Week Six: Make way for Focus Day!

By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org

Click here to view the comprehensive Week 6 bill tracker.

More than 280 people have registered for Washington State PTA’s Focus Day in Olympia, and the capital will be a crowded place, with many rallies and protests taking place on the Capitol campus.

WSPTA members will be meeting with legislators and cheering to fund public schools from the steps of the Temple of Justice (across the “flag circle” and directly across from the main Legislative Building steps), beginning promptly at 10 AM.

Don’t miss OSPI Superintendent Chris Reykdal joining everyone at Focus Day’s new “home base” this year – United Churches – from 12:15-12:45 PM. And for anyone who is looking for some committee action, the House Education Committee will be meeting at 1:30 PM to vote on various bills in the John L. O’Brien Building, Hearing Room A.

If you aren’t making your way to Olympia this week, please consider scheduling virtual meetings with your legislators over the next month to stress the importance of closing the funding gaps in special education, school operating costs (MSOC), and student transportation. Use the 2025 Legislative Priority talking points in the Advocacy Toolkit to help guide your voice during these meetings. Parent voice matters!

Simple majority for bonds passes Senate policy committee

As a “valentine” to schools, the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee passed SSB 5186 and SJR 8200 out of committee by a 6-3 margin, amending the bills from their original 55% threshold to pass bonds to a simple majority threshold. The bills have been referred to the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

Two freshmen senators have taken the lead in proposing these bills: Senator Deborah Krishnadasan, D-Gig Harbor, is a former Peninsula School Board Director and Senator Adrian Cortes, D-Battle Ground, is a special education teacher in the Camas School District. The pair worked on a grand bargain to bring together many advocates traditionally opposed to a simple majority to agree on a proposal that is linked to foregoing school district impact fees. While none of the three Senate Republicans voted in favor of the bills advancing, there is hope that the Senate will have the 33 votes needed for the bills to move forward.

House Education Chair Sharon Tomiko Santos, D- Seattle, indicated she will wait for the Senate bills to pass that chamber and hasn’t scheduled the House simple majority bills – HB 1032 and HJR 4201 – for a vote by the February 21st deadline to pass policy bills from committee.

Big 3 status update

Last week the Senate Ways & Means Committee heard nearly unanimous testimony in favor of SB 5187 (student transportation), SB 5192 (Materials, Supplies, & Operating Costs or MSOC), and SSB 5263 (special education).  In addition, “thank you” everyone who signed in for these bills: 2,678 Pro for SB 5187; 2,685 Pro for SB 5192; and 3,058 Pro for SB 5263!

HB 1310 and HB 1357 (special education) and HB 1338 (MSOC) were heard in the House Appropriations Committee on February 3^rd. HB 1579 (student transportation) hasn’t been scheduled for a public hearing yet.

Funding amounts for both sets of Big 3 bills will likely be revealed next month as the Senate and House operating budget chairs release their 2025-27 budget proposals following the March 18 revenue forecast. However, those won’t be the final funding numbers – unfortunately we aren’t likely to see what the Legislature decides until late April. That is why it is critical to keep the pressure on legislators to close the K-12 funding gaps for these basic education priorities.

Bills on the watch list

The House Education Committee doesn’t have any bills scheduled for public hearings next week, but issues such as isolation and restraint, parent surveys, and financial education as a graduation requirement are on the list for a vote.

Over in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee, Chair Lisa Wellman, D-Mercer Island, has scheduled SB 5574, providing instruction on Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander history in schools, for a public hearing Tuesday, February 18 at 8 AM.

• To share your support for this bill, please click here by 7 AM on February 18.

Advocacy in Action

As mentioned above, February 11 was a busy day in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. Here’s a quick summary of WSPTA and parent advocates in action!

• Washington State PTA President Angela Steck testified in favor of SSB 5263, a bipartisan bill that would increase funding for special education services. Angela also asked for funding to support inclusionary practices and a study that would identify how other states fund programs to support students with disabilities. Listen to Angela here.
• Also speaking in favor of closing the gap on special education funding was Samantha Fogg, co-president of Seattle Council PTSA. Her testimony can be found here.
• WSPTA Advocacy Committee member Holly Muenchow testified in favor of SB 5192, funding materials, supplies and operating costs (MSOC). Holly shared the impact on Northshore and urged legislators to support the bill. Holly’s testimony can be found here.
• Samantha Fogg, testifying again for Seattle Council PTSA, told legislators MSOC wasn’t optional. Hear Samantha’s testimony here.
• And Michelle Harris of the Shoreline PTA Council also spoke in favor of the MSOC bill, citing information from the district and the impact on enrichment levies. Listen to Michelle here.
• Rounding out the hearing, WSPTA President Angela Steck spoke in favor of SB 5187, funding student transportation. Angela asked the committee to include students in the foster care system and students with disabilities in the special passenger stipend funded in the bill as immediate relief to school districts. Her testimony can be found here.  

