly increasing state revenue allocation for public services per summary.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates surcharge revenue to expand Washington College Grant, directly increasing higher education access for low-income families.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds workforce programs including Washington College Grant expansion for low-income families, directly advancing employment opportunities and education access per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Fees & Licensing State Budget Higher Education Teachers

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5335: Establishing the rural nursing education program.

SB 5335 establishes a state-funded rural nursing education program to address nurse shortages in Washington's underserved rural communities. The program provides distance learning and support services - including childcare, transportation assistance, and internet access - to nursing students who commit to working in rural areas after graduation. It requires collaboration between rural hospitals, academic institutions, and community partners to create tailored training models and address workforce barriers like high urban salaries and pandemic-related burnout. The bill targets Washington’s 39 critical access hospitals and aims to build a sustainable pipeline of local nurses for rural health facilities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesState-funded program allocates public resources to address rural healthcare workforce shortages, directly increasing government spending on essential services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationState-funded nursing education program expands higher education access in underserved rural areas with childcare/transportation support, directly advancing educational access and workforce development.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareState-funded program trains nurses for rural areas, directly addressing workforce shortages and improving healthcare access in underserved communities through education and support services.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly provides internet access as a support service for rural nursing students, directly expanding digital access in underserved communities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Healthcare Workforce Broadband Access Tags Rural Communities

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5658: Concerning the workforce education investment account.

SB 5658 modifies Washington state's college grant program to expand financial aid eligibility, raising the income threshold for maximum grants from 55% to 70% of the state median family income. It also creates a new $500 annual "bridge grant" for low-income students receiving the maximum college grant (excluding those in the college-bound scholarship program), to cover non-tuition expenses like books and housing. The bill establishes a "workforce education investment account" funded by a surcharge, directing all revenues to advanced computing programs at institutions like the University of Washington, with automatic enrollment increases when demand exceeds 100 students. This account must supplement, not replace, other funding, and the bill creates an oversight board to manage allocations. The changes primarily affect low-income undergraduate students pursuing higher education in STEM fields, especially those from underserved communities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands college grant eligibility and adds bridge grants for low-income students, increasing financial access to higher education through funding enhancements.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill includes housing as covered expense in bridge grant for low-income students, advancing housing affordability through education aid.60% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5567: Expanding secondary training for careers in natural resources and conservation.

SB 5567 expands existing youth training programs in natural resource and conservation careers for Washington students aged 14-17, particularly targeting schools in disadvantaged communities. The bill requires the state to fund a nonprofit partner to run after-school or summer programs (minimum 90 hours, two-thirds work-based) that provide high school credits, dual college credit opportunities, or industry credentials in fields like forest management and water resource conservation. It mandates partnerships with employers to identify workforce needs and prioritize historically marginalized students, using state standards including Indigenous curriculum and environmental education. The program must track outcomes like graduation rates and report annually to the legislature on its effectiveness and funding use.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds nonprofit-run after-school/summer programs with high school credits, dual college credit, and industry credentials in conservation careers, expanding educational access for disadvantaged students.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds youth training in natural resource conservation careers, building workforce capacity for environmental protection and conservation efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Curriculum Higher Education Conservation Forestry

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1594: Addressing increased school transportation and operating costs due to the climate commitment act.

HB 1594 amends Washington's climate commitment account to provide dedicated funding that offsets increased school transportation and utility costs directly caused by the Climate Commitment Act. The bill adds a specific provision (section (n)) to the account's eligible uses, directing that funds from the climate commitment account may be allocated to cover these school expenses. This measure directly affects public school districts across Washington facing higher operational costs due to the state's climate law requirements. The bill does not alter the Climate Commitment Act itself but creates a targeted financial mechanism to support schools. It ensures schools are not financially burdened by the climate law's operational impacts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates existing climate account funds to offset school transportation/utility costs, directly funding essential public school operations under budget management.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides dedicated funding from climate account to offset school transportation/utility costs, directly supporting school operations and financial stability.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds schools to offset costs from Climate Commitment Act, supporting its implementation without weakening environmental regulations.92% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFunds school transportation costs directly caused by Climate Commitment Act, supporting public school district transportation operations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Transportation

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2084: Increasing funding for K-12, health care, and public safety by repealing or modifying tax preferences for certain industries and goods.

House Bill 2084 seeks to increase state funding for K-12 education, health care, and public safety by modifying certain tax preferences. The bill repeals an existing tax exclusion, making sales of precious metal bullion and monetized bullion subject to state taxes. Additionally, it clarifies that businesses operating self-service storage facilities are subject to the state's business and occupation (B&O) tax for renting or leasing individual storage spaces. These changes aim to generate revenue for the specified public services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill closes tax loopholes (repealing bullion tax exclusion, clarifying B&O tax) to generate revenue for K-12, healthcare, and public safety funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly increases K-12 education funding by generating revenue through tax changes to fund schools, health care, and public safety.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly increases healthcare funding by generating revenue through tax changes targeting precious metal sales and storage facilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax State Budget K-12 Education

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1988: 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.

HB 1988 allows retirees from Washington's public employees' retirement system (PERS), teachers' retirement system (TRS), and school employees' retirement system (SER) to work in school districts without losing pension benefits for up to 1,040 hours per year. This replaces a previous limit of 867 hours for non-administrative school staff and certain administrators in second-class school districts. Retirees can continue receiving full pension payments while working these hours, but benefits would be reduced if they exceed the 1,040-hour annual threshold. The change applies between March 2022 and July 2029 and affects current retirees working in eligible school roles.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows retired teachers to work more hours in schools without losing pensions, supporting educator retention and workforce flexibility in K-12 settings.85% confidence

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signed · Washington · House May 20, 2025

HB 1296: Promoting a safe and supportive public education system.

HB 1296, "Promoting a safe and supportive public education system," enacts new requirements for public schools, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools in Washington. The bill prioritizes student safety, access to education free of discrimination, and privacy within the school system. It expands protected characteristics to include ethnicity, gender expression, gender identity, homelessness, immigration or citizenship status, and neurodivergence in anti-discrimination policies. Furthermore, the bill mandates that schools develop and share a "Statement of Student Rights" through educational and promotional materials, including civics education, to inform students of their entitlements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands anti-discrimination protections to include gender identity, neurodivergence, and homelessness, prioritizing student safety and access in public education system.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill explicitly includes 'immigration or citizenship status' as a protected characteristic in school anti-discrimination policies, protecting students from discrimination based on immigration status.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Citizenship & Naturalization