Below are bills related to education that we are tracking during the 2019 legislative session. This page is updated weekly. For questions about our bill tracker, please contact us.
2019 Education bills
- Bills that League of Education Voters is watching closely
- List of education bills in the House
- List of education bills in the Senate
Bills that League of Education Voters is watching closely
Below are bills of high interest.
| Summary | Bill | Lead Sponsors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finance & Funding. Concerning appropriations for special education programs. |
1093 companion to SB 5312 | Dolan (D-22) | HApprops |
| Finance & Funding. Enhancing special education funding. |
1910 | Pollet (D-46) | HApprops |
| Finance & Funding. Concerning state and federal special education funding. |
5091 | Wellman (D-41) | SEL/K-12 |
| Finance & Funding. Concerning state and federal special education funding. |
5312 companion to HB 1093 | Wellman (D-41) | SEL/K-12 |
| Finance & Funding. Concerning basic education funding. |
5465 | Wellman (D-41) | SEL/K-12 |
| Student Supports. Building the capacity within the educator workforce to improve student mental health and well-being. |
1479 | Senn (D-41) | HEducation |
House Bills
Below are education-related bills that have been introduced in the House.
| Summary | Bill | Lead Sponsors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| College Readiness/Career Connected Learning. Concerning career and technical education in alternative learning experience programs. |
1304 companion to SB 5448 | MacEwen (R-35) | HEducation |
| College Readiness/Career Connected Learning. Expanding career connected learning opportunities in order to help students with college readiness. |
1336 companion to SB 5327 | Slatter (D-48) | Introduced |
| College Readiness/Career Connected Learning. Establishing the Washington children's educations savings account program. |
1592 companion to SB 5704 | Kildiff (D-28) | Introduced |
| College Readiness/Career Connected Learning. Promoting career and college readiness through modified high school graduation requirements. |
1599 | Stonier (D-49) | HEducation |
| College Readiness/Career Connected Learning. Establishing the Washington adult diploma and workforce training program. |
1903 companion to SB 5891 | Mead (D-44) | HColl & Wkf Dev |
| Early Childhood Education. Expanding eligibility to the early childhood education and assistance program. |
1351 companion to SB 5437 | Goodman (D-45) | Introduced |
| Early Childhood Education. Concerning education equivalencies for licensed child care providers. |
1378 companion to SB 5711 | McCaslin (R-4) | HApprops |
| Early Childhood Education. Implementing improvements to the early achievers program as reviewed and recommended by the joint select committee on the early achievers program. |
1391 companion to SB 5484 | Senn (D-41) | HApprops |
| Early Childhood Education. Ensuring participation on the oversight board for children/youth and families by current or former foster youth individuals with current or previous experience in the juvenile justice system a physician with experience working with children or youth and individuals residing east of the Cascade mountain range. |
1561 | Dent (R-13) | Introduced |
| Early Childhood Education. Establishing the welcome to Washington baby act. |
1771 companion to SB 5683 | Senn (D-41) | Introduced |
| Early Childhood Education. Concerning professional development requirements for child day care centers. |
1866 | Dent (R-13) | HHSELDP |
| Finance & Funding. Concerning appropriations for special education programs. |
1093 companion to SB 5312 | Dolan (D-22) | HApprops |
| Finance & Funding. Concerning the Washington national guard postsecondary grant program. |
1201 | Kilduff (D-28) | Introduced |
| Finance & Funding. Establishing a state student loan program. |
1542 | Sullivan (D-47) | HColl & Wkf Dev |
| Finance & Funding. Enhancing educational opportunities for vulnerable children and youth using funding distributed from the Puget Sound taxpayer accountability account. |
1791 companion to SB 5851 | Reeves (D-30) | HApprops |
| Finance & Funding. Incorporating the costs of employee health benefits into school district contracts for pupil transportation. |
1813 | Sullivan (D-47) | HApprops |
| Finance & Funding. Enhancing special education funding. |
1910 | Pollet (D-46) | HApprops |
| Finance & Funding. Establishing the Washington free to finish college program. |
1950 | Hansen (D-23) | HColl & Wkf Dev |
| Finance & Funding. Concerning the maximum share of state and school employee health benefit premiums to be paid by employers participating in the public employees' and school employees' benefits boards. |
