SB 6227 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Formalizing data collection protocols to support parenting students.

SB 6227 requires Washington colleges and universities to establish consistent statewide data collection protocols to identify parenting students (parents enrolled in higher education). It directs the Higher Education Coordinating Board to develop these protocols, form a work group with college leaders and student advocates, and encourage institutions to submit annual data to the state education data center. The bill aims to make parenting students' needs visible for better policy decisions, resource allocation, and support programs related to childcare and financial aid. This data-driven approach seeks to improve retention and graduation rates for parenting students without directly funding new services.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Last action Feb 26, 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 from only public institutions to include private non-profit four-year colleges, and changed the data submission requirement from a mandatory rule to an encouragement. The bill's title was also updated to reflect its Senate committee assignment and the new bill number.

Scope change

Expanded applicability to include private non-profit four-year institutions of higher education, whereas the original version applied only to public institutions.

SCOPE

Changed the requirement for data collection protocols to apply to 'public and private not-for-profit four-year institutions' instead of just 'institutions of higher education' (which was limited to public in context).

REQUIREMENT

Changed the data submission requirement from 'shall send their data' (mandatory) to 'are encouraged to send their data' (non-mandatory).

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill header to reflect the Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development committee and changed the bill number from S-3963.1 to S-4377.1.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

On motion, referred to Rules Committee for second reading.

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 · 4 co-sponsors