Overview

This year’s budget is a challenging one – lawmakers are looking to close a $14 billion deficit over the next four years. They are constitutionally required to develop a budget that balances for at least four years. The two year budget is also known as the biennial budget, and the two years after that is also known as the “four year outlook.” Both proposals rely on a mix of deep cuts and new progressive revenue. 

While we know that lawmakers are working incredibly hard, we are extremely disappointed at the scale of cuts and the prioritization of new spending to incarcerate youth rather than to educate them. While we are very glad to see a real commitment from the Senate to special education funding and addressing school’s spiraling supply and operating costs, these come at the expense of other programs seeking to ensure students furthest from educational justice (including students receiving special education services) can show up to school ready to learn. Read on for more specifics – and we’ll continue to update this information and link to partners’ analyses as we learn more. 

Want to get deeply in the weeds? You can find all the budget documents at https://fiscal.wa.gov/statebudgets/operatingbudgetmain

Another great resource is this comprehensive side by side comparison of the budget.

K-12 Education 

The Senate and House proposals both make deep cuts to many existing K-12 education funds, while adding funding in other areas. In total, the House K-12 budget makes a net cut of about $48 million dollars from “maintenance level” over two years, while the Senate K-12 budget adds about $1 billion to “maintenance level.” 

  • Key additions:
    • Maintenance, Supplies, and Operating Costs – the Senate budget proposes an additional $175 million for the biennium for basic operational costs that schools have that are rising even faster than inflation. The House budget does not include any additional funding. 
    • Special Education – The Senate budget proposes almost $1 billion in new spending for special education to implement the provisions outlined in SB 5263, including eliminating the special education cap and increasing the multiplier, and SB 5253 which ensures special education services through age 21. The House budget has a much lower increase – $153 million to change the multiplier at a lower rate than the senate, and adds about $16 million for pilots and demonstration sites of inclusive teaching and inclusionary practices. 
    • Levy equalization – The House budget adds $216 million to increase the amount that districts can receive if they are eligible for state funds to supplement local levy dollars. This is pursuant to legislation that would also grant authority to districts to increase their levy amounts. 
  • Key cuts:
    • OPSI grant funding – both the House and Senate fully eliminate discretionary OPSI grants and fail to include continued funding for the Ninth Grade Success Initiative. The Senate delays the cut until fiscal year 2027, cutting $48.5 million in the next two years. The House budget cuts $138 million and begins those cuts starting July 1, 2025. 
    • Career Connected Learning – both the House and Senate cut significantly from Career Connected Learning. The House reduces funding for OSPI by 80% (an $8.3 million cut), while the Senate reduces it by $4.5 million. The House also cuts CCL grants in the Economic Security Department by 80% (an $11 million cut). The Senate cuts these grants by $9.7 million. Both budgets move funds between accounts. 
    • Administrative cuts – both the House and Senate do some level of administrative reduction. The Senate budget proposes a 6% across the board admin cut to OSPI and other state education agencies. These cuts total $4.8m. The Senate also cuts $8.5 million out of Educational Services District staff. The House makes lower cuts to administrative costs, eliminating $1.7 million from OSPI and reducing ESD travel budget by $1.8 million. 
    • School Improvement Program – the Senate budget eliminates $28.7 million in state funds provided to help struggling schools improve educational outcomes for students. 

Higher Education 

We don’t have as detailed a dive into the higher education budget but broadly, both budgets make across the board cuts to four year colleges (1% across the board in the Senate, 2% in the House), and to the state’s Community and Technical College system. Financial aid for many students is reduced, while tuition caps are increased. 

Juvenile Justice 

This is one of the most disappointing areas of the budget for us, as both the House and Senate double down on failed approaches to youth justice by expanding state prison beds for young people. 

