By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org 
This Wednesday marks the first of many deadlines by which bills need to advance to stay under consideration this session. As a reminder, only about 10% of bills introduced actually pass both chambers and are signed into law by the governor.
Here are the next few deadlines to keep in mind as lawmakers move towards the final date of session on March 12th. The full session cutoff dates can be found here.
- Monday, February 9 – cutoff for bills to pass out of fiscal committees
- Tuesday, February 17 – cutoff for bills to pass out of the chamber in which they started
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Click here for Marie’s comprehensive bill tracker and details report for Week 4 of the 2026 Legislative Session.
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What’s happening with WSPTA’s Top 5 Priorities?
Closing the Funding Gaps
- SB 5858 would restore the Transportation Safety Net for Special Passengers. The bill would put the grant program into statute; school districts could apply for transportation costs that exceed their state allocation for students who are homeless, in the foster care system, or have disabilities. It remains in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.
- SB 5918 would increase funding for Materials, Supplies & Operating Costs (MSOC) by $100 per student or $100,000, whichever is greater. The bill is scheduled for a vote in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education (ELK12) Committee on February 3rd. It will be sent to Senate Ways & Means.
- The companion, HB 2147, is in the House Appropriations Committee and hasn’t been scheduled for a hearing.
- HB 2116 would make changes to school districts’ maximum per student levy amounts and to Local Effort Assistance (LEA). The bill is sponsored by Rep. Steve Bergquist, D-Renton, and is scheduled for a public hearing on Thursday, February 5 in the House Appropriations Committee.
- As shared in last week’s report, Rep. Kristine Reeves, D-Federal Way, has introduced two LEA bills: HB 2562 and HB 2580. Neither bill has been scheduled for a public hearing. Both bills would return the inflationary adjustment from the Implicit Price Deflator (IPD) to the Seattle Consumer Price Index (CPI). Here’s a quick review of the bills, according to non-partisan staff:
- The $3,838.26 State LEA threshold in HB 2562 corresponds to the 2026 max per pupil levy limit under RCW 84.52.0531, which would increase beginning in 2027. In 2031, the state LEA threshold would be set at $5,035, aligning with RCW 84.52.0531. Because the bill would take effect January 1, 2027, the 3.33% inflation enhancement from 2027 to 2030 is also included in the definition.
- HB 2580 would increase the maximum LEA per pupil threshold in calendar year (CY) 2027 by $400 in statute (rather than $250 under the enacted 2025-27 operating budget).
- SB 6125 would create an enrollment stabilization option for school districts when their combined state revenue generated in the 2026-27 or 2027-28 school year is less than what its combined state revenue would be using 2025-26 enrollment values. Senator Lisa Wellman, D-Mercer Island, said her intent was to help school districts facing enrollment decline over the next two school years, offering some measure of financial stability. The bill had a public hearing on January 29th but is not scheduled for a vote. The fiscal note shows a cost of $1.9 million in fiscal year (FY) 2027, and a cost of $3.45 million in the 2027-29 biennium.
Addressing the Student Mental Health Crisis
2SHB 1634 would create a framework to provide school districts and public schools with assistance in supporting student behavioral health. The purpose of the technical assistance and training framework would be to improve coordination, reduce duplication, and increase access to prevention, early identification, early intervention, and crisis intervention behavioral health services and supports. In developing the framework, OSPI and the Educational Service Districts must consult and collaborate with organizations like Washington State PTA.
The bill passed out of the House Education Committee on January 22nd by a vote of 12-5 and has been referred to the House Appropriations Committee.
SB 6224 would require the Governor to establish a leadership council to address children and youth health and wellness issues and coordinate efforts to implement the Washington Thriving Strategic Plan. The bill had a public hearing last week in the Senate Human Services Committee and is scheduled for a vote on Tuesday, February 3rd.
The House companion bill, HB 2429, had a public hearing on January 20th and was voted out of the House Early Learning & Human Services Committee on January 30th. The bill had one amendment – adding two representatives of federally recognized Indian tribes to the work group. The bill likely will be referred to the House Appropriations Committee due to a fiscal note that pegs the state cost at about $110,000 a year.
Supporting Funding, Inclusion and Supports in Special Education
SHB 1795, addressing restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs, passed out of the House Education Committee. The bill was amended twice before passing – the amendments:
- Clarify that “imminent likelihood of serious harm” for the purposes of student restraint or isolation includes harm to the student or to another student or staff member.
- Prohibit school districts from designing, constructing, remodeling, reconfiguring, repurposing, or otherwise establishing any room or other enclosed areas for the primary purpose of student isolation, regardless of how the space is labeled.
The bill bypassed House Appropriations and was sent directly to the House Rules Committee.
Preventing and Reducing Gun Violence and Suicide
- HB 2320 would regulate firearms from 3D printers, computer numerical control milling machines, or digital firearm manufacturing code. A proposed substitute bill would make several changes and clarifications and is scheduled for a vote in the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee on February 4th.
- SB 5098 passed the Senate on January 21st by a vote of 29-20. The bill has been referred to the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee. Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, shared that the committee would work on getting House bills out on time first, and likely hold a hearing on the Senate bill once the chambers reconvene for committee action after February 18th.