1955 | Stokesbary (R-31) | HApprops |
| Finance & Funding. Establishing the Washington dual enrollment scholarship pilot program. |
1973 | Paul (D-10) | HColl & Wkf Dev |
| Finance & Funding. Amending the Constitution to allow a simple majority of voters voting to authorize school district bonds. |
4203 companion to SJR 8201 | Stonier (D-49) | SEL/K-12 |
| Finance & Funding. Creating and funding a school choice scholarship program for foster students. |
1969 | Corry (R-14) | HEducation |
| K-12. Concerning school district elections. |
1184 | Stonier (D-49) | HEducation |
| K-12. Concerning school notifications. |
1191 companion to SB 5554 | Goodman (D-45) | Introduced |
| K-12. Allowing nonresident children from military families to enroll in Washington's public schools prior to arrival in the state. |
1210 companion to SB 5771 | Kilduff (D-28) | HEducation |
| K-12. Concerning comprehensive school safety planning. |
1245 | Pollet (D-46) | Introduced |
| K-12. Concerning dual language learning in early learning and K-12 education. |
1322 companion to SB 5607 | Ortiz-Self (D-21) | HEducation |
| K-12. Concerning students with disabilities. |
1454 | Pollet (D-46) | Introduced |
| K-12. Concerning K-12 computer science education data. |
1577 companion to SB 5574 | Callan (D-5) | HEducation |
| K-12. Changing the term alternative learning experience to personalized learning experience. |
1674 | Rude (R-16) | Introduced |
| Postsecondary. Establishing the Washington promise providing for affordable access to postsecondary education. |
1123 | Pollet (D-46) | HColl & Wkf Dev |
| Postsecondary. Regulating degree-granting institutions private vocational schools and other for-profit schools. |
1124 | Pollet (D-46) | HCWDDPS |
| Postsecondary. Creating the reinvesting in our colleges program. |
1300 | Tarleton (D-36) | Introduced |
| Postsecondary. Removing certain restrictions on subsidized child care for students at institutions of higher education. |
1303 companion to SB 5341 | Shewmake (D-42) | Introduced |
| Postsecondary. Concerning college bound scholarship eligible students. |
1311 | Bergquist (D-11) | Introduced |
| Postsecondary. Establishing a statewide free college program by changing the state need grant to the Washington college promise scholarship. |
1340 companion to SB 5393 | Hansen (D-23) | Introduced |
| Postsecondary. Concerning access to state career and technical course equivalencies. |
1424 companion to SB 5069 | Steele (R-12) | HEducation |
| Postsecondary. Establishing a state student loan program. |
1542 | Sullivan (D-47) | Introduced |
| Postsecondary. Establishing a behavioral health innovation & integration campus within the UW school of medicine. |
1593 companion to SB 5516 | Chopp (D-43) | Introduced |
| Postsecondary. Concerning resident student status as applied to veterans. |
1688 companion to SB 5713 | Morgan (D-29) | Introduced |
| Postsecondary. Notifying students of courses with low-cost instructional materials and open educational resources at four year institutions of higher education. |
1701 | Werven (R-42) | Introduced |
| Postsecondary. Notifying students of courses with low-cost instructional materials and open educational resources at two year institutions of higher education. |
1702 | Werven (R-42) | Introduced |
| Postsecondary. Concerning community and technical colleges granting high school diplomas. |
1714 companion to SB 5113 | Entenman (D-47) | HEducation |
| Postsecondary. Establishing a certificate program to educate behavioral health professionals. |
1721 | Orwall (D-33) | Introduced |
| Postsecondary. Concerning higher education programs. |
1735 | Pollet (D-46) | HColl & Wkf Dev |
| Postsecondary. Allowing regional universities to offer doctorate level degrees in education. |
1755 | Leavitt (D-28) | HColl & Wkf Dev |
| Postsecondary. Expanding opportunities for students to pursue mental and behavioral health professions. |
1850 companion to SB 5635 | Senn (D-41) | HColl & Wkf Dev |
| Postsecondary. Providing assistance for certain postsecondary students. |
1893 | Entenman (D-47) | HColl & Wkf Dev |
| Postsecondary. Concerning the Washington opportunity scholarship program. |
1927 | Slatter (D-48) | HColl & Wkf Dev |
| Standards & Assessments. Concerning certificates of academic and individual achievement. |
1089 | MacEwen (R-35) | HEducation |
| Standards & Assessments. Concerning flexibility in high school graduation requirements. |
1121 companion to SB 5146 | Dolan (D-22) | Introduced |
| Standards & Assessments. Concerning basic skills assessments for approved teacher preparation programs. |
1621 companion to SB 5512 | Ybarra (R-13) | HEducation |
| Standards & Assessments. Concerning transfer of credit policies when there are revisions to lower-division course requirements. |
