Happy Friday folks! We have wrapped up another fast-paced week in Olympia, and with that brought the end to a number of education related bills that never made it out of their respective rules committees. Tuesday, February 17, was the house of origin cut-off, and bills that were not passed out of their original chamber by 5pm did not move forward this session. The next cut-off that looms for lawmakers is Wednesday, February 25th. This will be the last day for policy committees in the opposite house to pass bills on to fiscal committees.
This week’s policy hearings were jam packed in terms of bills heard, but brief when it came to the number of testifiers. In shorter sessions, policy committees move as fast as possible, not spending the time to hear in detail from a wide variety of testifiers signing in on bills, but rather brief the bills thoroughly, consider the possible fiscal impact, and move on. This makes sense given the short schedule and what is required of these lawmakers in such a compact time frame. For example, the senate ed committee exec’d out both SHB 2360, which expands access to albuterol in public schools and ESHB 2534, which promotes educational stability for military families, without holding additional public hearings.
The one exception this week was the public hearing on ESHB 1795, which addresses the use of isolation and restraint in public schools. This bill is a streamlined version of the one introduced last session, and has been one that has drawn much interest, controversy and has been amended several times. The senate ed committee’s hearing lasted nearly an hour with numerous testifiers as well as discussion and questions from committee members. Questions on implementation and training of school staff continue to be issues raised by committee members, however, as stated by Senator and Committee Chair, Lisa Wellman, “the bill is a step in the right direction.”
Committee Meetings Next Week on tvw.org
House Education Committee:
- Monday, February 23rd @ 130pm
- Tuesday, February 24th @ 4pm
Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee:
- Tuesday, February 24th @ 8am
- Wednesday, February 25th @ 1030am
House Bills We’re Following
HB 1295: which would require public schools to implement a comprehensive literacy program that uses evidence-based instructional practices to promote the early literacy and reading and writing literacy of students in kindergarten through fourth grade. The bill also directs the PESB to adopt revised literacy endorsement standards and to require teacher preparation programs to implement the revised standards. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.
SSHB 1634: which establishes a network of statewide and regional partners to provide school districts and public schools with the technical assistance, resources, and training necessary to coordinate comprehensive student supports across the behavioral health continuum. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.
HB 1795: This bill would prohibit specified interventions, including chemical and mechanical restraint, and prohibit the construction of isolation rooms, while allowing physical restraint and isolation of students under certain conditions. The bill would also prohibit the isolation of students in prekindergarten through fifth grade beginning August 1, 2027, except under specified conditions and modify requirements for incident notification, review, and reporting, behavioral intervention planning; and policies and procedures (hearing time: 19:17). Testifying in support: representatives from the Arc of King County, Roots and Inclusion, Team Child, Auburn SD, Disability Rights WA, SBE, OSPI, WEA, WSSDA and several concerned citizens.Testifying as “other:” representatives from Public School Employees, AWSP. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.
SHB 2360: which would expand access to albuterol in public and private schools (hearing time: 33:07).Testifying as “other”: a concerned citizen. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.
ESB 2534: which would make changes to school district requirements for enrolling children of military families, transferring their education records, and providing them with services and accommodations. The bill is in the Senate Rules Committee.
HB 2557: which would require a school district to provide the student’s parent or guardian with a copy of the special education evaluation report at least five school days before the meeting at which the report will be reviewed or the student’s eligibility for services will be determined, unless the parent or guardian provides a written waiver of this timeline (hearing time: 7:21and 58:43). Testifying in support: representatives from the WEA, Arc of King County, OSPI, Seattle SEPTSA, The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.
HB 2594: which establishes state-based requirements for ensuring that homeless children and youths have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education as is provided to other children and youths. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.
E2SB 2636: which establishes the 15-member Public Education Review Advisory Council and directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee to examine policy requirements and funding provisions for public schools recommended for review by the Council. The bill is in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee.
