wa-law.org > bill > 2025-26 > HB 1198 > Substitute Bill
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this act.
"Fiscal year 2026" or "FY 2026" means the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.
"Fiscal year 2027" or "FY 2027" means the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.
"FTE" means full time equivalent.
"Lapse" or "revert" means the amount shall return to an unappropriated status.
"Provided solely" means the specified amount may be spent only for the specified purpose. Unless otherwise specifically authorized in this act, any portion of an amount provided solely for a specified purpose which is not expended subject to the specified conditions and limitations to fulfill the specified purpose shall lapse.
FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: $75,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $25,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1108 (house cost task force). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
FOR THE SENATE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: $75,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $25,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1108 (house cost task force). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
FOR THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE AUDIT AND REVIEW COMMITTEE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the joint legislative audit and review committee may adjust the due dates for projects included on the committee's 2025-2027 work plan as necessary to efficiently manage workload.
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$400,000 of the performance audits of government account—state appropriation is for the joint legislative audit and review committee to review the department of children, youth, and families juvenile rehabilitation programs as listed on the committee's approved work plan, including:
Review the department of children, youth, and families juvenile rehabilitation program's existing processes and staffing methodology used for determining adequate staffing ratios to meet the confinement and rehabilitative needs of the juveniles and ensure public safety;
Review procedures and protocols for professional development, hiring and recruitment, and training for staff serving youth in juvenile rehabilitation institutions, with a focus on how staff are trained to implement rehabilitative practices;
Review youth access to programming, treatment, and services including, but not limited to, educational programming, treatment and services for youth experiencing substance use disorder, behavioral health treatment, available reentry services such as housing, job training, and other supports, access to technology services, family and community connections, and other programming and services offered by the department to provide youth with rehabilitation and restorative interventions;
Review existing security and safety measures, including the use of disciplinary procedures for total isolation and room confinement, adopted by the department and their effectiveness in meeting the unique needs of the juvenile population in the custody of the department;
Review how often and how many youth face new juvenile or adult criminal offense charges, convictions, or both while residing at juvenile rehabilitation institutions and potential future consequences that may occur as a result such as sentence extension, likelihood of recidivism, health impacts, and effects regarding criminal records;
Assess gender equity regarding education, employment, and career options for female youth;
Review how staffing impacts youth-on-youth conflict and safety;
Review best practices from other states regarding security and safety measures, programming opportunities, reentry supports, staff training and professional development, and staffing ratios, and identify options that may be feasible to adopt in Washington state to increase public safety and the security, programming options, treatment services, and rehabilitation mission of the department's juvenile rehabilitation institutions;
ix. Review the department's existing processes for responding to critical incidents, including communication and cooperation with local law enforcement, and identify areas for improvement; and
Review the impacts of changes in average daily population, longer lengths of stay, longer sentences, increases in maximum age of release, increases in more serious offense types and adult sentences, and related effects of chapter 322, Laws of 2019.
The joint legislative audit and review committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by June 30, 2026. The report shall include recommendations on supporting the juvenile rehabilitation program's efforts to gradually move young people from carceral settings to least restrictive environments to improve positive reentry outcomes.
$400,000 of the performance audits of government account—state appropriation is for the joint legislative audit and review committee to evaluate the ignition interlock device revolving account including the compliance and monitoring results associated with the device requirements, as listed on the committee's approved work plan. The evaluation must include but is not limited to the following:
An assessment of the compliance rates for individuals with a legal requirement to have an ignition interlock device installed on their vehicle;
A review of impediments of barriers to individual compliance with ignition interlock device installation and use requirements;
An examination of state and local agency performance in monitoring and enforcing ignition interlock device requirements; and
Prioritized recommendations of potential procedural, policy, or statutory changes, including additional fiscal resources to state or local agencies which will improve ignition interlock device compliance rates. The joint legislative and audit review committee must prioritize the evaluation of compliance and results associated with the state's ignition interlock device requirements in its work plan for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium.
$150,000 of the performance audits of government account—state appropriation is for the joint legislative audit and review committee to review the department of natural resources long-term forest health planning and sustainable harvest approach as listed on the committee's approved work plan.
