The 2025 Legislative Session officially began on Monday, January 13. Lawmakers got right to it, and committees began holding work sessions as well as taking public testimony on a number of bills. The Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee, headed by Senator Lisa Wellman, held two committee meetings right off the bat, hearing testimony on bills that centered on childcare and school emergency response systems. The House Education Committee, led by Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, did not hold public hearings this first week, however, they met three times for in-depth work sessions regarding K-12 agencies and the post-pandemic systems in education.
As one can see, there were a slew of bills released this week, and quite a few are timely in the world of K-12 education. One example is HB 1122, that would restrict cell phone use in public schools. There was a similar bill to this last session that didn’t make it to the governor’s desk. HB 1122 made news this week; The Seattle Times’ Education Lab went in-depth on the details of the bill and reported on solutions that districts in neighboring states are using to address the cell phone problem. HB 1122 would require school districts to adopt a policy restricting student cell phone use during instructional time by the start of the 2026-27 school year.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson was sworn in as Washington State’s new governor on Wednesday and is already striking a different tone than former Governor Inslee. Ferguson announced a goal of $4 billion in budget cuts, along with $1.3 billion worth of new programs that he wants to see in the 2025-27 biennial budget. According to reports in Cascade PBS, “The $12 billion predicted shortfall is likely the Legislature’s biggest problem in the upcoming 105-day session.” Regarding K-12 funding, the Seattle Times reported that Ferguson was particularly critical of Inslee’s proposal, which spends about 42% on schools, a slice that has been criticized as backsliding by the state teacher’s union. “The final budget must invest a higher percentage of the total budget toward K-12 schools,” Ferguson stated. Among that proposed K-12 spending, Ferguson proposed $480 million to guarantee school lunches for every Washington student.
Education Committee Schedules for Next Week on tvw.org
House Education Committee:
- Monday, January 20 @ 1:30pm
- Tuesday, January 21 @ 4pm
- Thursday, January 23 @ 830am
Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee:
- Tuesday, January 21 @ 8am
- Wednesday, January 22 @ 130pm
- Thursday, January 23 @ 10:30am
House Bills
HB 1020: which would increase the accessibility of academic re-engagement opportunities for eligible students.
HB 1021: which works to promote educational stability for children of military families.
HB 1031: which aims to mitigate the impact of rising school facility temperatures resulting from climate change.
HB 1032: which concerns school district elections.
HB 1051: which would permit the recording of individualized education program team meetings.
HB 1079: which supports remote testing options for students enrolled in online school programs.
HB 1085 or SB 5272: which aims to improve school safety by extending penalties for interference by, or intimidation by threat of, force or violence at schools and extracurricular activities and requiring schools to notify the public of such penalties.
HB 1122: which would determine restrictions on mobile device usage by public school students. For more on this, from The Seattle Times, WA Bill Would Limit Cell Phone Use in Schools.
HB 1134: which would promote resource conservation practices in public schools.
HB 1151: which would establish the ninth-grade success grant program.
HB 1189: which addresses parental involvement through volunteering in schools after a criminal conviction.
HB 1241: which would improve access to and the provision of free appropriate public education for students with disabilities.
HB 1257: or SB 5253: which would extend special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22.
HB 1259: which concerns supervision requirements for behavioral health professionals in elementary and secondary public schools.
HB 1285: which would make financial education instruction a graduation requirement in public schools.
HB 1289: would use a survey to gather information on how to improve the public school system.
HB 1295: which would use evidence-based instructional practices in reading and writing literacy for public elementary students.
Senate Bills
SB 5003: which would establish the school security and preparedness infrastructure grant program (hearing time: 11:59 and 21:21). Testifying in support: representatives from OSPI, the Conservative Ladies of WA, and a concerned citizen.
SB 5004: which would update emergency response systems in public schools including panic or alert buttons (hearing time: 16:58 and 28.50). Testifying in support: representatives from Make Our Girls Safe, Yakima SD, and the Conservative Ladies of WA
SB 5007: which would support students who are chronically absent and at risk for not graduating high school.
SB 5008: which would support the use of assessment, diagnostic, and learning tools in public schools.
SB 5009: which modifies the student transportation allocation to accommodate multiple vehicle types for transporting students.
SB 5012: which concerns the organization of interscholastic athletics.
SB 5025: which concerns educational interpreters.
SB 5080: which would make financial education instruction a graduation requirement.
SB 5097: which relates to school boards and ensuring competitiveness in girls’ interscholastic athletic activities.
SB 5113: which concerns the cost-of-living adjustments for plan 1 retirees of the teachers’ retirement system and public employees’ retirement system.
SB 5123: which would expand protections for LGBTQ+ students to promote inclusivity in public schools.
SB 5126: which would establish a statewide network for student mental and behavioral health.
SB 5134: which would require public schools to commemorate the contributions of Chinese Americans and Americans of Chinese descent and requires school districts to incorporate instruction about the Chinese Exclusion Act (hearing time: 1:03:20). Testifying in support: Pierce County Council District 6 Rep. Jani Hitchen, several concerned citizens and a representative from the CRPF of Tacoma. Testifying as “other:” a representative from the Washington State Historical Society and the WEA.
SB 5135: which concerns school districts’ authority to establish their curriculum.
SB 5136: which aims to protect the rights of parents and guardians by using students’ given names in public schools.
SB 5137: which requires parental or legal guardian approval before a child participates in comprehensive sexual health education.
SB 5177: which would consider the experiences of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups when identifying professional development resources on certain topics.
SB 5180: which aims to secure the rights of students to have a safe, civil, and respectful learning community.
SB 5181: which would amend the parents’ rights initiative to align it with existing law.
SB 5187: which provides adequate and predictable student transportation.
SB 5189: which supports the implementation of competency-based education (hearing time: 1:11:45). Testifying in support: representatives from the SBE, Dishman Hills High School, LaConnor School District, SBCTC, Highline Public Schools and the WEA. Testifying in opposition: representatives from the Conservative Ladies of WA and several concerned citizens. Testifying as “other:” representatives from OSPI.
SB 5192: which concerns school district materials, supplies, and operating costs.
SB 5193: which supports remote testing options for students enrolled in online school programs (hearing time: 51:16). Testifying in support: representatives from Stride K/12, Digital Public Schools Alliance, OSPI, Insight WA, River Homelink, and a concerned citizen.
SB 5210: which would establish the ninth-grade success grant program (hearing time: 00:38 and 34:53). Testifying in support: representatives from the Center for High School Success, Tacoma Public Schools, Stand for Children, University of Washington, Prosser High School and Graham Kapowsin High School.
SB 5240: which would allow school districts to maintain a supply of epinephrine to address anaphylaxis in schools.
SB 5263: which would require OSPI to submit a programmed budget request for special education programs for students with disabilities every other year.
SB 5270 and 1352: which would provide mentors to novice nurses in the beginning educator support team program.
SB 5271: which would require school districts of the first class to employ a school nurse.
SJR 8200: which would amend the Constitution to allow 55 percent of voters voting to authorize school district bonds.
Odds and Ends
“How many gluten-free snickerdoodles, mocha chocolate chip cookies and whole wheat loaves would it take to raise $4 billion?” From The Seattle Times, WA Parents Launch a Billion Dollar Bake Sale for K-12 Funding.
Out of respect to those who are in the midst of the California wildfire devastation, this article from NPR touches on the issue of school closures and what students are experiencing during this difficult time.
Meet CSTP’s Legislative Update Coordinator Samantha Miller
Samantha Miller returns as CSTP’s Legislative Updates Coordinator for the 2024 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 in Teaching. Samantha has worked in Elementary Education for 6 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.