By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org 
This week is Focus on Advocacy Week, when WSPTA members will have the opportunity to send a tailored email about Top 5 priorities and current issues each day, beginning today. Members of the WSPTA Advocacy Committee have made this easy by writing letters that can be personalized by you before sending to your legislators or specific chambers.
Look for an Action Alert in your email box. It will only take a few minutes to fill it out and hit “send.” Numbers matter, and it’s important that WSPTA members bring parent and student voice to policy and budget deliberations this session. Not getting Action Alerts? Subscribe here.
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Click here for Marie’s comprehensive bill tracker and details report for Week 3 of the 2026 Legislative Session.
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What’s happening with WSPTA’s Top 5 Priorities?
Closing the Funding Gaps
Last week, President Tori Emerson testified Pro on SB 5918, a bill that would provide an additional investment in Materials, Supplies and Operating Costs (MSOC) at $100 per student or $100,000 for districts with 1,000 or fewer students, whichever is greater. The bill had strong public support, both in testimony and in the written record. Thank you to everyone who signed in Pro. Look for an Action Alert this week on this topic.
This week, Advocacy Director Megan Larkin will testify Con on SB 6260. The bill would make budget changes proposed by Governor Bob Ferguson in his proposed supplemental operating bill:
- Would extend bus depreciation payments to school districts from nine years to 15 years, keeping lower-performing buses on roads longer and impacting student health and the environment;
- Would allow OSPI to withhold 1.9% of MSOC funds provided to districts for students in grades 9-12 and repurpose the money to support the universal, online platform for the High School and Beyond Plan.
- Would decrease the student FTE for Running Start from 1.4 to 1.2, resulting in students being able to take about 10 fewer credits and possibly hindering their ability to earn an Associates of Arts (AA) degree.
Other bills to address the MSOC gaps in what the state pays and the district needs for operating expenses include:
- HB 2147 is the House companion (i.e., identical) bill to SB 5918 (shared above);
- HB 2234 would add MSOC utility costs as eligible activities under the Climate Commitment Act;
- HB 2519 would require utilities to offer discounted rates to school districts;
- SB 6310 would pull out insurance and utilities from MSOC, reduce the overall amount by about $500, and require the state to fund the full cost of these two items by the 2028-29 school year.
SB 5858 would restore the Transportation Safety Net for Special Passengers. The bill was unanimously approved by Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee and has been sent to Senate Ways & Means.
While the bill wouldn’t make a dent in the significant underfunding of student transportation, it would help districts that have higher populations of students who are homeless, in the foster care system or have disabilities. In the 2023 and 2024 sessions, $13 million was put into the safety net program each year; the funding was cut in the 2025-27 operating budget.
Addressing the Student Mental Health Crisis
A bill that was introduced late in the 2025 session has been given new life this year and is scheduled for a public hearing in the House Finance Committee January 30th at 1:30 PM. HB 2038 would create the Youth Behavioral Health Account; to fund it, the bill would impose an additional business and occupational tax on any business operating a social media platform.
Business will come out strongly opposed. This was scheduled after the WSPTA Advocacy Committee had met, but we are encouraging members to sign in Pro, using your Parent Advocate title in the Organization field.
To register your support, click here and sign in before 12:30 PM Friday, January 30th.
Supporting Funding, Inclusion and Supports in Special Education
As mentioned previously, it is unlikely that legislators will add any new funding to this year’s supplemental budget for special education. That doesn’t mean WSPTA isn’t reminding them that there is more to be done and continues to track bills that support students with disabilities as well as providing more and better services and resources to parents and families.
This week Region 6 Advocacy Chair and Advocacy Committee member Beth Cogan of Seattle will testify on HB 2557, which would require school districts to provide evaluation reports to parents and legal guardians with sufficient time to review, consult and prepare questions and input prior to meetings at which eligibility decisions are discussed or determined. The hearing is at the House Education Committee on Tuesday, January 27 at 4 PM.
Preventing and Reducing Gun Violence and Suicide
Last week, the Senate passed a bill from the 2025 session to prohibit weapons in sensitive locations by a vote of 29-20. E2SSB 5098 would prohibit weapons at certain parks where children are likely to be present, certain state or local public buildings, and county fairs when the fair is open to the public. It also would require facilities where weapons are prohibited to post signage at common public access points alerting the public to the prohibition.
The bill now moves to the House where it likely will be sent to the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee for further consideration. Look for an Action Alert on this topic this week.
Other bills we’re watching
Also last week the Senate Law & Justice Committee heard testimony on a proposed substitute to SB 5906, introduced by Senator Drew Hansen, D-Bainbridge Island. WSPTA testified in favor; the bill is scheduled for a committee vote on Thursday, January 29 at 10:30 AM.