$641,000 of the performance audits of government account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1715 (energy standard/comply cost). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
FOR THE LEGISLATIVE EVALUATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY PROGRAM COMMITTEE
FOR THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE SYSTEMS COMMITTEE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
Within the amounts provided in this section, the joint legislative systems committee shall provide information technology support, including but not limited to internet service, for the district offices of members of the house of representatives and the senate.
$1,003,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for purchasing IT equipment for the Pritchard building.
FOR THE OFFICE OF STATE LEGISLATIVE LABOR RELATIONS
FOR THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ACTUARY
FOR THE STATUTE LAW COMMITTEE
FOR THE OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES
LEGISLATIVE AGENCIES
In order to achieve operating efficiencies within the financial resources available to the legislative branch, the executive rules committee of the house of representatives and the facilities and operations committee of the senate by joint action may transfer funds among the house of representatives, senate, joint legislative audit and review committee, legislative evaluation and accountability program committee, joint transportation committee, office of the state actuary, joint legislative systems committee, statute law committee, redistricting commission, office of state legislative labor relations, and office of legislative support services.
FOR THE SUPREME COURT
FOR THE COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL CONDUCT
FOR THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE COURTS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
The distributions made under this section and distributions from the county criminal justice assistance account made pursuant to section 801 of this act constitute appropriate reimbursement for costs for any new programs or increased level of service for purposes of RCW 43.135.060.
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$450,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $450,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for distribution to county juvenile court administrators for the costs associated with processing and case management of children in need of services and at-risk youth referrals. The administrator for the courts, in conjunction with the juvenile court administrators, shall develop an equitable funding distribution formula. The formula must neither reward counties with higher than average per-petition/referral processing costs nor shall it penalize counties with lower than average per-petition/referral processing costs.
Each fiscal year during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, each county shall report the number of petitions processed and the total actual costs of processing children in need of services and at-risk youth petitions. Counties shall submit the reports to the administrator for the courts no later than 45 days after the end of the fiscal year. The administrator for the courts shall electronically transmit this information to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate fiscal committees no later than 60 days after a fiscal year ends. These reports are informational in nature and are not for the purpose of distributing funds.
$3,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $3,000,000 of the judicial stabilization trust account—state appropriation are provided solely for distribution to local courts for costs associated with the court-appointed attorney and visitor requirements set forth in the uniform guardianship act, chapter 11.130 RCW. If the amount provided in this subsection is insufficient to fully fund the local court costs, distributions must be reduced on a proportional basis to ensure that expenditures remain within the available funds provided in this subsection.
$900,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $900,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the administrative office of the courts to use as matching funds to distribute to small municipal and county courts, located in a rural county as defined in RCW 43.160.020, for the purpose of increasing security for court facilities. Grants must be used solely for security equipment and services for municipal, district, and superior courts and may not be used for staffing or administrative costs.
$7,363,000 of the judicial stabilization trust account—state appropriation is provided solely to establish a direct refund process to individuals to refund legal financial obligations, collection costs, and document-verified costs paid to third parties previously paid by defendants whose convictions have been vacated by court order due to the State v. Blake ruling. Superior court clerks, district court administrators, and municipal court administrators must certify and send to the office the amount of any refund ordered by the court. The court order must either contain the amount of the refund or provide language for the clerk or court administrator to certify to the office the amount to be refunded to the individual.
$870,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $870,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for activities of the office relating to the resentencing or vacating convictions of individuals and refund of legal financial obligations and costs associated with the State v. Blake ruling. In addition to contracting with cities and counties for the disbursement of funds appropriated for resentencing costs, the office must:
Collaborate with superior court clerks, district court administrators, and municipal court administrators to prepare comprehensive reports, based on available court records, of all cause numbers impacted by State v. Blake going back to 1971. Such reports must include the refund amount related to each cause number;
In collaboration with the office of public defense and the office of civil legal aid, establish a process that can be used by individuals seeking a refund, provide individuals information regarding the application process necessary to claim a refund, and issue payments from the refund bureau to individuals certified in subsection (5) of this section; and
Collaborate with counties and municipalities to adopt standard coding for application to State v. Blake convictions and to develop a standardized practice regarding vacated convictions.
