And … We’re Off!

By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org

Today marks the start of the 60-day session and it’s already setting off at a fast pace with public hearings on Governor Bob Ferguson’s proposed 2026 supplemental budgets and a variety of policy bills. Remember, all bills from 2025 are still eligible to move forward this year, but they’ll need to meet cutoff deadlines. And, legislators have been very busy “pre-filing” bills which will be introduced today. As of Friday, January 9th, more than 550 new bills have been pre-filed!

Like last session, budget-wise, things are tight. Cuts are inevitable, and new investments will be tough. That’s why WSPTA needs to keep advocating for our priorities – no matter what. Use the messages you see below and what you’re hearing from your schools and districts to help shape what you share with legislators.
_________________________________________________________________

Click here for Marie’s comprehensive bill tracker and details report for
Week 1 of the 2026 Legislative Session.
_________________________________________________________________

Where We Stand

WSPTA adopted a two-year set of priorities back in October 2024 for the 2025–27 biennium. In 2025, we added “Restore Funding for Education and Wrap Around Supports” to our “Also Supported” list. Here are WSPTA’s Top 5 legislative priorities:

Close funding gaps

Address student mental health

Prevent gun violence and youth suicide

Support special education

Expand school construction funding options

In addition to the new position above, WSPTA will be tracking bills that help increase educational equity by closing the digital divide and mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change. Our resolutions and legislative principles remain the foundation for how we engage during session and serve as a filter by which we evaluate legislation and budget changes.

Governor’s Supplemental Budget

Governor Bob Ferguson released his 2026 supplemental budget proposals on December 23, 2025. For purposes of this report, here are the investments and reductions in the K-12 space:

Investments

$3.5 million for foster youth graduation success program

$1.5 million for 9th Grade Success Program (extends through 2027)

$1.5 million for dual language grants (extends through 2027)

$1.2 million for homeless students (extends through 2027)

$279,000 for High School & Beyond Plan implementation for OSPI staff

Reductions

While protecting funding for basic education, the Governor’s proposed operating budget would cut $94 million from K-12 for a “savings” to the state general fund. Specifically, the proposal cuts:

$25.1 million by not increasing levy equalization/Local Effort Assistance (LEA) from $150 to $250 in CY 2027

$21.1 million from bus depreciation schedule changes to 15-year cycle

$19.5 million by cutting Transition to Kindergarten slots by 25%

$14 million by reducing Running Start FTE from 1.4 FTE to 1.2 FTE (which means students will take fewer credits)

Allows OSPI to use 1.9 percent of the Materials, Supplies and Operating Costs (MSOC) for grades 9-12 to purchase licenses for the new universal, online High School and Beyond Plan.

In addition, the Governor’s proposed supplemental capital budget invests new funds in the following:

$74.2 million for Small District Modernization Grants (for districts with 1,000 or fewer students)

$28.4 million for additional school seismic safety grants

$2.5 million for school district grants to remediate lead-contaminated school drinking water

Big Picture for 2026

Last year’s $16 billion budget shortfall led to a mix of painful program cuts and tax increases, including ESSB 5814 (extending retail sales and use tax to various services). Unfortunately school districts (and non-profit organizations like Washington State PTA and local PTAs) are finding themselves subject to the new tax on services such as temporary staffing, live presentations, digital advertising, web services, and more – causing them to seek legislative clarification or exemptions to reduce the fiscal impact.

Washington State PTA signed a letter and joined others in urging the legislature to correct the unintended consequences of ESSB 5814. The state Department of Revenue has issued interim guidance “statements” on implementation. Click here to view the DOR Interim Guidance. And click here to access information on Your PTA and the new Sales Tax.

At least six bills have been introduced as adjustments or exemptions to the new law, including several directly related to exempting schools and school districts from the various provisions. The question of whether or not the Legislature will entertain changes beyond purely technical corrections will be a topic that House and Senate leaders discuss over the next 60 days.

And while there’s usually little appetite for new taxes in an election year, with revenue forecasts down and caseload costs up, there’s a projected deficit over the four-year outlook of at least $4 billion. New revenue, deeper cuts than last session – or a combination of the two – are on the table. Similar to last session Governor Ferguson has said he will not support new sales or property tax hikes but has signaled he’s open to a high-earner income tax. Democrats are also exploring wealth and payroll taxes as a way of blunting cuts and bridging the gaps. The next revenue forecast is scheduled for February 16th and budget writers will use that forecast to finalize their own supplemental budget proposals.

Big 3 and LEA/levy bills introduced

Even if the budget forecast seems bleak, legislators have introduced bills to help close the funding gaps in some of the areas informally called the Big 3 last session.

HB 2116 – Sets the levy equalization/LEA increases into statute and raises levy and LEA rates to $5,035 per student by CY 2032.

HB 2147/SB 5918 – Increases MSOC by $100/student or $100,000, whichever is greater. (OSPI request bill)

HB 2287 – funds a Special Passengers Safety Net for students who are homeless and in the foster care system.

SB 5858 – restores the Special Passengers Safety Net program for students who are homeless, in the foster care system, and students with disabilities.

Call to Action

As we look ahead to this fast and furious session, join WSPTA in urging legislators to:

Avoid any cuts to school district funding and prioritize K-12 in revenue and budget discussions

Close MSOC funding gaps

Stop passing new unfunded mandates, however well intentioned

Minimize the impact of ESSB 5814 (2025) on school district funds

Protect students and families from intimidation

To kick off this session, Washington State PTA’s Advocacy Committee has drafted a Funding Action Alert that you can send to your legislators today. Use this QR code to access the alert.