Three bills have been introduced to address the problem of unfunded mandates. These include:
- SB 6051 would allow a school district board of directors to waive most requirements under RCW 28A – the public schools governing statute. The bill had a hearing last week in the Senate education committee, and it is unlikely to advance as written. Chair Lisa Wellman, D-Mercer Island, and Ranking Member Paul Harris, R-Vancouver, both agreed that collecting the data could be valuable, so it might become a “report unfunded mandates to OSPI” bill.
- SB 6285 would go into several statutes and either exempt school districts from the requirement unless state funding is provided or make the requirements voluntary.
- HB 2636 would create an “unfunded mandates review commission” supported by the state Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee to make recommendations on school requirements that could be repealed, modified or made voluntary. The bill is scheduled for a public hearing in the House Education Committee on Thursday, January 29th at 9 AM.
Advocacy in Action
More than 150 parents and students attended Focus Day last Monday. Thank you to everyone who could come to Olympia, meet with their legislators, rally on the steps, and march around the Capitol campus urging legislators to fund K-12 education.
In addition, WSPTA was active in testimony last week.
Long-time WSPTA Advocate and Region 6 Director, Natalya Yudkovsky, testified in favor of SB 5978, establishing the Washington Guaranteed Admissions Program and requiring student notification.
In describing support for the bill, Natalya shared WSPTA’s resolutions supporting access and affordability to post-secondary opportunities and a meaningful high school diploma on January 19th with members of the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee. The bill would take some of the anxiety out of college admissions, guaranteeing high school seniors who meet certain criteria automatic admission in participating colleges and universities. Listen to Natalya here.
The two resolutions are:
Natalya also weighed in as Pro on SB 5906 on Tuesday, January 20 in the Senate Law & Justice Committee. The bill would prohibit federal immigration enforcement officers from being admitted onto nonpublic areas of a school without a valid subpoena, warrant or court order. WSPTA members adopted a resolution last October that aligned nicely with this bill. Natalya’s testimony can be heard here. The recently adopted resolution can be found here: 18.51 Rights and Services for Immigrant Families, Children, and Youth
Tuesday was also a busy day for other WSPTA testifiers. In the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee, Danica Noble reprised her testimony in support of legislation that would regulate AI chatbot companions. Listen to Danica here.
President Tori Emerson testified in favor of HB 2365, increasing digital equity. Tori was able to draw on her experience living in Arlington and as a substitute teacher. She shared that a focus on continuing to bridge the digital divide is critical in communities where not much has changed in the past five years. House Technology, Economic Development & Veterans Chair Cindy Ryu, D-Shoreline, asked Tori a question about anchor institutions and if libraries still served that purpose. Listen to Tori’s answer and testimony here.
On Wednesday, January 22, Tori testified in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee in favor of SB 5918, increasing funding for MSOC. The bill would offer an investment of $100,000 to schools with 1,000 or fewer students OR $100 per student, whichever is greater. Tori’s testimony can be heard here.
Shoreline Council PTA Advocacy Co-Chair Malorie Larson also testified in support of SB 5918. Malorie shared the impact of what happens when MSOC costs for insurance and utilities consume all of the MSOC funds provided by the state and impinge on levy funds – and all the things the districts and school cannot buy or upgrade. She urged senators to pass the bill. Listen to Malorie here.
The Week Ahead
Here is next week’s schedule (subject to change); all hearings can be viewed on TVW:
Education (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 1/26 @ 1:30pm
- HB 2593– Public Hearing – Addressing school district accounting, budgeting, and reporting requirements. (Remote Testimony Available).
Ways & Means (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual – 1/26 @ 4:00pm
- SB 6231– Public Hearing – Removing a tax exemption for the replacement of equipment for data centers. (Remote Testimony Available).
- SB 6228– Public Hearing – Removing a tax exemption for the warehousing and reselling of prescription drugs. (Remote Testimony Available).
Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 1/27 @ 8:00am
- SB 6130– Public Hearing – Celebrating national voter registration day. (Remote Testimony Available).
- SB 6260– Public Hearing – Implementing efficiencies and programming changes in public education. (Remote Testimony Available).
Finance (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 1/27 @ 8:00am
- HB 2292– Public Hearing – Concerning taxation of a long-term capital gain of a section 1202 small business stock. (Remote Testimony Available).
