Education (Higher Education)

signed · Washington · House May 13, 2025

HB 1587: Encouraging local government partner promise scholarship programs within the opportunity scholarship program.

House Bill 1587 encourages local governments, including municipalities, counties, and federally recognized Indian tribes, to establish their own "promise scholarship programs" for Washington students. These local programs will operate within the existing Washington state opportunity scholarship program, which will administer the scholarships, but local governments can set their own student eligibility rules and determine which educational programs to support. The scholarships aim to cover tuition and fees not met by other state aid, with local governments having the option to provide additional funds for expenses like books. The bill also authorizes state matching funds, up to $300,000 per local program annually, to support these efforts and expand access to postsecondary education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access by enabling local scholarship programs within existing opportunity scholarships, covering tuition and allowing local eligibility rules for student support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice Student Financial Aid

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1036: Adding labor trustees to college boards.

HB 1036 requires Washington's community colleges, regional universities, and The Evergreen State College to include at least one labor representative on each governing board. This bill amends existing laws to mandate that labor representation be considered when appointing board members, alongside geographical diversity and representation of women, racial, and ethnic minorities. The labor trustee must be appointed by the governor and cannot be an employee of the higher education system. This change directly affects the composition of college governing boards but does not alter policies affecting students or faculty. The bill takes effect October 1, 2030.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires labor representation on college boards, strengthening governance to include worker perspectives in higher education policy decisions.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates labor representation on college boards, ensuring worker voices influence governance decisions affecting higher education employment policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1495: Establishing a college promise pilot program.

HB 1495 establishes a two-year pilot program in eastern Washington to provide financial support for college and career training. It directly affects high school graduates in 10 counties east of the Cascade Mountains who meet income limits (150% of state median family income), enroll in local postsecondary programs within a year of graduation, and apply for federal/state aid. The program offers up to $5,000 annually for tuition and fees (after other aid is applied) to 100 students yearly, plus a separate high school component providing full community college tuition for two years at three selected schools. Funding comes from state matching funds (up to $500,000 for 2026 and $1 million for 2027) paired with private contributions, with reporting required on student outcomes by December 2028. The program expires August 1, 2029.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides $5k/year tuition support for low-income students in eastern WA pilot program, directly enhancing higher education access and funding for postsecondary education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

Track

signed · Washington · Senate May 15, 2025

SB 5543: Providing equity in eligibility for the college bound scholarship.

Senate Bill 5543 aims to provide equity in eligibility for the College Bound Scholarship program in Washington state. The bill standardizes how eligible students can meet the high school graduation requirement by confirming that receiving a high school equivalency certificate is a valid pathway for all scholarship recipients. It removes a previous specific provision that separately allowed certain dependent or adopted students to use this certificate, thereby streamlining the requirements. This

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves eligibility barriers for high school equivalency certificate holders, expanding access to college scholarship program for all students.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5442: Establishing a college promise pilot program.

SB 5442 establishes a college promise pilot program in 10 eastern Washington counties (east of the Cascade Mountains) to help students afford postsecondary education. It provides eligible students with up to $5,000 annually for tuition and fees at local institutions, apprenticeships, or credential programs, targeting those graduating from region high schools, meeting income limits (≤150% of state median family income), and participating in mentoring programs. The program is funded through private contributions matched dollar-for-dollar by state funds ($500,000 for 2026, $1,000,000 for 2027), with a separate high school component offering full two-year community college tuition at three selected schools. The pilot program expires August 1, 2029, and requires annual reporting on student outcomes like degree completion and transfers.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides $5,000/year tuition/fee support for low-income students in eastern WA, expanding postsecondary access through targeted funding and mentorship programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1278: Concerning the role of students on the governing boards of institutions of higher education.

HB 1278 requires community college district governing boards to include one student trustee appointed by the governor from a list provided by student governments. The student trustee serves a one-year term as a full-time student in good academic standing, with voting rights except on faculty hiring or collective bargaining matters. The bill also mandates that student government representatives provide in-person reports at all regular board meetings across Washington’s community colleges and four-year institutions. This policy directly affects community college governance by institutionalizing student voice in decision-making processes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds student representation to community college governing boards, enhancing student voice in higher education governance and decision-making processes.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

passed · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5542: Expanding tuition waivers for high school completers at community and technical colleges.

Senate Bill 5542 expands eligibility for tuition waivers at community and technical colleges in Washington state. The bill removes the current age requirement, which states students must be nineteen years or older, to receive these waivers. This change allows any resident-eligible student enrolled in a program to complete their high school education at a community or technical college to potentially receive a full or partial tuition waiver, regardless of their age.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves age barrier for tuition waivers at community colleges, expanding educational access for all eligible high school completers regardless of age.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

Track

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

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Affordable Housing Homelessness

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5724: Improving student access to dual credit programs, including career and technical education dual credit programs.

SB 5724 aims to improve access to dual credit programs, particularly career and technical education (CTE) dual credit, for Washington high school students. It requires collaboration between community colleges, school districts, and other entities to create a statewide catalog of dual credit courses, align CTE programs with career pathways, and streamline credit transfer processes. The bill also mandates updating the state's administrative data system to better track credits, improve transcript accuracy, and support articulation agreements between high schools and colleges. These changes target students seeking career-focused postsecondary education, with a specific focus on fixing current gaps where CTE dual credit doesn't reliably transfer to college. The bill requires a report on data system improvements by October 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands dual credit access for K-12 students, aligns CTE programs with career pathways, and streamlines credit transfer to improve educational opportunities and access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education K-12 Education

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1485: Increasing the annual limit of services and activities fees at institutions of higher education.

HB 1485 increases the maximum allowable annual increase for student services and activities fees at Washington state's public colleges and universities from 4% to 6%. This change applies to all institutions, allowing governing boards to raise these fees by up to 6% yearly (instead of 4%) if deemed reasonable by committees, to help cover rising costs for services like health care, counseling, recreation, clubs, and events. Community colleges have a separate rule tying fee increases to tuition growth, but the bill's main change is the higher 6% cap for all institutions. The bill aims to help schools maintain essential student services amid inflation without altering the existing fee approval process.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases allowable fee increases (4%→6%) to fund student services like health, counseling, and clubs, directly strengthening higher education program funding and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track