In response to overcrowding at Green Hill both budgets propose $27 million to staff a new youth prison facility. This facility will be on the grounds of Stafford Creek, an adult men’s prison, in the unit that previously served as the solitary confinement unit. So far, we remain skeptical of the proposed timeline to open (It has already been pushed back several months due to difficulty hiring), the remote location, the co-location with an adult facility, and the enormous expense at a time when we have so many other needs as a state. 

In addition, both budgets also spend about $3.5 million to continue to contract with private security guards at Echo Glen. These guards (who are not state employees) have been in place for over two years while a fence is constructed around the facility. Last year, the legislature spent over $18 million on this private security contract. 

Finally, an additional $1.5 million is included for the continued “warm closure” of Naselle, a former youth prison that was closed in 2023. Last biennium, the state spent $3.5 million on this “warm closure.” 

Neither budget funds violence prevention, youth development, or pre-file diversion opportunities for young people. 

In one silver lining, the Senate budget does fund SB 5296 at $5.4 million. This bill would allow judges more flexibility to keep young people convicted in juvenile court in community placements or in a local county detention facility rather than going for very short stays (30-90 days) to state prison. It also provides for a judge to review the case halfway through a sentence to juvenile prison. We believe this bill will significantly reduce the overcrowding at Green Hill and is much more aligned with the research about effective juvenile justice policy. 

What’s Next 

Each chamber will pass their version of the budget out of their fiscal committees quickly, and then quickly vote them out of the chamber. They will then go into “conference” where a team of negotiators from each chamber will go behind closed doors and work through the differences to develop a final budget. That final budget will be released close to the end of session and voted out of the chambers. The Governor also needs to sign the budget – and he has the ability to use his veto power. 

Across the country, Americans are showing up in record numbers to meet with local leaders and make their voices heard on the issues that matter most. Now, you can do the same for our students. Town halls provide us with an opportunity to talk directly to our elected officials, express concerns, ask questions, and invest in finding solutions to address issues facing our communities. Your state lawmakers have Town Halls coming up soon!

Not sure what legislative district you are in? Click here to find out.

Tips to know before arrival at a townhall

  • Town Halls can be in person, via zoom, or via telephone – find out more information about the format in your community here.
  • Legislators want to hear from you – that’s why they are hosting these!
  • Be polite – legislators have been working hard in Olympia and genuinely want to hear from their community what is important.
  • Think of some questions you might want to ask.
  • Take photos and let us know how it goes!

Your voice matters. By attending a local town hall, you can ensure our leaders prioritize funding for student success.