1704 | Caldier (R-26) | Introduced |
| Standards & Assessments. Removing school districts' ability to withhold pupils' grades and transcripts. |
1715 companion to SB 5669 | Entenman (D-47) | HEducation |
| Standards & Assessments. Reducing state assessment requirements to only those required for federal purposes in order to facilitate removal of inequitable barriers to students. |
1720 companion to SB 5014 | Young (R-26) | HEducation |
| Standards & Assessments. Requiring accreditation standards for college in the high school programs. |
1734 companion for SB 5706 | Leavitt (D-28) | SHigher Ed & Wo |
| Standards & Assessments. Increasing the number of school districts that may be authorized to reduce the minimum number of required school days in a school year. |
1803 | Orcutt (R-20) | HEducation |
| Student Supports. Addressing language access in public schools. |
1130 companion to SB 5606 | Orwall (D-33) | SEL/K-12 |
| Student Supports. Concerning Washington child care access for resident employees of the state. |
1145 | Reeves (D-30) | HApprops |
| Student Supports. Concerning expanded learning opportunity programs. |
1163 companion to SB 5188 | Kloba (D-1) | HEducation |
| Student Supports. Modifying the learning assistance program. |
1182 | Santos (D-37) | Introduced |
| Student Supports. Concerning nonfirearm measures to increase school safety and student well-being. |
1216 companion to SB 5317 | Dolan (D-22) | Introduced |
| Student Supports. Improving crisis planning in schools to prevent youth suicide. |
1221 | Orwall (D-33) | Introduced |
| Student Supports. Concerning support for students experiencing homelessness. |
1263 companion to SB 5324 | Fey (D-27) | Introduced |
| Student Supports. Concerning secondary traumatic stress in public school staff. |
1264 | Ortiz-Self (D-21) | Introduced |
| Student Supports. Increasing student access to school counselors. |
1265 | Ortiz-Self (D-21) | Introduced |
| Student Supports. Concerning ethnic studies in public schools. |
1314 | Ortiz-Self (D-21) | HEducation |
| Student Supports. Providing services and supports to parenting minors to improve educational attainment. |
1327 companion to SB 5379 | Kilduff (D-28) | Introduced |
| Student Supports. Reducing the high poverty learning assistance program threshold to the state average percentage for free or reduced-price meals student eligibility. |
1384 | Jenkin (R-16) | Introduced |
| Student Supports. Concerning the definition of eligible pupil for purposes of the transitional bilingual instruction program. |
1425 companion to SB 5159 | Lekanoff (D-40) | HEducation |
Student Supports. Concerning bilingual educators. |
1468 companion to SB 5070 | Thai (D-41) | HEducation |
| Student Supports. Building the capacity within the educator workforce to improve student mental health and well-being. |
1479 | Senn (D-41) | HEducation |
| Student Supports. Changing the Washington state center for childhood deafness and hearing loss to the Washington center for deaf and hard of hearing youth. |
1604 | Stonier (D-49) | HEducation |
| Student Supports. Concerning sign language interpreting in public schools. |
1623 | Dolan (D-22) | HEducation |
| Student Supports. Concerning paraeducators. |
1658 | Paul (D-10) | HEducation |
| Student Supports. Concerning the participation of students who are low income in extracurricular activities. |
1660 | Bergquist (D-11) | HEducation |
| Student Supports. Concerning the creation of a youth development work group within the department of children youth and families. |
1644 companion to SB 5665 | Ortiz-Self (D-21) | Introduced |
| Student Supports. Concerning free or reduced-price meals for students. |
1685 | Peterson (D-21) | HEducation |
| Student Supports. Implementing policies related to expanding adolescent behavioral health care access as reviewed and recommended by the children's mental health work group. |
1874 companion to SB 5904 | Frame (D-36) | HH Svcs & Erly |
| Student Supports. Concerning children's mental health. |
1876 companion to SB 5903 | Frame (D-36) | HH Svcs & Erly |
| Student Supports. Eliminating lunch copays for students who qualify for reduced-price lunches. |
1892 | Morgan (D-29) | HApprops |
| Student Supports. Providing training for equity and cultural competency in the public school system. |
1914 companion to SB 5908 | Doglio (D-22) | HEducation |
| Student Supports. Informing new parents about adverse childhood experiences. |
1925 | Dolan (D-22) | HH Svcs & Erly |
| Student Supports. Providing a full-time educational staff associate for every school. |
1943 | Santos (D-37) | HApprops |
Senate Bills
Below are education-related bills that have been introduced in the Senate.
