With 31 days remaining in the legislative session, bills are now being heard in the opposite chamber. Key deadlines include the April 2 cutoff for policy bills, the April 8 fiscal cutoff, and concurrence efforts from April 17-27. The session is set to end on April 27, though a Special Session in May remains a possibility—last week it seemed likely; this week, it’s 50:50.
Budget Updates:
The House and Senate released their budgets Monday, aiming to address a projected $15 billion shortfall. The budgets presented are for the 2025-27 biennium. The House budget prioritizes social services with modest K-12 school increases, while the Senate budget allocates an additional $2.2 billion to K-12 over four years. However, both include significant cuts to early learning programs and the implementation of the Fair Start for Kids Act. Both budgets maintain a pause on TK expansion.
Washington’s revenue growth fell short of projections, forcing lawmakers to consider spending cuts and tax increases. The final budget will most likely include a combination of both.
Potential Private School Impact: Special education funding remains a key debate, with potential implications for some private schools and student services. For a deeper dive, visit fiscal.wa.gov.
Bills WFIS remains focused on:
SB 5506 extends the timeline for licensing boarding schools. The House Early Learning Committee moved it with unanimous support today.
HB 1543 offers alternative pathways to comply with energy standards. WFIS successfully added language to the bill extending energy standards compliance if schools face competing demands from the Department of Health. This bill currently affects Tier I buildings but establishes a template for Tier II down the road. The bill passed out of the Senate committee today.
Engrossed SSHB 1648 supports early learning teachers by allowing a reasonable timeline for acquiring education. The hearing for this bill illuminated the legislators’ confusion about education requirements. WFIS worked to clarify that all teachers would continue to earn STARS hours each year, as they work toward longer-term goals required by the State.
The Striker bill proposed by Senator Wilson and passed by the committee takes the bill backwards. We want to influence legislators to vote in favor of a different striker that would allow more time for teachers to comply with education standards. We will let you know when that striker is available to review.
Engrossed SSB 5509 requires cities, towns, and city codes to permit childcare centers in all zones except industrial zones, light industrial zones, and open spaces. The bill has been voted on, passed, and moved to the Appropriations Committee.
SSB 5655 has passed and moved to the Floor. The bill requires that when a child care center is operated in a dedicated space within an existing building with more than one use, the occupancy load must be based only on the areas where the child care services are provided.
