SB 5828 adjusts the maximum Washington College Grant amount for students attending private four-year nonprofit institutions in Washington. Currently capped at $9,739 for 2019-20 (with annual increases limited by tuition growth), the grant will change starting in 2026-27 to equal 50% of the average award given to students at public four-year institutions. This directly affects students enrolled at qualifying private nonprofit colleges in Washington, ensuring their grant amount aligns with public institution funding trends. The bill amends existing grant program rules without altering eligibility for the separate College Bound Scholarship program.
SB 5841 requires Washington school districts to integrate financial aid information into students' "high school and beyond plans" starting in grade 7. The bill mandates that these plans include specific details about federal and state financial aid programs (like the Washington College Grant), application deadlines, documentation needs, and special considerations for homeless or dependent students. It directs schools to provide annual information on graduation pathways and financial aid resources, and to ensure students complete at least one financial aid application or receive an opt-out notice. The law directly affects students in grades 7-12, their families, and school districts, which must coordinate this information through annual updates and language-accessible materials.
SB 5954 requires Washington public colleges to waive all tuition and fees for children and surviving spouses/domestic partners of veterans who died in service, were totally disabled due to service, or were prisoners of war/missing in action. To qualify, recipients must be Washington residents, meet age or federal eligibility criteria (e.g., under 26 or meeting VA benefit periods), and the waiver covers up to 250 credits with a $500 annual stipend for textbooks. The law does not apply to veterans who served only within the U.S. or its waters, and private colleges are encouraged but not required to adopt similar policies. Public institutions must report annually on waiver usage, including demographic data.
HB 2098 imposes a surcharge on select large tech companies with global revenue over $25 billion, increasing the rate from 1.22% (2020-2025) to 7.5% (starting 2026) on their taxable gross income. The surcharge applies to businesses engaged in "advanced computing" (including cloud services, software, and platforms), excluding hospitals, health clinics, and certain telecom or financial firms. Revenues from the surcharge fund workforce education programs, with automatic enrollment increases in computer science and engineering degrees at state universities when demand exceeds capacity by 100+ students. The bill also requires quarterly reporting and includes penalties for evasion, while exempting specific healthcare providers from the tax.
HB 2065 requires Washington's public colleges and universities to reduce administrative staffing to 2008 levels by June 30, 2025, directly affecting all state institutions of higher education. The bill mandates each institution calculate reductions based on its 2008 administrative-to-student ratio, resulting in specific cuts (e.g., UW must reduce 2,381 administrative staff equivalents). This will lower state appropriations for fiscal year 2026 by millions of dollars (e.g., $17.6 million for UW), with anticipated tuition savings for students. The goal is to make higher education more affordable by aligning administrative costs with educational mission, without altering academic programs.
HB 1554 expands eligibility for Washington's College Bound Scholarship to include students who qualified for free or reduced-price lunch in 7th or 8th grade (even if they later lost that status) and those who qualified in 9th grade after being ineligible earlier. It also adds protections for adopted youth (adopted between 14-18 with specific agreements) to retain eligibility. The bill requires automatic enrollment for eligible students with no application needed, and mandates schools to notify students about the program. This change removes barriers that previously excluded low-income students due to temporary income fluctuations.
SB 5308 establishes Washington's Guaranteed Admissions Program, requiring participating public four-year colleges (including regional universities, state colleges, and tribal institutions) to simplify admissions applications and guarantee admission to eligible high school seniors starting in 2026-27. The bill mandates schools to share student data (like GPA) with colleges and requires all high schools to notify students in grades 9-12 about college pathways, including this program, the Washington College Grant, and financial aid options. Participating institutions must report annually on admission rates, enrollment, and demographic data to track equity outcomes. This directly affects high school students seeking college access and public institutions managing admissions.
HB 1762 prohibits Washington state's public colleges and universities from requiring students to live in on-campus housing or university residence halls. This bill directly affects public higher education institutions (like the University of Washington or community colleges) and their students. The key provision adds a new legal restriction to state law, making it illegal for these public schools to mandate residential living as a condition of enrollment. The bill focuses solely on eliminating this requirement, without changing other housing policies or financial aspects.
HB 2054 limits staffing at Washington's community and technical colleges by requiring that no college employs more than one full-time equivalent employee for every six full-time equivalent enrolled students. This rule applies directly to all community and technical colleges across the state, calculated as an annual average. The bill mandates that colleges maintain this 1:6 employee-to-student ratio as part of their operational standards. It does not change tuition, academic programs, or other core functions, but directly affects how colleges manage their workforce based on enrollment numbers.
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.