$9,372,000 of the judicial stabilization trust account—state appropriation is provided solely to assist counties and cities with costs of complying with the State v. Blake decision that arise from their role in operating the state's criminal justice system, including resentencing, vacating prior convictions for simple drug possession, and certifying refunds of legal financial obligations and collections costs. The office shall contract with counties and cities for judicial, clerk, defense, and prosecution expenses for these purposes if requested by a county or city. A county or city may designate the office to use available funding to administer a vacate process, or a portion of the vacate process, on behalf of the county or city. The office must collaborate with counties and cities to adopt standard coding for application to Blake convictions and to develop a standardized practice regarding vacated convictions.
$4,188,000 of the judicial stabilization trust account—state appropriation is provided solely for decision-making assistance pursuant to chapter 267, Laws of 2024 (2SSB 5825). During the fiscal biennium, in conformity with RCW 2.72.030, the administrative office of the courts shall collect uniform and consistent data on decision making assistance to include, but not limited to: The number of requests for decision making assistance received from hospitals, the number of guardianships and less restrictive alternatives to guardianships provided, the support and housing provided, and any other data related to case monitoring and management.
$117,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1163 (firearms purchase). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$1,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Substitute House Bill No. 1460 (protection order hope cards). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$79,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $75,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Engrossed House Bill No. 1219 (interbranch advisory comm.). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$249,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $133,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1391 (court alternatives/youth). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$1,094,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 is provided solely for the statewide fiscal impact on Thurston county courts. It is the intent of the legislature that this policy will be continued in subsequent fiscal biennia.
FOR THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC DEFENSE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$900,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $900,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the purpose of improving the quality of trial court public defense services as authorized by chapter 10.101 RCW. The office of public defense must allocate these amounts so that $450,000 per fiscal year is distributed to counties, and $450,000 per fiscal year is distributed to cities, for grants under chapter 10.101 RCW.
$1,430,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the office of public defense to administer contracts for appellate attorneys to cover a backlog of case assignments and increasing workload associated with indigent appeals. The office shall provide training for contracted attorneys.
$8,615,000 of the judicial stabilization trust account—state appropriation is provided solely to assist counties and cities with public defense services related to vacating the convictions of defendants and/or resentencing for defendants whose convictions or sentences are affected by the State v. Blake decision. Of the amount provided in this subsection:
$1,615,000 of the judicial stabilization trust account—state appropriation is provided solely for the office of public defense to provide statewide attorney training, technical assistance, data analysis and reporting, and quality oversight, to administer financial assistance for public defense costs related to State v. Blake impacts, and to maintain a triage team to provide statewide support to the management and flow of hearings for individuals impacted by the State v. Blake decision.
$7,000,000 of the judicial stabilization trust account—state appropriation is provided solely to assist counties and cities in providing counsel for defendants seeking to vacate a conviction and/or be resentenced under State v. Blake. Assistance shall be allocated to counties and cities based upon a formula established by the office of public defense. Counties may receive assistance by: (i) Applying for grant funding; and/or (ii) designating the office of public defense to contract directly with counsel. The office of public defense shall contract directly with counsel to assist cities under this subsection.
$3,842,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $4,049,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the office of public defense to administer statutory duties under RCW 2.70.200 through the simple possession advocacy and representation (SPAR) program.
$30,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $30,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the office of public defense to address emergency safety assistance and other urgent needs for clients served by the parents representation program. Temporary, limited assistance may be made available for short-term housing, utilities, transportation, food assistance, and other urgent needs that, if unaddressed, could adversely impact dependency case outcomes and impede successful family reunification. The office of public defense shall utilize eligibility criteria and an expedited process for reviewing financial assistance requests submitted by parents representation program contractors.
$500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the parents for parents program, as established by RCW 2.70.060 through 2.70.090. Funds must be used to maintain and improve the parents for parents service model, including host organizations and county coordinators.
$300,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the office of public defense to contract with a nonprofit organization in eastern Washington providing peer-led reentry services such as peer coaching, basic needs, housing resources, behavioral health treatment, family support, civic engagement, and voting education. The organization must have a history of collaboration with the department of corrections to provide trainings on trauma to individuals reentering the community after incarceration. The organization shall provide comprehensive trainings, resources and referrals to individuals with a history of reentry from incarceration.