DATETimeLegislative DistrictLegislatorLocation DetailsAdditionalNinth Grade Success Schools in District
March 197:00 – 8:00 pm47Sen. Kauffman, Rep. Entenman, Rep. StearnsTelephone town hall – constituents will receive a call automatically or call (855)-756-7520 Ext.120902#Learn More
March 196:00 – 7:00 pm24Sen. Chapman, Rep. Bernbaum, Rep. TharingerTelephone town hall – constituents will receive a call automatically or call (855)-756-7520 Ext.120722#Learn MorePort Angeles HS
Sequim HS
March 206:30 – 7:30 pm38Sen. Robinson, Rep. Fosse, Rep. CortesTelephone – Constituents will receive a call or can call in using (855)-756-7520 Ext.120923#Learn MoreCascade HS
Everett HS
March 206:30 – 7:30 pm46Sen. Valdez, Rep. Farivar, Rep. PolletVirtual Town Hall: TBA
March 206:30 – 8:00 pm12Reps. Mike Steele and Brian Burnett, and Sen. Keith GoehnerRegister for Virtual Town Hall
March 207:00 – 8:00 pm9Reps. Joe Schmick and Mary Dye, and Sen. Mark SchoeslerRegister for Virtual Town Hall
March 221:30 – 3:00 pm23Sen. Hansen, Rep. Nance, Rep. SimmonsOlympic College – Bremerton Campus Theatre, 1600 Chester Ave, Bremerton, WA 98337Learn More
March 2210:00 – 11:30 am37Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, Rep. Chipalo StreetAsian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS), 3639 Martin Luther King Jr. Way South, Seattle, WA 98144
March 2210:00 – 11:30 am41Sen. Wellman, Rep. Thai, Rep. ZahnBellevue College, U Building, 3000 Landerholm Cir SE, Bellevue, WA 98007Learn More
March 2211:00 am – 12:00 pm44Rep. Brandy DonaghyHeatherwood Middle School cafeteria, 1419 Trillium Blvd SE #14, Mill Creek, WA 98012Snohomish HS
March 2211:30 am – 12:30 pm30Sen. Wilson and Rep. TaylorTBA
March 222:00 – 3:00 pm44Rep. Brandy DonaghySnohomish High School commons, 1316 5th St, Snohomish, WA 98290Snohomish HS
March 229:30 – 11:00 am23Sen. Hansen, Rep. Nance, Rep. SimmonsBainbridge High School, 9330 High School Rd NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110Learn More
March 229:30 – 11:00 am2Reps. Andrew Barkis and Matt Marshall, and Sen. Jim McCuneYelm Community Center, 301 2nd Street SE, YelmBethel HS
March 232:30 – 3:30 pm48Sen. Slatter, Rep. Walen, Rep. SalahuddinTogether Center, 16305 NE 87th St., Suite 110, Redmond, WA 98052
March 246:30 – 7:30 pm1Sen. Stanford, Rep. Kloba, Rep. DuerrCalls will go out to phones in the district. If you don’t get a call, you can participate by dialing: (855)-756-7520 Ext.120782#.Learn More
March 2511:00 – 12:00 pm32Rep. Cindy RyuVirtual Town Hall: TBA
March 256:00 to 7:00 pm35Reps. Dan Griffey and Travis Couture, and Sen. Drew MacEwenTelephone Town Hall; Call-in phone number: (360) 355-3025
March 256:30 to 7:30 pm20Reps. Ed Orcutt and Peter Abbarno, and Sen. John BraunRegister for Virtual Town Hall
March 266:00 – 7:00 pm40Sen. Lovelett, Rep. Lekanoff, Rep. RamelTelephone town hall – Constituents will receive a call or can dial in using (855)-756-7520 Ext.120185#Sehome HS
Mt Vernon HS
Squalicum HS
March 276:00 – 7:00 pm7Reps. Hunter Abell and Andrew Engell, and Sen. Shelly ShortTelephone Town Hall Call-in phone number: (509) 361-1818Brewster HS
Jenkins Jr/Sr HS
Sterling Jr/Sr HS
Eastmont Jr/Sr HS
March 27TBD49Sen. Cleveland, Rep. Stonier, Rep. WylieTelephone town hall – Constituents will receive a call or can dial in (number coming soon!)Henrietta Lacks HS
Legacy HS
April 16:30 pm6Sen. Holy, Rep. Graham and Rep. VolzTelephone Town Hall. Call-in number is 509-214-0588.
April 26:30 – 7:30 pm28Sen. T’wina Nobles and Reps. Dan Bronoske and Mari LeavittTelephone town hall – Constituents will receive a call or can dial 855-756-7520 and use the extension 120961#.Learn More

Stand’s summer volunteer intern Aseela Galeeb has made her mark on the team. Aseela has written content explaining and demystifying the school district policymaking process, interviewing students and professionals about their experiences in dual credit, and auditing school district websites to see if they have accessible public information about available dual credit programming. At the core of her work for Stand has been a rooted understanding of how these issues are relevant to students. Drawing on her own experiences and those of her peers, Aseela has helped us think more intentionally about why equity in dual credit programming matters to students and families.Aseela is heading off to college where she will deepen her policy and communications chops. We are grateful for her time with Stand and excited to follow her work in the future. Aseela leaves us with some parting reflections below:

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” My time working with Stand has been very meaningful. I have been able to build my writing and blogging skills which I know will serve me well in the future, and I have had the opportunity to learn about an important aspect of educational policy- dual credit equity. In doing so, I have reflected on my own experience with dual credit opportunities, which contrasts with the stories I have read and written about, both this year and last year. 