Other bills we’re watching
- The Senate Law & Justice Committee passed a substitute to SB 5906 out of committee on January 29th. The bill would prohibit early learning providers and school district employees from collecting information about the immigration statuses of students or their family members. The bill also would prohibit early learning providers, school district employees, health care facilities, adult family homes, higher education institutions, and county auditors’ offices from allowing immigration enforcement officers to enter the nonpublic areas of those locations without a judicial warrant or court order.
- Unfunded mandates. Last week, the House Education Committee heard testimony in support of HB 2636, a bill designed to start a process of review of various school year requirements and unfunded mandates imposed on school districts. The bill is scheduled for executive action on Tuesday, February 3rd.
- In addition to the bill, House Education Committee member Travis Couture, R-Allyn, has had “null and void” amendments drafted for every bill that is on the list for a vote this week that could be a new school year requirement or unfunded mandate. The first time the House Republicans on the committee tried this the previous week, it was voted down. We’ll see what happens this week.
Advocacy in Action
- On Tuesday, January 27th, WSPTA Advocacy Director Megan Larkin testified Con on SB 6260 in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee. The bill would find “savings” by allowing OSPI to hold back 1.9% of MSOC to pay for the online platform of High School and Beyond Plans and extend the bus depreciation schedule to 15 years. Megan also shared concerns about reductions to Running Start allocations. Listen to Megan here.
- New WSPTA Advocacy Committee member and Region 6 Advocacy Chair Beth Cogan, a parent in the Seattle School District, testified in support of HB 2557, a bill that would require school districts to provide evaluation reports to parents and guardians at least five days prior to an eligibility meeting. While testifying before the House Education Committee on Tuesday, Beth was able to draw on her own experience, receiving an evaluation in the morning of a meeting scheduled later that day. Beth’s testimony can be heard here.
- WSPTA Advocacy Committee member Holly Muenchow also testified in the House Education Committee Tuesday. She weighed in as Pro for HB 2594, which would codify many elements of the federal McKinney-Vento law for students who are homeless. In addition to supporting the bill, Holly asked the committee to consider streamlining and identifying other statutes that also relate to students who are homeless. Listen to Holly here.
- Parent advocate and WSPTA Advocacy Committee member Kristi Schweisinger and her daughter Ava traveled to Olympia to testify in support of a proposed substitute to HB 1295 in the House Education Committee on Thursday, January 29th. The bill would direct school districts to incorporate “structured literacy” curriculum and teaching practices into reading instruction. Ava used her experience with dyslexia to share how important the bill will be to other students. Listen to Ava here. Kristi’s testimony can be heard here.
- Also on Thursday, WSPTA Advocacy Committee member Danica Noble testified in support of the aim behind SB 6111, relating to the protection of children online. Danica told members of the Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development Committee that WSPTA members recognize the potential harm to children from social media while preserving their access to online content. She encouraged them to support legislation that will hold platforms accountable and not turn a blind eye to age. Listen to Danica here.
The Week Ahead
February 4 is the deadline by which bills must pass out of policy committees, so there is a lot of executive action scheduled for the next few days. Please see the full schedule – below shares just the public hearings scheduled at this time.
Here is next week’s schedule (subject to change); all hearings can be viewed on TVW:
Labor & Commerce (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/2 @ 10:30am
- SB 6282– Public Hearing – Requiring state registered apprenticeships in the building and construction trades to provide behavioral health and wellness training. (Remote Testimony Available).
Appropriations (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/2 @ 4:00pm
- SHB 2132– Public Hearing – Concerning applications for state financial aid. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support)
Ways & Means (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual – 2/2 @ 4:00pm
- SSB 5969– Public Hearing – Reducing duplication between high school and beyond plans and individualized education program transition plans. (Remote Testimony Available).
Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/3 @ 8:00am
- SB 6277– Public Hearing – Promoting educational stability for children of military families. (Remote Testimony Available).
State Government & Tribal Relations (House) – HHR E and Virtual JLOB – 2/3 @ 1:30pm
- HB 2661– Public Hearing – Establishing the legislative task force on public records act modernization consisting of eight voting members and four nonvoting legislators. (Remote Testimony Available).
Ways & Means (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual – 2/3 @ 4:00pm
- SB 5963– Public Hearing – Modifying funding for the passport to careers program and eligibility for the Washington college grant. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support)
Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/4 @ 10:30am
- SB 5849– Public Hearing – Making financial education a graduation requirement in Washington state. (Remote Testimony Available). (Monitoring)
Capital Budget (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 2/4 @ 4:00pm
- HB 2273– Public Hearing – Reducing embodied carbon emissions of buildings and building materials. (Remote Testimony Available).
Appropriations (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/5 @ 10:30am
- SHB 2105– Public Hearing – Concerning immigrant worker protections. (Remote Testimony Available).
- HB 2116– Public Hearing – Updating school enrichment funding. (Remote Testimony Available).
Ways & Means (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual – 2/5 @ 1:30pm
- SB 6294– Public Hearing – Providing local governments tax resources and fund flexibility. (Remote Testimony Available).
- SSB 5901– Public Hearing – Providing school construction assistance program facilities support for on-base schools. (Remote Testimony Available).
Appropriations (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/6 @ 10:30am
- SHB 2365– Public Hearing – Advancing digital opportunities for all. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support)