FOR THE OFFICE OF CIVIL LEGAL AID
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
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$8,611,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $8,611,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the appointed counsel program for children and youth in dependency cases under RCW 13.34.212(3) in accordance with revised practice, caseload, and training standards adopted by the supreme court commission on children in foster care.
Of the amounts provided in (a) of this subsection, $900,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $900,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of House Bill No. 2011 (dependency/attorney appt.). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$2,579,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,579,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the provision of civil legal information, advice, and representation for tenants at risk of eviction but not yet eligible for appointed counsel services under RCW 59.18.640.
$19,041,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $19,030,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the appointed counsel program for tenants in unlawful detainer cases established in RCW 59.18.640. The office of civil legal aid shall assign priority to providing legal representation to indigent tenants in those counties in which the most evictions occur and to indigent tenants who are disproportionately at risk of eviction, as provided in RCW 59.18.640.
$5,234,000 of the judicial stabilization trust account—state appropriation is provided solely to continue legal information, advice, assistance, and representation for individuals eligible for civil relief under the supreme court's ruling in State v. Blake.
An amount not to exceed $40,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and an amount not to exceed $40,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 may be used to provide telephonic legal advice and assistance to otherwise eligible persons who are 60 years of age or older on matters authorized by RCW 2.53.030(2) (a) through (k) regardless of household income or asset level.
$604,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $607,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to the office of civil legal aid to maintain a kinship care legal advice phone line and support program. The program provides guidance and legal advice to kinship caregivers on topics including kinship care, guardianship, the child welfare system, and issues related to child custody.
$2,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the office of civil legal aid to continue civil legal aid services for survivors of domestic violence, including legal services for protection order proceedings, family law cases, immigration assistance, and other civil legal issues arising from or related to the domestic violence they experienced.
$1,007,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,022,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the office of civil legal aid to continue the statewide reentry legal aid project as established in section 115(12), chapter 357, Laws of 2020.
$204,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $204,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 is provided solely for implementation of chapter 328, Laws of 2024 (E2SSB 6109).
$1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the office of civil legal aid to establish a program for the provision of civil legal services to medicaid-eligible long-term care residents being discharged from a provider-owned setting.
FOR THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$1,146,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,146,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the office of the education ombuds.
$20,426,000 of the GOV central service account—state appropriation is provided solely for the office of equity. Within the amount provided in this subsection, $357,000 of the GOV central service account—state appropriation is provided solely for the office of equity for additional staffing resources to provide statewide consultation and guidance and to collect and publish reports related to equity within the state.
$100,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely to the office of the governor to implement career connected learning.
$1,286,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,287,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Substitute House Bill No. 1272 (children in crisis program). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse. Within amounts provided in this subsection:
$1,136,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,137,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for flexible funding to support children in crisis. Uses of the flexible funding include, but are not limited to:
Residential, housing, or wraparound supports that facilitate the safe discharge of children in crisis from hospitals;
Support for families and caregivers to mitigate the risk of a child going into or returning to a state of crisis;
Respite and relief services for families and caregivers that would assist in the safe discharge of a child in crisis from a hospital, or prevent or mitigate a child's future hospitalization due to crisis; or
Any support or service that would expedite a safe discharge of a child in crisis from an acute care hospital or that would prevent or mitigate a child's future hospitalization due to crisis.
Flexible funding expenditures may not be used for administrative expenses.
The care coordinator in Substitute House Bill No. 1272 (children in crisis program) must approve any expenditures of flexible funding.
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$506,000 of the GOV central service account—state appropriation is provided solely for the implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1503 (digital equity). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
Within the amounts provided in this subsection, the Washington state office of equity must cofacilitate the Washington digital equity forum with the statewide broadband office.
The appropriations in this section include sufficient funding to implement Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1131 (clemency and pardons board).
FOR THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
FOR THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE COMMISSION
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
No moneys may be expended from the appropriations in this section to establish an electronic directory, archive, or other compilation of political advertising unless explicitly authorized by the legislature.