| Summary | Bill | Lead Sponsors | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College Readiness/Career Connected Learning. Expanding career connected learning opportunities. |
5327 companion to HB 1336 | Wellman (D-41) | Introduced | |
| College Readiness/Career Connected Learning. Establishing the Washington children's educations savings account program. |
5704 companion to HB 1592 | Liias (D-21) | Introduced | |
| Early Childhood Education. Expanding eligibility to the early childhood education and assistance program. |
5437 companion to HB 1351 | Wilson (D-30) | Introduced | |
| Early Childhood Education. Implementing improvements to the early achievers program as reviewed and recommended by the joint select committee on the early achievers program. |
5484 companion to 1391 | Wilson (D-30) | Introduced | |
| Early Childhood Education. Establishing the Washington Baby Act to create family supports through universal home visiting programs and a statewide family linkage program for resources and referrals. |
5683 companion to HB 1771 | Wellman (D-41) | Introduced | |
| Finance & Funding. Concerning state and federal special education funding. |
5091 | Wellman (D-41) | SEL/K-12 | |
| Finance & Funding. Concerning state and federal special education funding. |
5312 companion to HB 1093 | Wellman (D-41) | SEL/K-12 | |
| Finance & Funding. Concerning basic education funding. |
5465 | Wellman (D-41) | SEL/K-12 | |
| Finance & Funding. Establishing school district depreciation subfunds for the purposes of preventative maintenance. |
5590 | Schoesler (R-9) | SEL/K-12 | |
| Finance & Funding. Regarding the school construction assistance program. |
5853 | Pedersen (D-43) | SWays & Means | |
| Finance & Funding. Establishing the evergreen promise pilot program |
which provides for affordable access to institutions of higher education. | 5884 | Frockt (D-46) | SHigher Ed & Wo |
| Finance & Funding. Amending the Constitution to allow a simple majority of voters voting to authorize school district bonds. |
8201 companion to HB 4203 | Wellman (D-41) | SEL/K-12 | |
| K-12. Concerning school resource officers. |
5052 | O'Ban (R-28) | Introduced | |
| K-12. Simple majority for bonds. |
8201/5066 | Wellman (D-41) | Introduced | |
| K-12. Concerning special education. |
5082 | McCoy (D-38) | Introduced | |
| K-12. Establishing the world language competency grant program. |
5087 | Wellman (D-41) | Introduced | |
| K-12. Providing flexibility to school districts by authorizing school district waivers. |
5092 | Fortunato (R-31) | Introduced | |
| K-12. Concerning school resource officer mandatory training and policies. |
5141 | Wellman (D-41) | Introduced | |
| K-12. Developing multistage threat assessments to increase safety in K-12 schools and institutions of higher education. |
5216 | O'Ban (R-28) | Introduced | |
| K-12. 55% for bonds. |
8202/5252 | Mullet (D-5) | Introduced | |
| K-12. Concerning nonfirearm measures to increase school safety and student well-being. |
5317 companion to HB 1216 | Wellman (D-41) | Introduced | |
| K-12. Concerning comprehensive sexual health education. |
5395 companion to HB 1407 | Wilson (D-30) | SEL/K-12 | |
| K-12. Concerning special education. |
5532 | Braun (R-20) | Introduced | |
| K-12. Authorizing modernization grants for small school districts. |
5572 | Honeyford (R-15) | Introduced | |
| K-12. Concerning K-12 computer science education data. |
5574 companion to HB 1577 | Salomon (D-32) | SEL/K-12 | |
| K-12. Improving climate science education. |
5576 companion to HB 1496 | Wilson (D-30) | SEL/K-12 | |
| K-12. Concerning enrollment priority in dual credit courses. |
5729 | Rivers (R-18) | SEL/K-12 | |
| K-12. Concerning petitions for proposed transfer of school district territory. |
5731 | Short (R-7) | SEL/K-12 | |
| Postsecondary. Removing certain restrictions on subsidized child care for students at institutions of higher education. |
5341 companion to HB 1303 | Randall (D-26) | Introduced | |
| Postsecondary. Facilitating high school success. |
5343 | Mullet (D-5) | SEL/K-12 | |
| Postsecondary. Establishing a statewide free college program by changing the state need grant to the Washington college promise scholarship. |
5393 companion to HB 1340 | Palumbo (D-1) | Introduced | |
| Postsecondary. Providing postsecondary education opportunities to enhance public safety. |
5433 | Wilson (D-30) | SWays & Means | |
| Postsecondary. Requiring institutions of higher education to waive application fees for low-income students. |
