SB 5186 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning school district elections.

SB 5186 lowers the voter approval threshold for school district bond measures from three-fifths (60%) to a simple majority (50%+1) of votes cast in elections. This change applies specifically to school districts seeking to validate or issue bonds for facilities funding, directly affecting school boards and voters in communities holding such bond elections. The bill modifies statutes (like RCW 28A.535.020) to reflect this lower voting requirement while maintaining the existing 2.5% total debt limit on taxable property value. It does not alter debt limits or other funding mechanisms, only the voter approval standard for new facility bonds.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Feb 26, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Bill → Substitute Bill · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to shift its primary focus from school district bond elections to local funding for school district facilities and impact fees. The most significant change is the replacement of a strict 55% voter approval threshold with a simple majority for authorizing school district bonds, making it easier for districts to secure funding. Additionally, the bill now includes extensive new regulations on impact fees, defining them, setting limits on their use, and creating specific exemptions for early learning facilities and low-income housing.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from solely governing school district bond validation to include broad authority over local impact fees and facility financing for counties, cities, and towns.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the voter approval threshold for school district bond validation from 55% to a simple majority, lowering the barrier for districts to issue debt.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'development activity,' 'impact fee,' and 'early learning facility' to clarify how fees are applied and exempted.

REQUIREMENT

Established new requirements for local governments to create deferral systems for impact fees on single-family homes and to record liens for unpaid fees.

EXEMPTIONS

Created specific exemptions for early learning facilities and low-income housing from impact fees, with conditions such as covenants restricting future property use.

TECHNICAL

Repealed an existing statute (RCW 82.02.110) that allowed school districts to extend the use of impact fees.

FISCAL

Expanded the list of RCWs amended to include multiple sections related to impact fees, reflecting the new focus on facility financing.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.

upper

Feb 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Referred to Ways & Means.

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

And refer to Ways & Means.

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 10:30 AM.

upper

Jan 16, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 10:30 AM.

upper

1 primary · 18 co-sponsors