$1,690,000 of the public disclosure transparency account—state appropriation is provided solely for the public disclosure commission for the purpose of improving the ability of the public to access information about political campaigns, lobbying, and elected officials, and facilitating accurate and timely reporting by the regulated community. The commission must report to the office of financial management and fiscal committees of the legislature by October 31st of each year detailing information on the public disclosure transparency account. The report shall include, but is not limited to:
An investment plan of how funds would be used to improve the ability of the public to access information about political campaigns, lobbying, and elected officials, and facilitate accurate and timely reporting by the regulated community;
A list of active projects as of July 1st of the fiscal year. This must include a breakdown of expenditures by project and expense type for all current and ongoing projects;
A list of projects that are planned in the current and following fiscal year and projects the commission would recommend for future funding. The commission must identify priorities, and develop accountability measures to ensure the projects meet intended purposes; and
Any other metric or measure the commission deems appropriate to track the outcome of the use of the funds.
FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$2,498,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $12,196,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to reimburse counties for the state's share of primary and general election costs and the costs of conducting mandatory recounts on state measures. Counties shall be reimbursed only for those costs that the secretary of state validates as eligible for reimbursement.
Any reductions to funding for the Washington talking book and Braille library may not exceed in proportion any reductions taken to the funding for the library as a whole.
$75,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $75,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for humanities Washington speaker's bureau community conversations.
$114,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $114,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for election reconciliation reporting. Funding provides for one staff to compile county reconciliation reports, analyze the data, and to complete an annual statewide election reconciliation report for every state primary and general election. The report must be submitted annually on July 31, to legislative policy and fiscal committees. The annual report must include statewide analysis and by county analysis on the reasons for ballot rejection and an analysis of the ways ballots are received, counted, rejected and cure data that can be used by policymakers to better understand election administration.
$1,206,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,206,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for staff dedicated to the maintenance and operations of the voter registration, voter outreach, and election management system. These staff will manage database upgrades, database maintenance, system training and support to counties, and triage and customer service to system users. Of the amounts provided in this subsection, $336,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $336,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided for additional system improvements for system reliability and cybersecurity.
$8,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $8,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for:
Funding the security operations center, including identified needs for expanded operations, systems, technology tools, training resources;
Additional staff dedicated to the cyber and physical security of election operations at the office and county election offices;
Expanding security assessments, threat monitoring, enhanced security training; and
Providing grants to county partners to address identified threats and expand existing grants and contracts with other public and private organizations such as the Washington military department, national guard, private companies providing cyber security, and county election offices.
$580,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $580,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the office's migration of its applications and systems to Azure cloud environments, and is subject to the conditions, limitations, and review requirements of section 701 of this act.
$154,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $154,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the Washington state library branch at Green Hill school.
$81,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $81,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for intrusion detection systems that prevent election security breaches.
$57,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for artifact preservation at Lakeland Village.
$146,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $146,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to make necessary updates to the election results application.
$147,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $147,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the office to digitize archival legislative and oral history recordings.
$140,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $140,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the office to update web pages and digital content to meet federal requirements for accessibility in alignment with the Americans with disabilities act.
FOR THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
The office shall assist the department of enterprise services on providing the government-to-government training sessions for federal, state, local, and tribal government employees. The training sessions shall cover tribal historical perspectives, legal issues, tribal sovereignty, and tribal governments. Costs of the training sessions shall be recouped through a fee charged to the participants of each session. The department of enterprise services shall be responsible for all of the administrative aspects of the training, including the billing and collection of the fees for the training.
The office must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
FOR THE COMMISSION ON ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN AFFAIRS
FOR THE STATE TREASURER
FOR THE STATE AUDITOR
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$1,030,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,030,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for law enforcement audits pursuant to RCW 43.101.460 and 43.101.465.
$825,000 of the auditing services revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for accountability and risk based audits.
$1,870,000 of the performance audit of government account—state appropriation is provided solely for staff and related costs to verify the accuracy of reported school district data submitted for state funding purposes; conduct school district program audits of state-funded public school programs; establish the specific amount of state funding adjustments whenever audit exceptions occur and the amount is not firmly established in the course of regular public school audits; and to assist the state special education safety net committee when requested.
It is the intent of the legislature that savings assumed in this section from an underspend in audit services be one-time in the 2025-27 biennium.
FOR THE CITIZENS' COMMISSION ON SALARIES FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS
FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
The attorney general shall report each fiscal year on actual legal services expenditures and actual attorney staffing levels for each agency receiving legal services. The report shall be submitted to the office of financial management and the fiscal committees of the senate and house of representatives no later than ninety days after the end of each fiscal year. As part of its by agency report to the legislative fiscal committees and the office of financial management, the office of the attorney general shall include information detailing the agency's expenditures for its agency-wide overhead and a breakdown by division of division administration expenses.
