SB 6209 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning financial aid awards for students attending private four-year institutions of higher education.

This bill adjusts Washington State's financial aid program for students attending private four-year colleges. It sets specific maximum grant amounts for private non-profit institutions ($9,739 through 2025-26, then 50% of public research institution awards starting 2026-27) and for private for-profit institutions (similar fixed amounts through 2025-26, transitioning to 50% of public awards in 2026-27). The policy directly affects students enrolled at eligible private four-year colleges in Washington, including both non-profit and for-profit institutions. The key change is shifting from fixed annual amounts to a formula tied to public institution awards beginning in 2026-27.

Issues: ✗ Education

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 19, 2026 Last action Jan 30, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill → Substitute Bill · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to expand its scope to include two-year private for-profit institutions alongside four-year ones. A new provision was added to explicitly define the financial aid award for two-year private for-profit schools starting in the 2026-27 academic year, contingent on the institution meeting specific gainful employment standards.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded from covering only private four-year institutions to also include private two-year institutions.

FISCAL

Added a specific funding rule for two-year private for-profit institutions: starting in the 2026-27 academic year, their grant amount becomes 50% of the maximum Washington college grant award for two-year institutions if they meet the requirements in Section 3.

SCOPE

The Act title was updated to explicitly include 'two-year institutions of higher education' alongside four-year institutions.

TIMELINE

The effective date for the new funding rule for two-year for-profit schools was set to the 2026-27 academic year, whereas the original text only specified the timeline for four-year institutions.

Floor votes

How they voted

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Referred to Ways & Means.

upper

Jan 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Jan 29, 2026

Committee

And refer to Ways & Means.

upper

Jan 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development at 1:30 PM.

upper

Jan 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development at 10:30 AM.

upper

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors