Education

signed · Washington · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 5358: Concerning career and technical education in sixth grade.

Senate Bill 5358 addresses career and technical education (CTE) for sixth-grade students. The bill modifies existing state law concerning the allocation of funding for basic education, specifically related to CTE programs. It aims to integrate sixth grade into the scope of CTE provisions, allowing school districts to offer these programs to younger students. This change could expand early exposure to career-focused learning for sixth-grade students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands CTE access to sixth graders via funding allocation modification, increasing early career education opportunities for students.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 5355: Improving safety at institutions of higher education while supporting student survivors of sexual assault.

SB 5355 establishes new protections and resources for student survivors of sex-based violence and harassment at Washington state's larger institutions of higher education. The bill grants survivors specific rights, including access to trauma-informed employees, a timely institutional investigation process, and mental health or counseling services. It also requires institutions to offer supportive measures, such as academic adjustments or schedule modifications, and honor court-issued no-contact orders. Additionally, the bill mandates training for Title IX employees and requires certain campuses to establish committees to evaluate and improve survivor support services.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes protections, resources, and supportive measures for student survivors at higher education institutions, enhancing safety and access within educational settings.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health/counseling services for survivors, directly advancing healthcare access within institutional protections for sexual assault survivors.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 5641: Encouraging public school instruction in awareness of blood donation.

Senate Bill 5641 encourages public school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools in Washington state to offer instruction on blood donation awareness. Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, this instruction may be included in health classes required for graduation for students in grades 9-12. The bill specifies that the awareness programs should be provided by nationally recognized organizations, such as the American Red Cross or Bloodworks Northwest. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction will post links to these approved instructional programs on its website. This initiative aims to educate students about the importance of blood donation and opportunities to participate.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates blood donation awareness in health curriculum for grades 9-12, enhancing student education on health topics without restricting content.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 1540: Expanding eligibility for the students experiencing homelessness and foster youth program to an accredited tribal college.

HB 1540 expands eligibility for the "students experiencing homelessness and foster youth program" to include accredited public tribal colleges in Washington. This program, previously available only at public four-year institutions, provides assistance to students experiencing homelessness and those who were in the foster care system when they graduated high school. Support services can include access to laundry, storage, reduced-price meals, technology, housing assistance, and case management. Participating institutions are also enabled to develop affordable housing from surplus property and are required to submit annual reports to the legislature on the program's impact.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands access to support services for homeless/foster youth at tribal colleges, enhancing higher education accessibility for vulnerable students.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands housing assistance program to tribal colleges, directly supporting homeless students' housing needs as part of eligibility expansion.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 1722: Reviewing state restrictions affecting students participating in secondary career and technical education programs and other state-approved career pathways.

House Bill 1722 addresses state-level age restrictions affecting 16 and 17-year-old students in secondary career and technical education programs. It directs state agencies to review and revise rules that create barriers for these students in fields such as emergency medical services (EMS) and fire services. Specifically, it creates a process for 16-year-olds to begin EMS training and requires the Director of Fire Protection to assess age restrictions for fire services training and certification. The bill also prevents minors with professional licenses requiring competency in preventing infectious disease transmission from being prohibited from occupations due to exposure risks.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves age barriers for 16-17 year olds in career pathways, expanding educational access to CTE programs and addressing state restrictions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · House Apr 16, 2025

HB 1414: Improving access to career opportunities for students.

House Bill 1414 aims to improve career access for 16 and 17-year-old students involved in preparatory secondary career and technical education (CTE) programs. The bill expands the statewide career and technical education task force within the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. This task force is directed to review existing laws, rules, and state agency policies that create age-based barriers for students to begin coursework, test for licenses, or work in professions after completing CTE programs. The task force will then develop recommendations, including draft legislation, to remove these restrictions and enhance work-integrated learning opportunities and career entry for these students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill removes age-based barriers for CTE students, expanding educational access and career pathways in K-12 education. Directly advances student opportunity through policy review.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · House Apr 11, 2025

HB 1556: Expanding tuition waivers for high school completers at community and technical colleges.

HB 1556 expands tuition waivers at Washington community and technical colleges for students who need to complete high school while attending college. It directly affects high school completers (including nonresidents), children and surviving spouses of fallen or disabled law enforcement officers, firefighters, or state patrol officers, and up to 40% of students in deaf education programs. Key provisions require colleges to waive all tuition and fees for eligible high school completers and first responder families (with a 10-year enrollment window), and allow partial waivers for nonresidents in high school completion programs. The law, effective July 2025, also mandates annual reporting on waiver costs to the legislature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill waives tuition/fees for high school completers, military families, and deaf education students, directly expanding educational access and reducing financial barriers for higher education.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 1314: Concerning the early learning facilities grant and loan program.

HB 1314 amends Washington state law to establish and fund two accounts for early learning facilities: a revolving account and a development account. These accounts provide state matching funds for planning, renovating, purchasing, or constructing childcare facilities serving children aged 1 month to 12 years, primarily for programs like early childhood education and working connections child care. The bill requires the Department of Commerce to administer the program, prioritizing financial hardship exemptions for match funding and adding emergency grants for natural disasters or health/safety threats to facilities. It directly affects eligible childcare organizations, school districts, and tribal compact schools seeking facility improvements or emergency repairs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds early childhood education infrastructure via state matching grants for childcare facilities serving children 1 month-12 years, directly supporting educational access and facility development.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Washington · House Apr 7, 2025

HB 1190: Allowing additional health professions to access the University of Washington health sciences library.

This bill amends Washington's license fee structure to require an additional $25 annual fee from many licensed health professionals. The funds will be transferred to the University of Washington to support its health sciences library. It affects all licensed health professionals in Washington covered by the fee structure, including nurses, physicians, therapists, psychologists, and others listed in the bill. The fee increase takes effect July 27, 2025, and is now law following the governor's signature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill funds UW health sciences library via professional fees, directly supporting higher education resources at a public university.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education