- HB 2257– Public Hearing – Concerning taxes administered by the department of revenue. (Remote Testimony Available). (Monitoring)
Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 1/27 @ 10:30am
- HB 2365– Exec Session – Advancing digital opportunities for all. (Support)
Postsecondary Education & Workforce (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 1/27 @ 1:30pm
- HB 2438– Public Hearing – Establishing the supporting our early education degree seekers scholarship. (Remote Testimony Available).
- HB 2586– Public Hearing – Modifying funding for the passport to careers program and eligibility for the Washington college grant. (Remote Testimony Available).
- HB 2286– Exec Session – Concerning alternative routes to social worker licensure.
- HB 2098– Exec Session – Adjusting higher education funding. (Support)
Education (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 1/27 @ 4:00pm
- HB 2594– Public Hearing – Ensuring that unhoused children and youths in Washington have equal access to free, appropriate public education. (Remote Testimony Available).
- HB 2557– Public Hearing – Providing parental access to special education evaluation reports. (Remote Testimony Available).
- HB 2534– Public Hearing – Promoting educational stability for children of military families. (Remote Testimony Available).
Ways & Means (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual – 1/27 @ 4:00pm
- SB 6229– Public Hearing – Concerning taxation of a long-term capital gain of a section 1202 small business stock. (Remote Testimony Available).
Agriculture & Natural Resources (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 1/28 @ 8:00am
- HB 2170– Public Hearing – Expanding revenue generation and economic opportunities from natural climate solutions and ecosystem services. (Remote Testimony Available).
Local Government (House) – HHR E and Virtual JLOB – 1/28 @ 8:00am
- HB 2459– Public Hearing – Concerning siting schools outside of an urban growth area. (Remote Testimony Available).
Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 1/28 @ 10:30am
- SB 6222– Public Hearing – Supporting public school students by improving their access to surplus technology hardware. (Hearing is on the Proposed Substitute.) (Remote Testimony Available).
Postsecondary Education & Workforce (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 1/28 @ 1:30pm
- HB 2458– Public Hearing – Expanding access to the Washington college grant to students enrolled in eligible postsecondary nondegree credential programs. (Remote Testimony Available).
Human Services (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual – 1/28 @ 4:00pm
- SB 6224– Public Hearing – Supporting children and youth behavioral health. (Remote Testimony Available).
Business, Trade & Economic Development (Senate) – SHR 2 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 1/29 @ 8:00am
- SB 6111– Public Hearing – Protecting children online. (Remote Testimony Available). (Monitoring)
Education (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 1/29 @ 8:00am
- HB 1295– Public Hearing – Using evidence-based instructional practices in reading and writing literacy for public elementary students. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support)
Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 1/29 @ 10:30am
- SB 6192– Public Hearing – Concerning instruction and intervention in reading and mathematics. (Remote Testimony Available).
- SB 6125– Public Hearing – Providing enrollment stabilization funding. (Remote Testimony Available).
- SB 5841– Exec Session – Concerning the completion of postsecondary financial aid applications.
- SB 5907– Exec Session – Expanding access to the early childhood education and assistance program for military families.
- SB 5951– Exec Session – Expanding access to albuterol in public and private schools. (Monitoring)
Law & Justice (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual – 1/29 @ 10:30am
- SB 5906– Exec Session – Establishing data and personal safety protections within areas of public accommodation for all Washington residents. (Support)
Higher Education & Workforce Development (Senate) – SHR 2 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 1/29 @ 1:30pm
- SB 5978– Exec Session – Establishing the Washington guaranteed admissions program and requiring student notifications. (Support)
Appropriations (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 1/29 @ 4:00pm
- HB 2159– Exec Session – Establishing the preK promise account. (Support)
- HB 2251– Exec Session – Concerning climate commitment act accounts.
Early Learning & Human Services (House) – HHR D and Virtual JLOB – 1/30 @ 8:00am
- HB 2429– Exec Session – Supporting children and youth behavioral health. (Support)
Labor & Workplace Standards (House) – HHR D and Virtual JLOB – 1/30 @ 10:30am
- HB 2492– Exec Session – Requiring state registered apprenticeships in the building and construction trades to provide behavioral health and wellness training.
State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections (Senate) – SHR 2 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 1/30 @ 10:30am
- SB 6049– Public Hearing – Protecting student and employee information from public disclosure. (Remote Testimony Available).
Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 1/30 @ 10:30am
- HB 2579– Public Hearing – Promoting and funding public media and digital equity. (Remote Testimony Available).
Finance (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 1/30 @ 1:30pm
- HB 2038– Public Hearing – Establishing the youth behavioral health account and funding the account through the imposition of a business and occupation additional tax on the operation of social media platforms. (Remote Testimony Available).