Prior to entering into any negotiated settlement of a claim against the state that exceeds five million dollars, the attorney general shall notify the director of the office of financial management and the chairs and ranking members of the senate committee on ways and means and the house of representatives committee on appropriations.
The attorney general shall annually report to the fiscal committees of the legislature all new cy pres awards and settlements and all new accounts, disclosing their intended uses, balances, the nature of the claim or account, proposals, and intended timeframes for the expenditure of each amount. The report shall be distributed electronically and posted on the attorney general's web site. The report shall not be printed on paper or distributed physically.
$1,981,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,981,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for multi-year arbitrations of the state's diligent enforcement of its obligations to receive amounts withheld from tobacco master settlement agreement payments.
$3,047,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $3,047,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of chapter 326, Laws of 2021 (law enforcement data).
$9,188,000 of the legal services revolving fund—state appropriation is provided solely for additional legal services to address additional legal services necessary for dependency actions where the state and federal Indian child welfare act apply. The office must report to the fiscal committees of the legislature within 90 days of the close of the fiscal year the following information for new cases initiated in the previous fiscal year to measure quantity and use of this funding:
The number and proportion of cases where the state and federal Indian child welfare act (ICWA) applies as compared to non-ICWA new cases;
The amount of time spent advising on, preparing for court, and litigating issues and elements related to ICWA's requirements as compared to the amount of time advising on, preparing for court, and litigating issues and elements that are not related to ICWA's requirements;
The length of state and federal Indian child welfare act cases as compared to non-ICWA cases measured by time or number of court hearings; and
Any other information or metric the office determines is appropriate to measure the quantity and use of the funding in this subsection.
$689,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $689,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for legal services related to the defense of the state and its agencies in a federal environmental cleanup action involving the Quendall terminals superfund site.
$216,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $216,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for personnel and associated costs to implement and maintain functional operations such as support, records management and disclosure, victim liaisons, and information technology for the clemency and pardons board.
$905,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $906,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of chapter 299, Laws of 2024 (hate crimes & bias incidents).
$44,000 of the legal services revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1409 (clean fuels program). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$49,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $49,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $58,000 of the legal services revolving account—state appropriation are provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1359 (criminal insanity). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$45,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $94,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1483 (digital electronics/repair). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$545,000 of the legal services revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1163 (firearms purchase). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$33,000 of the legal services revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1524 (isolated employees). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$294,000 of the public service revolving account—state appropriation and $40,000 of the legal services revolving account—state appropriation are provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1514 (low carbon thermal energy). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$29,000 of the legal services revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1213 (paid family & medical leave). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1217 (residential tenants). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$394,000 of the public service revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1522 (utility wildfire mitigation). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$40,000 of the legal services revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1644 (working minors). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
FOR THE CASELOAD FORECAST COUNCIL
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$357,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely to forecast the caseload for the Washington college grant program.
Within existing resources, and beginning with the November 2021 forecast, the caseload forecast council shall produce an unofficial forecast of the long-term caseload for juvenile rehabilitation as a courtesy.
Within the amounts appropriated in this section, the council must forecast the number of people eligible for the apple health expansion for Washington residents with incomes at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level, regardless of immigration status, beginning in July 2024.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
The appropriations in sections 129 through 134 of this act are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
Repayments of outstanding mortgage and rental assistance program loans administered by the department under RCW 43.63A.640 shall be remitted to the department, including any current revolving account balances. The department shall collect payments on outstanding loans, and deposit them into the state general fund. Repayments of funds owed under the program shall be remitted to the department according to the terms included in the original loan agreements.
The department is authorized to suspend issuing any nonstatutorily required grants or contracts of an amount less than $1,000,000 per year.
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The appropriations to the department of commerce in this act must be expended for the programs and in the amounts specified in this act. However, after May 1, 2026, unless prohibited by this act, the department may transfer general fund—state appropriations for fiscal year 2026 among programs after approval by the director of the office of financial management. However, the department may not transfer state appropriations that are provided solely for a specified purpose, except that provisoed amounts may be transferred among programs if they are transferred in their entirety.
