By the end of this week, all bills with a financial impact must be voted out of their respective fiscal committees in their House of Origin to remain viable. House bills must advance through the Finance or Appropriations Committees, while Senate bills must move out of the Ways and Means Committee to stay on track for potential passage.
Legislation moving forward:
SHB 1285 does not directly impact private school curriculum. It requires public school students, beginning with the graduating class of 2031, to meet the high school state financial education learning standards to graduate. It also requires school districts, charter schools, and state-tribal education compact schools to provide all high school students with instruction in the state financial education learning standards, beginning in or before the 2027-28 school year.
SSHB 1648 modifies child care provider qualifications. Specifically, it gives licensed child care providers until at least August 1, 2032, or five years from the date of hire if hired on or after the effective date to:
(a) Comply with child care licensing rules that require a provider to hold an early childhood education initial certificate, an early childhood education short certificate, or an early childhood education state certificate;
(b) Complete community-based pathway trainings; or
(c) Demonstrate experience-based competency to the department after working in a licensed child care setting without a break in service for at least five years. The department must adopt policies to allow temporary breaks related to parental leave, personal illness, attending to family illness or emergency, or similar circumstances not to be considered a break in service.
The Appropriation Committee voted on and passed this bill. It will be on the Floor for a vote before moving to the House.
SSB 5009 was designed to provide transportation funding for public schools, covering both buses and alternative vehicles used to transport students. However, it lacks clarity regarding when a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is required. As written, the bill suggests that all drivers of students, regardless of the vehicle type, must obtain a CDL. Our research indicates that CDL requirements primarily apply to buses with multiple stops, air brakes, and specific safety considerations—factors that differ significantly from those of a van used for a school event. We will continue discussing this issue on the Tuesday Zoom. Please join.
SSB 5062 is the workforce standards bill that WFIS opposes. It was not voted on Thursday in Ways and Means, and we are waiting to see what happens today.
SSB 5240 allows trained school personnel to use an EpiPen on a student suffering an anaphylaxis attack as long as the child is prescribed the EpiPen. In addition, nurses can use an EpiPen on a student suffering an anaphylaxis attack that does not have a prescription. WFIS has been trying to allow both trained personnel and nurses to be able to save a child’s life regardless of an existing prescription but has not yet succeeded. The bill has passed and is in Rules awaiting a turn on the Floor.
SB 5506, which extends the timeline for licensing boarding schools, passed the Senate and has been referred to the House Early Learning & Human Services Committee.
SSB 5509 is the substitute bill requiring cities, towns, and city codes to permit childcare centers to be used in all zones except industrial zones, light industrial zones, and open space. This bill made it out of Ways & Means and will be in Rules. We will work to make sure it gets onto a Floor vote.
SSB 5514 increases compliance pathways for the clean buildings performance standards, adding an exemption for extenuating circumstances approved by Commerce with specified financial hardships for K-12 school buildings. WFIS has offered an amendment prioritizing health and safety compliance while committing to clean building standards. The bill passed without the amendment and will be on the Floor for a vote. There is still time to add the amendment.
SSB 5655 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 of the child care center must be based only on the areas where the child care services are provided. This bill was voted off the Senate Floor unanimously and was referred to the House Early Learning & Human Services Committee.
