Education (Higher Education)

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2063: Adjusting tuition waivers for high school completers at community and technical colleges.

HB 2063 adjusts tuition waiver eligibility for students finishing high school at Washington community and technical colleges. It requires full tuition waivers for children and surviving spouses of fallen or totally disabled law enforcement officers, firefighters, or state patrol officers (if enrolling within 10 years of high school graduation), and allows partial waivers for non-resident students aged 19-20 completing high school. The bill also specifies that waivers for high school completers must cover only courses leading to a diploma or certificate. Colleges must report waiver costs annually to the state board, which then shares the data with legislative committees. This directly affects low-income high school completers, first responder families, and non-resident students seeking diplomas.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands tuition waiver access for first responder dependents and non-resident students, enhancing educational access for specific groups as defined in the topic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5275: Modifying funding and award levels for the passport to careers program and eligibility for the Washington college grant.

SB 5275 modifies how funds for two student aid programs are managed. It requires the Passport to Careers program (for job-training scholarships) and the Washington College Grant to be funded through a dedicated state financial aid account, ensuring these funds remain available year-to-year without expiring. The bill clarifies that money for these programs must be deposited into this account and can only be used for their intended purposes, with no changes to the actual grant amounts or eligibility rules. This policy change ensures consistent funding for students seeking career training or college education through these specific programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDedicated account ensures year-to-year funding for student aid programs, protecting existing appropriations without altering grant amounts or eligibility.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationSecures dedicated funding for student aid programs, preventing expiration of funds and ensuring continued support for career training and college grants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5523: Concerning the role of students on the governing boards of institutions of higher education.

SB 5523 requires community college districts in Washington to appoint a student trustee to their governing boards. The student trustee, selected by the governor from a list submitted by student governments, must be a full-time student (enrolled in at least 10 credits) in good academic standing. The bill mandates this position for all community college districts, with the student serving a one-year term starting July 2026, and grants them voting rights on board matters. This policy aims to incorporate student perspectives directly into governance decisions affecting campus life and services.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires student representation on community college governing boards, enhancing student voice in governance and aligning with educational access and student program support.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1020: Increasing the accessibility of academic reengagement opportunities for eligible students.

HB 1020 creates a structured system to help students aged 16-21 who are not on track to graduate high school reengage with education. It requires school districts to partner with community colleges, educational service districts, or community-based organizations to provide programs offering academic instruction (including free college courses at community colleges), career counseling, and case management. These programs must generate high school credits toward diplomas or equivalency certificates and address barriers to success. The bill defines "eligible students" as those under 21 not accumulating sufficient credits or recommended by social services/juvenile justice systems. It directs the state education office to develop rules with input from colleges and community organizations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires districts to partner for free college courses and academic support, directly expanding access for at-risk students to earn high school credits.95% confidence

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

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5618: Concerning transparency in college admissions.

SB 5618 requires all Washington state universities, regional universities, and the state college to clearly display specific admissions data on their websites. The bill mandates posting scoring criteria (like rubrics and weights for GPA, tests, and essays), demographic data of applicants and acceptees (including race, income, and residency), and GPA statistics for both groups. This applies to both general college admissions and program-specific admissions. The goal is to make admissions processes more transparent for prospective students and the public. The bill is currently in its first reading stage.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates transparency in college admissions data to improve access and fairness, aligning with educational access indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1447: Tracking Washington application for state financial aid award amounts.

This bill requires Washington's higher education office to track and publicly share the exact state financial aid amounts awarded to each student using the Washington Application for State Financial Aid, starting with the 2025-26 academic year. By December 1, 2026, the office must annually report to the legislature on total applicants, recipients, and total aid disbursed per higher education institution. This data will be published online to increase transparency about how state financial aid is distributed. The bill directly affects students receiving state aid through the Washington Application and all public colleges/universities in Washington.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates transparency in state financial aid distribution for higher education, enhancing accountability in funding allocation per educational funding policies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5119: Concerning collective bargaining for certain employees who are enrolled in academic programs at public institutions of higher education.

SB 5119 expands collective bargaining rights to student-employees enrolled in academic or certificate programs at Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Western Washington University, and The Evergreen State College. It allows these employees to collectively bargain over specific workplace issues like compensation and tuition remission waivers, but excludes topics such as tuition rates, academic calendars, class sizes, and termination for academic reasons. The bill specifies that bargaining units must cover only one institution and cannot include employees already covered under other state labor laws. This legislation directly affects student-employees working at these four public universities who are simultaneously enrolled in academic programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands bargaining rights for student-employees at public universities over compensation/tuition, supporting educational access and stability for student-workers without restricting academic policies.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands collective bargaining rights for student-employees over compensation and tuition remission, directly supporting workers' organizing rights in employment context.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Collective Bargaining

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signed · Washington · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 5355: Improving safety at institutions of higher education while supporting student survivors of sexual assault.

SB 5355 establishes new protections and resources for student survivors of sex-based violence and harassment at Washington state's larger institutions of higher education. The bill grants survivors specific rights, including access to trauma-informed employees, a timely institutional investigation process, and mental health or counseling services. It also requires institutions to offer supportive measures, such as academic adjustments or schedule modifications, and honor court-issued no-contact orders. Additionally, the bill mandates training for Title IX employees and requires certain campuses to establish committees to evaluate and improve survivor support services.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes protections, resources, and supportive measures for student survivors at higher education institutions, enhancing safety and access within educational settings.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health/counseling services for survivors, directly advancing healthcare access within institutional protections for sexual assault survivors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Mental Health

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1883: Concerning the Washington customized employment training program.

HB 1883 extends the expiration date of a tax credit for businesses participating in Washington's customized employment training program from 2026 to July 1, 2031. The credit allows businesses to reduce their state tax bill by 50% of payments made to the training program. The bill requires the college board to submit a 2028 report detailing program outcomes, including employee training numbers, wage growth, retention rates, and geographic distribution. The legislature states that future extensions may be considered if 75% of businesses complete training and repay the allowance, based on the report's findings.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends tax credit allowing businesses to reduce state tax bill by 50%, providing tax relief and funding workforce training program.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends tax credit for business participation in college board-administered training program, supporting workforce development within higher education via tax incentives and requiring outcome reporting.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends tax credit for employer training program with outcome reporting on wage growth and retention, supporting worker skill development and employment outcomes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Tax Credits Higher Education Workforce Development

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passed · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5797: Enacting a tax on stocks, bonds, and other financial intangible assets for the benefit of public schools.

SB 5797 enacts a new tax on certain financial intangible assets, such as stocks and bonds, in Washington State. The bill levies a tax of $0.34 for every $1,000 of true and fair value of these assets. It primarily affects individuals and artificial persons with over $50,000,000 in taxable financial intangible assets, while exempting retirement savings, college savings, and ownership interests in private companies. Revenues generated from this tax are dedicated to the education legacy trust account to support public schools, early learning, child care, and higher education.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes tax on high-value financial assets to fund public schools via education legacy trust, directly advancing education funding under Budget & Taxes.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill imposes tax on financial assets to fund public schools via education legacy trust account, directly increasing education funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Higher Education

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