Protect K-12 Funding

Numbers matter here. Share this Funding Action Alert with your networks, tell them why funding public education is important to you and encourage them to contact their legislators.

Action Alerts only take a minute or two!

How You Can Help

Share stories and data from your schools – videos, quotes, charts work great.

Thank legislators for past investments, then explain what’s being lost and what’s needed.

Meet with legislators, follow up, and join us for Focus Day on January 19

FOCUS on Advocacy

Participate in Advocacy Week January 26–30.

Action Network

The Week Ahead

Week 1 kicks off with public hearings on Governor Ferguson’s proposed supplemental budgets in House and Senate respective budget committees. WSPTA President Tori Emerson will be testifying against the Governor’s proposed operating budget in the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Ways & Means Committee. WSPTA also will be testifying or signing in to register its position on other bills scheduled for public hearings.

Governor Bob Ferguson will deliver a State of the State Address Tuesday, January 13th at a joint session of the Legislature, beginning at 11:45 AM. Listen to TVW as it streams the speech live.

The House Education Committee has scheduled work sessions on two issues of interest to WSPTA: a work session Monday, January 12 at 1:30 PM on isolation and restraint of students, and on student mental health Tuesday, January 13 at 4 PM. Each work session will be followed by public hearings on related bills. During session, the committee meets Monday at 1:30 PM, Tuesday at 4 PM, and Thursday at 8 AM.

The Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee is jumping right into public hearings, with bills scheduled for public hearings all week. During session the committee meets Tuesday at 8 AM, Wednesday and Thursday at 10:30 AM.

WSPTA tracks bills in nearly all of the House and Senate Committees, so check the schedule below (subject to change) for opportunities to testify, register your position, or submit written comments.

By the way, to sign up to testify or to state your position on a bill, please use the Committee Sign In link. Using the committee schedule information below:

Pick the House or Senate
Pick the relevant Committee
Pick the Meeting date of the hearing
Choose an option of:

Testify – Testify in person OR Testify remotely (using Zoom link)

State your position (Pro, Con, Other) for the record

Submit written testimony

Fill out the form (your street address is NOT required)
Submit your response

If you have signed up to testify in person or remotely, you will receive official email notification. If testifying remotely, you’ll receive a link immediately on that page and will be sent a link to the email you submitted.

Here is next week’s schedule (subject to change); all hearings can be viewed on TVW:

Education (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 1/12 @ 1:30pm

HB 1795 – Public Hearing – Addressing restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.)

Appropriations (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 1/12 @ 4:00pm

HB 2289 – Public Hearing – Making 2025-2027 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.)

Ways & Means (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 1/12 @ 4:00pm

SB 6003 – Public Hearing – Concerning the capital budget. (If measure is referred to committee.)

Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 1/13 @ 8:00am

SB 5841 – Public Hearing – Concerning the completion of postsecondary financial aid applications. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.)

SB 5858 – Public Hearing – Providing pupil transportation safety net funding for special passengers. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.)

SB 5943 – Public Hearing – Concerning the use of school impact fees. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.)

Law & Justice (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 1/13 @ 8:00am

SB 5855 – Public Hearing – Concerning the use of face coverings by law enforcement officers. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.)

Community Safety (House) – HHR D and Virtual JLOB – 1/13 @ 4:00pm

HB 2173 – Public Hearing – Concerning the use of face coverings by law enforcement officers. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.)

Education (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 1/13 @ 4:00pm

HB 1634 – Public Hearing – Providing school districts and public schools with assistance to coordinate comprehensive behavioral health supports for students. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.) (Support)

Transportation (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 1/13 @ 4:00pm

SB 6005 – Public Hearing – Making supplemental transportation appropriations for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.)

Ways & Means (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 1/13 @ 4:00pm

SB 5998 – Public Hearing – Making 2025-2027 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations. (If measure is referred to committee.)

Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 1/14 @ 10:30am

SB 5901 – Public Hearing – Providing school construction assistance program facilities support for on-base schools. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.)

SB 5956 – Public Hearing – Addressing artificial intelligence, student discipline, and surveillance in public schools. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.)

Appropriations (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 1/14 @ 4:00pm

HB 2289 – Public Hearing – Making 2025-2027 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.)

HB 2289 – Public Hearing – Making 2025-2027 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations. Continued from January 12, 2026. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.)

Transportation (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 1/14 @ 4:00pm

HB 2306 – Public Hearing – Making supplemental transportation appropriations for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.)

Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 1/15 @ 10:30am

SB 5969 – Public Hearing – Fulfilling high school and beyond plan requirements with individualized education program transition plans. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.)

Law & Justice (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 1/15 @ 10:30am

SB 5855 – Exec Session – Concerning the use of face coverings by law enforcement officers. (If measure is referred to committee.)

Capital Budget (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 1/15 @ 1:30pm

HB 2295 – Public Hearing – Concerning the capital budget. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.)

Consumer Protection & Business (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 1/16 @ 8:00am

HB 2112 – Public Hearing – Establishing an age minimum to access certain adult content online. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.)

Early Learning & Human Services (House) – HHR D and Virtual JLOB – 1/16 @ 8:00am

HB 2099 – Public Hearing – Expanding access to the early childhood education and assistance program for military families. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.)

Labor & Workplace Standards (House) – HHR D and Virtual JLOB – 1/16 @ 10:30am

HB 2105 – Public Hearing – Concerning immigrant worker protections. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.)

WSPTA Login