HB 1868 creates a state matching grant program to help critical access hospitals hire licensed athletic trainers who provide free services to students in local school districts. Hospitals can receive up to $60,000 in state funds, matching their own contributions, to cover trainer salaries, medical supplies, equipment, and program promotion. To qualify, hospitals must demonstrate school district need, detail how funds will be used, and prove they can match the state grant amount. The program requires hospitals to wait 12 months before reapplying and mandates a 2026 legislative report on implementation. This directly affects critical access hospitals and the school districts they serve.
SB 5271 requires Washington state school districts classified as "first class" to hire a school nurse. This applies specifically to larger school districts (as defined by state law) and mandates they employ either a registered nurse or an advanced registered nurse practitioner. The nurse must hold a valid educational staff associate certificate for school nurses. The law aims to protect student health by ensuring these districts have qualified nursing staff on-site. This replaces the previous option for such districts to "may employ" a nurse with a mandatory requirement.
SB 5386 requires Washington schools to improve support for students who experience sexual assault by creating a youth advisory council to review and recommend changes to reporting policies and training. The bill mandates schools to provide trauma-informed training for staff every three years on responding to abuse disclosures, including bystander intervention. It also requires the state education office to develop a culturally informed, translated student and family guide explaining school policies on sexual misconduct by November 2026. These changes directly affect school staff, students, and families in public K-12 schools, focusing on practical resources rather than new legal obligations. The bill expires August 1, 2027.
HB 1352 amends Washington's educator support program to require school districts receiving funds to provide trained mentors for "novice school nurses" (registered or advanced practice nurses in their first three years of school-based roles). The bill expands an existing program for beginning teachers, principals, and staff to include school nurses under the same mentorship requirements. Key provisions mandate districts prioritize these mentors, align with research-based induction standards, and include components like paid orientation, ongoing professional development, and non-evaluative observations. The law applies to school districts receiving competitive state funds for the Beginning Educator Support Team program, which focuses on improving retention and support for new educators. This is not a standalone nurse program but an expansion of an existing educator support framework.
HB 1404 expands access to free school meals in Washington state by removing income-based eligibility requirements. It mandates that all public school students who request a meal receive it at no cost, regardless of family income, to address food insecurity and support academic success. The bill amends several education funding statutes (including RCW 28A.235.135 and 28A.235.160) to align meal access with this new policy. It directly affects every public school student in Washington, ensuring no child experiences hunger during the school day. The policy change replaces previous tiered eligibility systems with universal free meals for all requesting students.
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.
SB 5369 addresses Washington's critical shortage of school social workers, which currently stands at one worker for every 3,798 students - far below the recommended national standard of one per 250 students. The bill requires educational service districts to partner with universities, mental health agencies, and school districts to expand the workforce through in-school training placements for social work students and conditional certification pathways. It revises statutes to clarify school social workers' roles in providing mental health counseling, crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and support for students with individualized education plans. The law directly affects K-12 schools and students, particularly those facing emotional distress, behavioral challenges, or high absenteeism rates, by increasing access to mental health support within educational settings.
SB 5007 creates a statewide program to support students missing 10% or more of school days (chronically absent) and at risk of not graduating high school. It requires educational service districts to train staff on early warning systems to identify at-risk students and connect them with supports like family engagement, health services, academic help, and transportation. The bill establishes a "Building Bridges" grant program for local school-family-community partnerships to implement dropout prevention systems, including data-driven interventions, mentorship, and alternative education options. These partnerships must collect and report data on student demographics, attendance, graduation rates, and outcomes to track effectiveness. The law aims to improve reengagement and graduation rates through coordinated, evidence-based support for vulnerable students.
HB 1863 requires all Washington school districts to develop cardiac emergency response plans by the 2025-26 school year, directly affecting schools, staff, students, and participants in athletic events. The plan must include designated response teams (staff, coaches, nurses), AED placement within three minutes of cardiac events, annual staff training in CPR/AED use, and coordination with local emergency services. Schools must update plans yearly and maintain AEDs per manufacturer guidelines, with clear signage. The bill also creates a grant program prioritizing schools with high student poverty rates (50%+ on free/reduced lunch) to fund AEDs and training.
HB 1634 establishes regional school safety centers in Washington state to help public school districts coordinate behavioral health support for students. The centers will provide training for school staff on suicide prevention, facilitate partnerships between schools and community health providers, offer Medicaid billing assistance, and support school-based threat assessment programs. This bill directly affects all public school districts, their staff (including counselors and psychologists), and students needing behavioral health services by improving access to existing resources through coordinated planning. It amends state law to require these centers to work with tribes and community partners to ensure culturally responsive support. The bill focuses on strengthening existing systems rather than creating new programs.