The Week Ahead – All hearings can be found on TVW – Schedule subject to change

Education (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/17 @ 1:30pm

• HB 1257 – Exec Session – Extending special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22.
• HB 1273 – Exec Session – Improving student access to dual credit programs.
• HB 1285 – Exec Session – Making financial education instruction a graduation requirement in public schools. (Concerns/Medium)
• HB 1634 – Exec Session – Providing school districts and public schools with assistance to coordinate comprehensive behavioral health supports for students. (Support)
• HB 1651 – Exec Session – Concerning teacher residency and apprenticeship programs.
• HB 1795 – Exec Session – Addressing restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs.

Ways & Means (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 2/17 @ 4:00pm

• SSB 5095 – Public Hearing – Concerning school districts’ authority to contract indebtedness for school construction. (Remote Testimony Available).
• SB 5189 – Public Hearing – Supporting the implementation of competency-based education. (Remote Testimony Available).
• SSB 5164 – Public Hearing – Providing student navigational supports to increase postsecondary enrollment. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support/Low)

Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/18 @ 8:00am

• SB 5637 – Exec Session – Promoting student access to information about media literacy and civic education.
• SB 5574 – Public Hearing – Providing instruction on Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander history in public schools. (Remote Testimony Available).

Finance (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/18 @ 8:00am

• HB 1517 – Public Hearing – Providing a revenue stream to fund digital equity programs. (Remote Testimony Available).

Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 2/18 @ 10:30am

• HB 1503 – Exec Session – Furthering digital equity and opportunity in Washington state. (Support/Low)

Consumer Protection & Business (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 2/18 @ 1:30pm

• HB 1834 – Public Hearing – Protecting Washington children online. (Remote Testimony Available).
• HB 1203 – Exec Session – Prohibiting the sale of certain tobacco and nicotine products.

Postsecondary Education & Workforce (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 2/18 @ 1:30pm

• HB 1557 – Exec Session – Establishing the Washington guaranteed admissions program and requiring student notifications. (Support)

Education (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/18 @ 4:00pm

• HB 1393 – Exec Session – Providing public school students with opportunities for cultural expression at commencement ceremonies.
• HB 1817 – Exec Session – Supporting survivors of sexual assault in public elementary and secondary schools.

Appropriations (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/19 @ 4:00pm

• SHB 1587 – Public Hearing – Encouraging local government partner promise scholarship programs within the opportunity scholarship program. (Remote Testimony Available). (Support)

Education (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/20 @ 8:00am

• HB 1257 – Exec Session – Extending special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22.
• HB 1273 – Exec Session – Improving student access to dual credit programs.
• HB 1285 – Exec Session – Making financial education instruction a graduation requirement in public schools. (Concerns/Medium)
• HB 1393 – Exec Session – Providing public school students with opportunities for cultural expression at commencement ceremonies.
• HB 1634 – Exec Session – Providing school districts and public schools with assistance to coordinate comprehensive behavioral health supports for students. (Support)
• HB 1651 – Exec Session – Concerning teacher residency and apprenticeship programs.
• HB 1795 – Exec Session – Addressing restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs.
• HB 1817 – Exec Session – Supporting survivors of sexual assault in public elementary and secondary schools.

Ways & Means (Senate) – SHR 4 and Virtual JACB – 2/20 @ 4:00pm

• SSB 5253 – Public Hearing – Extending special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22. (Remote Testimony Available).
• SSB 5358 – Public Hearing – Concerning career and technical education in sixth grade. (Remote Testimony Available).

Environment, Energy & Technology (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/21 @ 10:30am

• SB 5423 – Exec Session – Supporting the servicing and right to repair of certain products with digital electronics in a secure and reliable manner. (Support)

Finance (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/21 @ 1:30pm

• HB 1805 – Public Hearing – Creating a local sales and use tax to fund services for children and families that enhance well-being, promote mental health, and provide early interventions. (Remote Testimony Available).

Link: Week 6 Bill Tracker