Education

passed · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5193: Supporting remote testing options for students enrolled in online school programs.

Senate Bill 5193 supports remote testing options for students enrolled in online school programs in Washington state, directly affecting these students, their families, and participating school districts. Beginning in the 2027-28 school year, school districts with online programs may offer students the ability to complete statewide assessments remotely. To implement this, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) must develop or update assessment administration and security policies by April 1, 2027. These policies will cover requirements for testing personnel, student-to-proctor ratios, remote testing environments, device and network specifications, and parental consent. The bill aims to reduce burdens on families and ensure equitable access to assessments for online learners.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables remote testing for online students, expanding access to statewide assessments without restricting options, aligning with enhanced educational access.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

Track

passed · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5738: Permitting individuals retired from the public employees' retirement system, the teachers' retirement system, and the school employees' retirement system additional opportunities to work for up to 1,040 hours per year while in receipt of pension benefits.

SB 5738 extends a temporary provision allowing certain retired public employees in Washington state to work more hours while continuing to receive their pension benefits. The bill permits individuals retired from the public employees', teachers', school employees', and public safety employees' retirement systems to work up to 1,040 hours per year in specific public service roles, such as nonadministrative positions in school districts. This provision, which would have expired on July 1, 2025, is extended until January 1, 2030. This allows these retirees to re-enter the workforce for additional hours without their pension payments being suspended.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows retired teachers to work part-time in schools, supporting educator retention and addressing staffing needs without direct funding.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

Track

passed · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5297: Concerning the early learning facilities grant and loan program.

SB 5297 modifies the early learning facilities grant and loan program, which supports facilities providing care for children aged one month through 12 years. The bill renames the program's accounts and clarifies their uses, including funding for early childhood education and assistance programs. It removes the mandatory matching fund requirement for applicants experiencing financial hardship and introduces emergency grants for facilities affected by natural disasters or health and safety threats. The bill also expands eligibility to include Tribal compact schools and allows the Department of Commerce to contract with private-public partnerships to administer grants and loans.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves financial barriers for facilities, adds emergency grants, and clarifies funding for early childhood education programs serving children 1 month-12 years.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

Track

signed · Washington · House May 20, 2025

HB 1296: Promoting a safe and supportive public education system.

HB 1296, "Promoting a safe and supportive public education system," enacts new requirements for public schools, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools in Washington. The bill prioritizes student safety, access to education free of discrimination, and privacy within the school system. It expands protected characteristics to include ethnicity, gender expression, gender identity, homelessness, immigration or citizenship status, and neurodivergence in anti-discrimination policies. Furthermore, the bill mandates that schools develop and share a "Statement of Student Rights" through educational and promotional materials, including civics education, to inform students of their entitlements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands anti-discrimination protections to include gender identity, neurodivergence, and homelessness, prioritizing student safety and access in public education system.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill explicitly includes 'immigration or citizenship status' as a protected characteristic in school anti-discrimination policies, protecting students from discrimination based on immigration status.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Education

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5412: Providing temporary interfund loans for school districts.

Senate Bill 5412 provides financial tools for Washington school districts facing severe financial difficulties, specifically those in "binding conditions" or under "enhanced financial oversight." It allows these districts to take temporary, interest-free loans from their capital projects funds, which must be repaid within one year and not detriment existing projects. Additionally, districts in binding conditions may request authorization from the Superintendent of Public Instruction to sell real property. Proceeds from such sales must be used to restore financial stability or fund an authorized interfund loan, with this authorization limited to once every ten years.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enables school districts in financial distress to access temporary interest-free loans from capital funds, preventing funding shortfalls and maintaining educational operations.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5813: Increasing funding to the education legacy trust account by creating a more progressive rate structure for the capital gains tax and estate tax.

SB 5813 aims to increase funding for public education, child care, early learning, and higher education by modifying the state's capital gains and estate taxes. Beginning January 1, 2025, an additional excise tax of 2.90 percent will be imposed on an individual's Washington capital gains that exceed $1,000,000. For the estate tax, the bill increases the applicable exclusion amount to $3,000,000 for estates of decedents dying on or after July 1, 2025. It also creates a more progressive rate structure for the estate tax by increasing the top tier rates up to 35 percent, with all revenues dedicated to the education legacy trust account.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes progressive capital gains/estate taxes on high earners to fund public education, childcare, and higher education programs, directly increasing state funding for essential services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly increases education funding via progressive tax changes, targeting capital gains over $1M and estate tax adjustments to fund public education, child care, and higher education.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5785: Modifying students' share of the education costs at institutions of higher education.

This bill modifies the Washington college grant and college bound scholarship programs, impacting students seeking financial aid for higher education in Washington state. It codifies the maximum eligibility for the Washington college grant to students with family incomes up to 60 percent of the state median family income. The bill also adjusts how maximum grant amounts are calculated for various institutions, including private universities and apprenticeship programs, with some changes taking effect in the 2026-27 academic year. Additionally, it updates criteria for institutional eligibility, specifically for out-of-state affiliated institutions, to participate in these financial aid programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationModifies grant eligibility to include lower-income students (up to 60% median income) and adjusts funding calculations, expanding access to higher education financial aid.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5009: Modifying the student transportation allocation to accommodate multiple vehicle types for transporting students.

SB 5009 modifies the student transportation allocation system for school districts in Washington state. It encourages districts to use various vehicle types, including school buses and other vehicles like district-owned passenger cars, for student transportation if deemed safe and cost-effective. The bill updates reporting requirements for districts to include miles driven per vehicle type and directs the superintendent of public instruction (SPI) to calculate transportation allocations based on all vehicle types used. Additionally, the SPI will establish minimum categories and competitive specifications for all student transportation vehicles to guide reimbursement.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows flexible transportation options to maintain student access, supporting operational efficiency for school districts.75% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill modifies student transportation allocation to allow flexible vehicle use (buses, cars) for safety/cost, updating reporting to optimize existing transportation resources within the framework.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5194: Concerning state general obligation bonds and related accounts.

SB 5194 authorizes the state of Washington to issue nearly $4.7 billion in general obligation bonds. These bonds will finance various state capital projects outlined in the 2023-2025 and 2025-2027 fiscal biennia and future biennia. The proceeds are deposited into state building construction accounts and then transferred to specific accounts, including those for outdoor recreation, habitat conservation, farm and forest preservation, and early learning facilities. The state pledges its full faith and credit for repayment, using general state revenues to cover the principal and interest on these bonds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes $4.7B in bonds to fund capital projects including recreation, conservation, and education facilities, advancing state budget priorities through targeted appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds early learning facilities, a direct educational infrastructure investment under bond proceeds for state capital projects.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds habitat conservation, farm/forest preservation, and outdoor recreation accounts from bond proceeds, directly advancing environmental protection priorities.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5752: Modifying child care and early childhood development programs.

Senate Bill 5752 modifies child care and early childhood development programs for families and young children in Washington State. It extends the full statewide implementation timeline for the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) from the 2026-27 school year to the 2030-31 school year. The bill also revises ECEAP eligibility criteria, removing basic food benefits as a standalone qualifier and adding eligibility for Indian children at or below 100% of the state median income. Additionally, it updates the "birth to three" ECEAP pilot project by making its funding subject to appropriation and clarifying eligibility for children under 36 months from low-income families or those receiving basic food benefits.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands ECEAP eligibility to include Indian children and removes barriers, increasing access to early childhood education programs, a core education access component.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education