The small 6-12th grade school I attended in the lakeside suburbs of Kirkland wrapped my classmates and I in a bubble. Within my graduating class of 29 students, only two are not attending a 4-year university. Many of us, including myself, come from privileged backgrounds and families that consider attending college as a fact of life. 

Given this background, it will be no surprise that the primary dual credit option in my school was the AP curriculum. It was almost expected of us, and it was rare to encounter a senior who hadn’t taken any APs. The other dual credit option that was floated around was Running Start. Due to the small size of the school and therefore its limited curriculum, many students chose to do Running Start. Only one student in my year chose to do full-time Running Start, but there were four or five students that did it part-time, in order to gain credits from classes that weren’t offered by my school. 

All of this is to say that when I started with Stand last year, I hadn’t heard of CTE or College in the High School (the latter is offered by my district but not at my school). Being given the opportunity to learn about these options (and more), to speak to students whose experiences have differed from mine, and to look back on my high school experience with a different perspective, has been a valuable benefit of working with Stand that I couldn’t have foreseen.

I am extremely grateful to the Stand team for giving me this opportunity and hope to stay in touch in the future.”

Thank you, Aseela, for lending your talents and personal experiences to the Stand team. We are inspired by your passion for education policy and communications, and excited to follow your continued impact!

For three weeks the Debt Free Youth Justice Coalition hosted youth media trainings in collaboration with the Juvenile Law Center. The series featured weekly sessions for youth to develop new media skills and the confidence to tell their stories. Over 80 youth registered for the series and those who attended asked various questions, such as, “How can I reduce the risk of being biased or being misquoted or misinterpreted?” during our Writing an Op-Ed training. 

Our Media 101 training was a great foundational training where youth could learn why people choose to tell stories in the media and examples of how other youth have had their stories told by reporters were shared. These stories can educate the general public about various issues and they can change public perception of these issues, as well as put pressure on legislators to make changes. 

What’s important for advocates, parents, community members, and youth to remember is that telling your story can come in so many different ways. Because one op-ed you write, one interview with a reporter, or reel on Instagram, that one thing doesn’t wholly define you and it shouldn’t wholly define you. 

As the adage goes, “closed mouths don’t get fed.” We can’t have tuition funded, food scarcity made obsolete, and mental health services made available. We can’t have gun protection, safety, etc. if we aren’t vocal about how these topics impact.

Because legislators, elected officials, etc. they’re people too, so they’ll enact policies that benefit issues that they think are prevalent and relevant. Or they have a close friend or relative who tells them what’s important, so that’s what issue they champion. So they need to hear from us, they need to know “this is a critical issue that impacts my life” and one way to paint that picture is by sharing your experience or your story. 

You don’t have to write an autobiography or make a documentary about your life. You can share an anecdote about a particular instance or how something has made you feel. Even sharing your reaction to a piece of legislation. 

But the important thing all youth should take away from these trainings is feel empowered to not be silent. You don’t need to fit in a box. You don’t need to be on the evening news. You don’t need to be quoted in the Seattle Times or all this stuff to be relevant (or to matter). 

Social media is the new currency and these spaces are here to stay. Lean into what you and your friends do best. Lean into each other’s stories, and amplify each other’s lived experiences. So what if the media doesn’t initially pick up something you think is really important? These institutions are, at times, losing credibility, trust, and viewership. So you can build your own credible space. You are the only truth-teller of your story, your experience, your feelings, and your thoughts. Any and all of these things could inspire your friend or a classmate.

So my biggest takeaway and advice is to not be silent, even if other people aren’t around to listen. We need your voice and your passion for wanting our communities to change. We need your hope, your optimism, your anger, and your frustration. 

