Washington Bills

in committee · Washington · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 2463: Supporting Washington farmers feeding families.

HB 2463 creates two new grant programs to connect Washington farmers with hunger relief organizations. It establishes a "farm donation grant program" that provides funds to nonprofits to purchase surplus farm products (like produce, dairy, and protein) directly from Washington growers, compensating farmers for harvest and logistical costs. A second "farm-to-food pantry grant program" supports nonprofits in building direct contracts between farmers, tribes, and food hubs to supply food pantries. The bill prioritizes organizations with at least five years of experience and aims to ensure equitable access for minority, veteran, women, and tribal farmers. The law requires grant recipients to report results to the state department and is known as the "Washington Farmers Feeding Families Act."

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 6171: Addressing emerging large energy use facilities.

SB 6171 regulates large data centers (defined as facilities with ≥20 megawatts of energy demand) by requiring transparency about their electricity, water, and refrigerant use, and mandating that they transition to 100% clean energy over time. The bill directly affects data centers, particularly those supporting artificial intelligence growth, which are projected to become the largest source of new electricity demand in the Pacific Northwest. Key provisions include setting policy priorities for energy affordability, grid reliability, and environmental protection, while ensuring these facilities disclose resource consumption data to the public. The legislation aims to balance the industry’s economic benefits with safeguards for consumers and communities.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

in committee · Washington · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 2443: Creating the armed forces reserve postsecondary education grant.

HB 2443 creates a state-funded grant program to help Washington state military reservists and their spouses or dependents pay for college. Eligible participants must be stationed in Washington, enrolled in an accredited Washington institution, and agree to serve one year in the reserves for each year they receive the grant. The grant covers tuition (up to University of Washington rates), books ($500), and fees, but cannot reduce other financial aid. If participants don’t fulfill their service obligation, they must repay the grant with interest, and the state can collect repayments through wage garnishment. The program is administered by the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Veterans

in committee · Washington · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 2458: Expanding access to the Washington college grant to students enrolled in eligible postsecondary nondegree credential programs.

HB 2458 would expand Washington's college grant program to cover students enrolled in eligible nondegree credential programs (such as career certificates or short-term workforce training) starting in the 2027-28 academic year. It requires the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and the Student Achievement Council to propose maximum grant amounts for these programs by December 2026. To qualify, students must still meet existing financial need criteria (e.g., public assistance program participation) and be Washington residents. This change allows students to use the grant for shorter, degree-free training without pursuing a full college credential.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Washington · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 2376: Concerning property tax reform.

HB 2376 expands property tax relief for eligible seniors, disabled retirees, and veterans by creating tiered exemptions based on income. It directly affects Washington residents aged 61+ (or disabled retirees/veterans with 80%+ service-connected disability), who qualify for full or partial exemptions on property taxes if their combined income falls below specific thresholds. Key provisions include: full exemption from excess taxes and state/local taxes for those below income threshold 3; exemptions covering 45% of home value (up to $200,000) for threshold 2; and 80% coverage (up to $500,000) for threshold 1. The bill also establishes rules for valuing homes using 1995 values or requalification assessments, and allows exemptions to transfer to new residences under specific conditions.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing ✓ Veterans

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 6224: Supporting children and youth behavioral health.

SB 6224 establishes a diverse work group to improve access to behavioral health services for children, youth, and young adults in Washington State. The group, requiring representation from state agencies, healthcare providers, schools, parents, youth (including two under age six), tribal governments, and underserved communities, will monitor existing programs and remove barriers between education, healthcare, and early learning systems. Key responsibilities include advancing insurance parity for mental health coverage, strengthening support for early childhood development (prenatal to age five), and advising on school-based mental health and suicide prevention. The work group will guide state efforts using the Washington Thriving Strategic Plan to ensure equitable, high-quality care across all communities.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Washington · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 2352: Holding state officers and state employees to the same conflict of interest standard that is required of municipal officers.

HB 2352 aligns conflict of interest rules for state officers and employees with those already required for municipal officers. It revises the definition of "beneficial interest" to prohibit ownership of more than 1% in entities doing business with the state (previously allowing up to 10% for state staff), matching the standard municipal officers have followed for decades. This change directly affects state employees and officials who may hold financial stakes in contracts, sales, leases, or grants involving state agencies. The bill eliminates the previous 10-times-laxer standard for state-level staff, ensuring consistent ethical requirements across all government levels. It focuses solely on clarifying the financial interest threshold, without altering other ethics provisions.

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 6174: Establishing producer responsibility for textiles.

SB 6174 requires textile brands and manufacturers selling apparel in Washington to fund and manage the end-of-life recycling and reuse of their products. It directly affects most clothing, footwear, and accessory brands introduced in the state (excluding small businesses with under $1 million annual global turnover, PPE, and secondhand items), making them responsible for creating collection systems. Key provisions include establishing producer responsibility organizations to handle collection, sorting, and recycling through designated sites or mail-back programs, while prioritizing repair and reuse to reduce landfill waste. The bill amends state codes to implement this system, setting penalties for noncompliance.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Washington · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 2498: Concerning nursing education program standards.

HB 2498 limits the Washington State Nursing Quality Assurance Commission's authority by requiring it to align with national accreditation standards for nursing education programs. The bill prohibits the board from demanding additional standards beyond national accreditation, deeming accredited programs' self-studies sufficient documentation, and forbidding extra corrective action requests beyond those from national accreditors. It mandates technical assistance for programs with NCLEX pass rates below 80% and expedites approval for new programs at institutions with existing accredited nursing programs. The bill directly affects nursing education programs, educators, and simulation staff, focusing on reducing regulatory burden while maintaining quality through established national accreditation processes.

Topics ✗ Education ✗ Healthcare

in committee · Washington · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 2440: Addressing records maintained by the office of the education ombuds.

HB 2440 strengthens confidentiality rules for education complaint records handled by Washington's Education Ombuds office. It prohibits disclosing identifying information about students, complainants, or individuals involved in complaints, except with written consent, for legislative investigations into ombuds misconduct, or for governor inquiries requiring such details. The bill requires the ombuds to redact other individuals' identifying information when providing complainants access to their own complaint records. It also allows sharing deidentified data with the state education data center while maintaining strict confidentiality. The law defines "identifying information" as details that could reasonably identify someone in a school community.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Technology

in committee · Washington · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 2432: Supporting public school students by improving their access to surplus technology hardware.

HB 2432 allows Washington school districts to prioritize selling or giving surplus technology hardware (like laptops and tablets) to public school students at reduced price or for free, instead of selling to the general public first. It specifically directs districts to prioritize students from families qualifying for free/reduced meals or earning at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. The bill amends existing law to require districts to document sales/grants and defines "surplus technology hardware" as devices issued to students during the school year. This policy change aims to reduce financial barriers for students needing technology for education and workforce development.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Technology

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 6186: Directing the department of social and health services to apply for a waiver from the United States department of agriculture restricting the use of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits from being used to purchase unhealthy foods such as candy and sweetened beverages.

SB 6186 directs Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services to seek a federal waiver from the USDA, which currently restricts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from purchasing candy and sweetened beverages. If approved, the waiver would allow SNAP recipients in Washington to use their benefits for these items, though the bill explicitly excludes milk, 50%+ juice drinks, sports drinks, and medical beverages from the restriction. The department must annually request the waiver until granted, but the bill does not change current federal rules - SNAP benefits would still be restricted until the waiver is approved. This bill affects Washington SNAP participants who currently cannot buy candy or sugary drinks with their benefits, pending federal approval. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Human Services Committee after a public hearing.

Topics ✗ Healthcare

Bill results