5477 | Dhingra (D-45) | SWays & Means | |
| Postsecondary. Requiring institutions of higher education to waive application fees for low-income students. |
5477 | Dhingra (D-45) | Introduced | |
| Postsecondary. Expanding opportunities for students to pursue mental and behavioral health professions. |
5635 companion to HB 1850 | Brown (R-8) | Introduced | |
| Postsecondary. Concerning the Washington opportunity scholarship program. |
5705 | Palumbo (D-1) | Introduced | |
| Postsecondary. Concerning the College Bound Scholarship for students in dual enrollment programs. |
5727 | Palumbo (D-1) | Introduced | |
| Postsecondary. Relieving student debt. |
5774 | Laiis (D-21) | Introduced | |
| Postsecondary. Concerning research in public institutions of higher education. |
5786 | Brown (R-8) | SHigher Ed & Wo | |
| Postsecondary. Concerning unfair practices involving compensation of athletes in higher education. |
5875 companion to HB 1084 | Palumbo (D-1) | SHigher Ed & Wo | |
| Standards & Assessments. Reducing state assessment requirements to only those required for federal purposes in order to facilitate removal of inequitable barriers to students. |
5014 | McCoy (D-38) | Introduced | |
| Standards & Assessments. Reducing state assessment requirements to only those required for federal purposes in order to facilitate removal of inequitable barriers to students. |
5092 | Fortunato (R-31) | Introduced | |
| Standards & Assessments. Concerning flexibility in high school graduation requirements. |
5146 companion to HB 1121 | Wellman (D-41) | Introduced | |
| Standards & Assessments. Concerning the pipeline for paraeducators conditional scholarship program. |
5413 | Keiser (D-33) | SEL/K-12 | |
| Standards & Assessments. Requiring accreditation standards for college in the high school programs. |
5706 companion to HB 1734 | Randall (D-26) | SHigher Ed & Wo | |
| Student Supports. Concerning bilingual educators. |
5070 companion to HB 1468 | Wellman (D-41) | Introduced | |
| Student Supports. Concerning the definition of eligible pupil for purposes of the transitional bilingual instruction program. |
5159 companion to HB 1425 | McCoy (D-38) | Introduced | |
| Student Supports. Concerning special education. |
5262 | Zeiger (R-25) | Introduced | |
| Student Supports. Concerning school bus driver requirements. |
5263 | Zeiger (R-25) | SEL/K-12 | |
| Student Supports. Increasing student support staff in the prototypical school funding model. |
5315 | Wellman (D-41) | Introduced | |
| Student Supports. Concerning support for students experiencing homelessness. |
5324 companion to HB 1263 | Frockt (D-46) | Introduced | |
| Student Supports. Concerning programs for highly capable students. |
5354 companion to HB 1641 | Rivers (R-18) | Introduced | |
| Student Supports. Providing services and supports to parenting minors to improve educational attainment. |
5379 companion to HB 1327 | Wilson (D-30) | Introduced | |
| Student Supports. Concerning child care access. |
5436 companion to HB 1344 | Wilson (D-30) | SWays & Means | |
| Student Supports. Concerning basic skills assessments for approved teacher preparation programs. |
5512 companion to HB 1621 | Mullet (D-5) | SEL/K-12 | |
| Student Supports. Addressing equity in access to dual credit opportunities. |
5593 | Liias (D-21) | SEL/K-12 | |
| Student Supports. Concerning enrollment and course registration access for children of military families. |
5603 | Randall (D-26) | Introduced | |
| Student Supports. Addressing language access in public schools. |
5606 companion to HB 1130 | Wellman (D-41) | SEL/K-12 | |
| Student Supports. Concerning the creation of a youth development work group within the department of children youth and families. |
5665 companion to HB 1644 | Wilson (D-30) | Introduced | |
| Student Supports. Building capacity within the educator workforce to improve student mental health and well-being. |
5777 companion to HB 1479 | Brown (R-8) | SEL/K-12 | |
| Student Supports. Increasing eligibility for child care and early learning programs for homeless and other vulnerable children. |
5820 companion to HB 1574 | Nguyen (D-34) | SEL/K-12 | |
| Student Supports. Concerning the immigration status of students. |
5834 companion to HB 1779 | Hunt (D-22) | SEL/K-12 | |
| Student Supports. Investing in educational mentor programs. |
5859 companion to HB 1281 | Mullet (D-35) | SEL/K-12 | |
| Student Supports. Funding rural satellite skill centers. |
5874 | Warnick (R-13) | SEL/K-12 |