People say the kids are the future, but we also look up to them. We look up to your ability to say it like it is. To be unique, to call out adults and call out the system. And I hope the youth trainings are only the beginning, that they may only be a catalyst for more youth to speak up and for the adults in the room to encourage the youth in our lives to gallantly speak their minds.

Examples of youth stories shared in the media

Comment below with an outlet that you think does a great job covering youth voice. What type of youth content do you like to read?

If you want help drafting an Op-Ed or a Letter To the Editor, or if you have an idea for a piece, reach out to us at [email protected]!

We did not let a short 60-day session shrink our ambition for system changes that will benefit young people in Washington. 

We set out with clear goals  to advance ninth grade success and eliminate outlawed debt, while supporting partner priorities to advance racial justice and proven solutions that benefit kids. These goals resonated with legislators, activists, advocates, and community members who shared their voice this session in support of these and other critical priorities. Thanks to their voices and advocacy, the legislature passed SB 5974 and allocated $3M in the final budget for the Ninth Grade Success Initiative.

But despite the short session, we must keep a long memory – many important priorities were kicked down the road to next year, “when there’s more time.” We were disappointed to see some very innovative policies that would have made a difference in young peoples’ lives stall out. These policies include a number of youth justice proposals that would have acknowledged the science of brain development, and the harm done by past policies that were rooted in hyper-punitive, counterproductive narratives about young people. This article highlights why the instinct to build up punitive systems is harmful and unproductive if we truly intend to rehabilitate. Legislators also missed opportunities to put into law the state’s commitment to students at critical junctures, by not passing bills like Ninth Grade Success Initiative (SB 5408/HB 2053) or a bill to provide supports for chronically absent students and students with other barriers (SB 5850). 

As we wrap up this session, we are taking away key lessons for our collective work: 

  1. Now is the time to start organizing to hold each other and our lawmakers accountable for priorities deferred to the 2025 legislative session. At Stand, we do this in multiple ways: through our PAC’s endorsement process, through interim meetings and conversations, and by connecting those closest to an issue with the lawmakers making decisions about it. 
  2. Working in partnership and coalition is vital and helps us have stronger wins and to weather the disappointments. Our partners in this work challenge and inspire us daily to keep fighting for what is right and what will work to support students.  We must be crystal clear in our demands for youth justice to ensure young people stay out of the juvenile rehabilitation and criminal legal systems and stay in rigorous and enriching educational environments, and there is a lot of work to do to cut through the political rhetoric and educate lawmakers about what truly works to support young people. 
    • Our Debt Free Youth Justice coalition brought together more than 20 organizations, and dozens of directly impacted young people, to reduce the harmful impacts of the juvenile legal system.
    • Our High School Success Coalition collaborated on bills to support every student on their path to achieving a rigorous high school diploma and pursuing their dreams.
  3. We must make room for connection and healing. This work is hard, and isolating. The antidote is community connection. We will be looking for opportunities to connect with you throughout interim, virtually and in community. 

As a first step towards that connection, we want to hear from you! Please stay in touch and let us know what you are interested in connecting on, and issues that are arising in your community.

In closing, our work is not possible without your partnership. Thank you for standing with us, and standing with children, this legislative session and always. 

In partnership, 

Kia & Liz 

This week is the next to last week of session – and today is a final cutoff date. All bills that aren’t considered “necessary to implement the budget” need to receive a vote from the full chamber by 5pm today. After today, legislators will turn their attention to finalizing the supplemental budget and passing bills considered necessary to implement that budget. In addition, there are three initiatives that the legislature will consider. 

The last day of session is known as “sine die” (latin for “without day” meaning they adjourn without a specific day to return), and will be March 7. 

