This is day 40 of the 2025 regular session, which has 65 days left. Nearly 1,400 bills were introduced this session.
The end of today is the policy committee cutoff for bills. If bills receive no committee action and are not necessary to balance the state’s budget, they die and will be looked at again next year.
Legislation that may move forward:
SB 5062: The bill that would unionize early learning teachers may die this year because of its sizeable fiscal note of approximately $3M, which is the cost to set up and pay for members’ participation in the workforce standards board for just the first biennium. Cost aside, WFIS is working to ensure this bill is not moving forward because it is a terrible policy.
SEIU 925 was asked to make changes to the bill that would make it slightly more palatable, like removing private K12 schools, but they refused.
We will continue highlighting that this bill overburdens the system with redundant and bureaucratic oversight. Union affiliates should not dominate a workforce standards board, and the state should not pay the Union to establish and sit on one. In addition, the fiscal note on this bill does not reflect the Workforce Standards Board’s recommendation to increase teachers’ salaries without the state’s commitment to pay.
WFIS will let you know when to address your concerns with the legislators. We also encourage teachers and parents to express their concerns.
House Bill 1648 helps early learning teachers by modifying teacher qualifications and extending the timeline to complete staff qualification. WFIS very much supports this bill.
Senate Bill 5506 extends the start date of licensing living accommodations for boarding schools. WFIS worked with DCYF and SBE to garner support for the extension.
SB 5240 needs an amendment that allows school personnel to use an EpiPen on a student suffering an anaphylaxis attack who isn’t prescribed one. The bill only allows nurses to use an EpiPen in these circumstances, which puts students at risk.
SB 5009 aims to clarify when schools need to hire drivers with commercial driver’s licenses. The bill outlines transportation allocations from the state, which will not impact private schools. However, their new definition of “school bus” will. WFIS asks you to read the bill and give feedback to your legislators and to WFIS so we can accurately reflect the changes you need to see.
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Legislation that is not or may not be moving forward:
SSB 5190 would have allowed a Tier 1 public school, private school, or school district to request an extension to meet state energy performance standards in their K-12 school buildings. This bill is likely dead and replaced by SB 5514, which needs some work if they want it to support K12 public and private schools. Please read.
HB1618 would have given private school students the same access to free college credits through the CiHS program outlined for public, charter, and tribal school students in 2023. This bill has died and will be taken up by WFIS in the interim.
HB 1184 would have changed overtime exemption rules by “creating a narrow exemption from overtime provisions for certain nonprofits and small businesses.” This bill is dead this year
HB 1140, a School Choice bill, would have established educational savings accounts. Over 2,600 people signed in “Pro” to support this bill.