Senate Bills We’re Following
SSB 5240: which would allow a school nurse or designated trained school personnel to use any available epinephrine on school property to respond to an anaphylactic reaction when certain requirements are met (1:21:24). Testifying in opposition: representatives from the School Nurses of WA. Testifying as “other:” representatives from WFIS. The bill is in the House Education Committee.
SSB 5346: which would revise the definition of digital citizenship so that the norms of appropriate, responsible, and healthy behavior related to current technology use include student use of mobile devices as well as directs OSPI to include research on student use of mobile devices and recommended best practice strategies for teaching students how to use their mobile devices responsibly (hearing time: 1:45:22). Testifying in support: representatives from Stand for Children, and several concerned citizens. Testifying as “other:” representatives from Distraction-Free Schools WA. The bill is in the House Education Committee. As School Cellphone Bans Gain in Popularity, Lawmakers say it’s time to go Bell-to-Bell.
SSB 5841: which requires high school and beyond plans to contain evidence that the student has completed at least one state or federal financial aid application, or that their parent or legal guardian has opted the student out of this requirement (hearing time: 24:50). Testifying in support: representatives from the WSA. The bill is in the House Education Committee.
SSB 5956: which prohibits certain decisions related to student discipline and school safety based on automated decision systems, school surveillance technology, biometric data, and facial recognition services. This bill would direct OSPI to update its guidance on artificial intelligence in K-12 education to address automated decision systems and school surveillance technologies (hearing time: 11:19and 44:47). Testifying in support: representatives from BESRWA and a concerned citizen. The bill is in the House Education Committee.
SB 5961: which would transfer the imagination library program from the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, as well as direct OSPI, to contract with a nonprofit entity experienced in the provision of promoting early literacy for children through pediatric office visits. The bill is in the House Education Committee.
2SSB 5969: which directs that the statewide online system for Individualized Education Programs (IEP) and High School and Beyond Plans be integrated to the greatest extent possible in order to relieve duplication between the plans (hearing time: 59:38). The bill is in the House Education Committee.
SSB 5992: which would create a non-appropriated, youth development fund account and authorize the Superintendent of Public Instruction to distribute grant funding from the account to certain entities to support youth development programs. The bill is in the House Education Committee.
SSB 6222: which allows school districts and educational service districts to sell surplus computer laptops, tablets, and other electronic devices or equipment at depreciated cost to public school students (hearing time: 00:29and 54:55). Testifying in support: representatives from Zero-Waste WA, the Issaquah SD, The bill is in the House Education Committee.
SB 6247: which directs educational service districts (ESDs) to provide additional budget oversight and support to school districts that are in binding conditions or showing indicators of financial distress. The bill also directs the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) to provide governance training regarding district budgeting, accounting, and financial health, and requires school directors to complete the training (hearing time: 6:24). Testifying in support: representatives from OSPI and ESD 113. Testifying as “other:” representatives from WSSDA and WASA. The bill is in the House Education Committee.
SSB 6268: which would require OSPI to maintain an online record of all final decisions issued in response to special education community complaints in the prior 20 years (hearing time: 00:44 and 35:36). Testifying in support: several concerned citizens. The bill is in the House Education Committee.
SB 6278: which would require the PESB to conduct an ongoing review of approved educator preparation programs to include program standards, educator role standards, evidence submitted by programs, and input from community constituents such as classroom educators and administrators (hearing time: 1:10:47). The bill is in the House Education Committee.
Odds and Ends
Seattle Public Schools boosting highly capable programming. From The Seattle Times, Seattle Getting More Advanced Learning Programs.
On a festive note – Happy Chinese New Year! Dancing into the Lunar New Year.
CSTP’s Legislative Update Coordinator
Samantha Miller returns as CSTP’s Legislative Updates Coordinator for the 2026 legislative session. She writes weekly emails during the legislative session focusing on bills that impact Washington educators.
Samantha has degrees in both Political Science and History, as well as a Master’s in Teaching. Samantha has worked in Elementary Education for 8 years, most recently as a 3rd Grade general education teacher. The majority of her time is spent chasing around her two children who keep her very busy. Samantha enjoys running, working in her yard, listening to political podcasts, and spending time with her family.