Bill Updates 

This was a whirlwind week with Monday’s fiscal cutoff and today’s floor cutoff. Here’s a roundup of the bills we’ve been tracking and sharing with you this session: 

Prime Sponsor Rep. Slatter watches as Senator Randall speaks in support of HB 2214 on the Senate floor

  • SB 5904 (aligning and extending state financial aid timelines) – Passed the House 61-35
  • HB 2214 (auto-qualifying students receiving food stamps for the Washington College Grant) – Passed the Senate 28-20 
  • HB 2217 (to ensure more juvenile offenses are prosecuted in juvenile court) passed the Senate 29-20 
  • HB 2025 (to expand state work study for college access programs) is scheduled for a Senate floor vote today. 
  • HB 2065 (juvenile points retroactivity) did not advance out of Senate Ways & Means on Monday and is dead for this session. 

Ballot Initiatives

Six ballot initiatives were sent to the legislature this session. The legislature has decided to consider three of them and to send three to the ballot for voters to decide. They held hearings and committee votes this week on the three initiatives under consideration and will bring them to the floor for debate and vote next week. The three initiatives are: I-2081, concerning parental rights, I-2111, concerning personal income taxes, and I-2113, concerning vehicular pursuits. 

Budget update

Each chamber has passed their operating budget proposal and will now go into “conference” to reconcile the differences between the two proposals. Ninth Grade Success Initiative is funded in the Senate proposal, but not the House, and we are urging budget negotiators to retain the Senate number in the final budget. We expect the final proposal to be released Wednesday March 6th.

We want to hear from you! What questions, reactions, reflections, celebrations, and concerns do you have about the legislative session? Share your thoughts by Wednesday March 6th; we’ll publish a round up in our final roll-call edition next week! 

Thank you for your continued advocacy!

Sincerely, 

Liz Trautman
Government Affairs Director


This week marked the release of House and Senate budget proposals, and yet another bill cutoff – all bills that are not considered “necessary to implement the budget” needed to be voted out of a policy committee by Wednesday. 

Budgets Released

As usual, there are differences between the House and Senate proposals that will need to be ironed out “in conference.” Over the next two weeks, a small team of negotiators for each chamber will work on a negotiated final budget that reconciles the differences between the two. Our partners at League of Education Voters have put together a very comprehensive side-by-side comparison of the education budgets. We’ve pulled out a few highlights below.

We are thrilled to report that the Senate budget fully funds the Ninth Grade Success Initiative at $3 million. Unfortunately, the House budget does not include any funding; we are urging lawmakers to keep the Senate funding level in the final budget!

ItemGovernor’s BudgetHouse BudgetSenate Budget Advocacy Ask 
Ninth Grade Success Initiative Not includedNot included$3 million Match the Senate level!
Rally for College $3 million $3 million Not includedMatch the House level! 
SB 5904 to align financial aid timelines$1 million Not included $8.3 million Include some funding in the final budget 
HB 2214 to automatically enroll high school students receiving food benefits in WA College Grant  $239k $239k Not includedMatch the House level 
SB 5850 to address learning recovery and chronic absenteeism$0$0$2m Match the Senate level 
Legal financial obligation analysis Not includedNot included $165k Match the Senate level 
Audit of Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA) facilitiesNot includedNot included $400k Match the Senate level 
Gender responsive programming in JRA facilities Not includedNot included$200k Match the Senate level  
Contracted security guards at Echo Glen $9.032m$17.934m$9.032mThis is a poor use of public funds. Encourage equal investment in youth-serving programs. 

Cutoffs Continue

SB 5974 to eliminate uncollectible juvenile court debt has cleared the last hurdle and was voted off the House floor 66-27 this week! It’s headed to the Governor’s desk for signature! 

Other bills we’re tracking that need to pass out of a fiscal committee by Monday 2/26:

  • SB 5904: aligning and extending state financial aid timelines
  • HB 2214: auto-qualifying students receiving food stamps for the Washington College Grant
  • HB 2065: juvenile points retroactivity)

And a few bills are waiting in the Senate Rules committee to be pulled to the floor for a vote (which they need to receive by Friday 3/1):

  • HB 2217 to ensure more juvenile offenses are prosecuted in juvenile court
  • HB 2025 to expand state work study for college access programs.  

Thank you for your continued advocacy!

Sincerely, 

Liz Trautman
Government Affairs Director


This week saw some late night floor action, the start of “opposite chamber” policy committee hearings, and SB 5974 passed out of the House Human Services, Youth, & Early Learning committee this morning (9-2)!

Also exciting: the House and Senate budget proposals will be released Sunday and Monday. Monday is the last opportunity for the public to weigh in on the budget during the Appropriations and Ways & Means hearings on the proposals. Interested in testifying?

What we’ll be looking for in the budget:

  • Full funding for Ninth Grade Success Initiative – $2.9 million 
  • Funding for the Administrative Office of the Courts to continue analyzing legal financial obligations – $165,000
  • Funding to expand the juvenile justice block grant – $4 million 
  • Funding for Rally for College – $5 million 
  • Funding to fully implement HB 2214 and SB 5904 to remove barriers to financial aid access for low income students, and HB 2025 to expand access to the state work study program for community based organizations.

Actions you can take today:

  • If you haven’t yet emailed your lawmaker to express your support for $2.9m for Ninth Grade Student Success, click here!
  • Sign in pro on SB 5850, to address chronic absenteeism.

What’s next:

The next few weeks will continue to be a whirlwind as bill deadlines and budget negotiations come on fast and furious. Legislators (and their staff) will be working long hours to get bills through committees to a floor vote and to the Governor’s desk. Here are the remaining deadlines for bills: 

  • February 21 – Policy Committee – Opposite House Cutoff
  • February 26 – Fiscal Committee – Opposite House Cutoff
  • March 1 – Floor Cutoff except for bills that are necessary to implement the budget 
  • March 7 – Sine Die/Last day of Session

In advocacy, 

Liz Trautman
Government Affairs Director

Today marks day 33 of session, meaning we are more than halfway through this short, 60-day session. 

Right now, legislators are “on the floor” debating bills in the full House and full Senate. All bills must be passed out of their chamber of origin (i.e. Senate bills must be voted out of the Senate, and House bills must be voted out of the Senate) by next Tuesday, February 13 at 5pm. We also anticipate the House & Senate to release their budget proposals within the next two weeks.  

Successful Day of Action

Thank you to everyone who joined us to take action in support of Ninth Grade Success! While the bills we were supporting (HB 2053 and SB 5408) died this week, we have been focused on securing a budget proviso. Your action yesterday to contact your lawmaker came at a perfect time to influence the budget proposals (if you haven’t emailed your lawmaker yet, there’s still time!) Liz & Kia were in Olympia with our lobbyist, amplifying your voices and messages to lawmakers. 

Bill Updates

  • SB 5974 to eliminate uncollectible juvenile court debt passed the Senate last week, and has a House hearing next week. Click here to sign in pro by Feb 14 at 12:30pm.
  • Among the priorities for our High School Success Coalition, several are moving forward:
    • HB 2025 to expand college work study options to support postsecondary access is waiting for a vote in the House.  
    • HB 2214 which would automatically qualify SNAP recipients for the Washington College Grant is awaiting a vote in the House. Its companion bill, SB 6300 did not advance past Senate Ways & Means. 
    • SB 5904 which would align timelines for state financial aid programs with federal aid programs is scheduled for a vote in the Senate today! 
    • Unfortunately, SB 6254, which would have created a financial aid certification program and expanded navigation support at high schools and colleges did not advance out of Senate Ways & Means and is dead for the session. 
  • Among the juvenile justice priorities we are tracking:
    • HB 2217 would make some technical changes to ensure that most youth who commit offenses while under 18 are charged in juvenile court. It’s a commonsense and broadly supported bill that removes loopholes keeping youth from a more developmentally appropriate case resolution. It is awaiting a vote on the House floor. 
    • SB 6063 which would remove juvenile strikes from 3 strikes is still awaiting a vote on the Senate floor. 

Thank you for your continued advocacy, and for standing for students across Washington State!

In advocacy, 

Liz Trautman
Government Affairs Director