Within 30 days after the close of fiscal year 2026, the department must provide the office of financial management and the fiscal committees of the legislature with an accounting of any transfers under this subsection. The accounting shall include a narrative explanation and justification of the changes, along with expenditures and allotments by budget unit and appropriation, both before and after any allotment modifications or transfers. The department must also provide recommendations for revisions to appropriations to better align funding with the new budget structure for the department in this act and to eliminate the need for transfer authority in future budgets.
The department must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE—COMMUNITY SERVICES
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$9,975,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $9,975,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a grant to resolution Washington to build statewide capacity for alternative dispute resolution centers and dispute resolution programs that guarantee that citizens have access to low-cost resolution as an alternative to litigation.
$375,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $375,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a grant to the retired senior volunteer program.
Within existing resources, the department shall provide administrative and other indirect support to the developmental disabilities council.
$2,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the Washington new Americans program. The department may require a cash match or in-kind contributions to be eligible for state funding.
$797,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $797,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to contract with a private, nonprofit organization to provide developmental disability ombuds services.
$557,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $557,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to design and administer the achieving a better life experience program.
$9,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $9,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to contract with organizations and attorneys to provide either legal representation or referral services for legal representation, or both, to indigent persons who are in need of legal services for matters related to their immigration status. Persons eligible for assistance under any contract entered into pursuant to this subsection must be determined to be indigent under standards developed under chapter 10.101 RCW.
$1,332,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,332,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the operations of the long-term care ombudsman program.
$100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to contract with a nonprofit entity located in Seattle that focuses on poverty reduction and racial equity to convene and staff a poverty reduction workgroup steering committee comprised of individuals that have lived experience with poverty. Funding provided in this section may be used to reimburse steering committee members for travel, child care, and other costs associated with participation in the steering committee.
$8,618,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $8,618,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to continue the Washington state office of firearm safety and violence prevention, including the creation of a state and federal grant funding plan to direct resources to cities that are most impacted by community violence. Of the amounts provided in this subsection:
$5,318,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $5,318,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for grants to support existing programs and capacity building for new programs providing evidence-based violence prevention and intervention services to youth who are at high risk to perpetrate or be victims of firearm violence and who reside in areas with high rates of firearm violence as provided in RCW 43.330A.050.
Priority shall be given to programs that partner with the University of Washington, school of medicine, department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences for training and support to deliver culturally relevant family integrated transition services through use of credible messenger advocates.
The office may enter into agreement with the University of Washington or another independent entity with expertise in evaluating community-based grant-funded programs to evaluate the grant program's effectiveness.
The office shall enter into agreement to provide funding to the University of Washington, school of medicine, department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences to directly deliver trainings and support to programs providing culturally relevant family integrated transition services through use of credible messenger and to train a third-party organization to similarly support those programs.
Of the amounts provided under (a) of this subsection, $250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a certified credible messenger program that does work in at least three regions of Washington state to train and certify credible messengers to implement a culturally responsive, evidence-based credible messenger violence prevention and intervention services program.
$500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided to support safe storage programs and suicide prevention outreach and education efforts across the state.
$1,250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to administer grants to diaper banks for the purchase of diapers, wipes, and other essential baby products, for distribution to families in need. The department must give priority to providers serving or located in marginalized, low-income communities or communities of color; and providers that help support racial equity.
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$25,000,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to administer grant funding through the existing network of federal low-income home energy assistance program grantees to provide low-income households with energy utility bill assistance.
To qualify for assistance, a household must be below 80 percent of the area median income and living in a community that experiences high environmental health disparities.
Under the grant program, each household accessing energy bill assistance must be offered an energy assessment that includes determining the household's need for clean cooling and heating system upgrades that improve safety and efficiency while meeting Washington's climate goals. If beneficial, households may be offered grant funding to cover the replacement of inefficient, outdated, or unsafe home heating and cooling systems with more energy efficient electric heating and cooling technologies, such as heat pumps.
Of the amounts provided in this subsection, no more than 60 percent of the funding may be utilized by the department to target services to multifamily residential buildings across the state that experience high energy use, where a majority of the residents within the building are below 80 percent of the area median income and the community experiences high environmental health disparities.
In serving low-income households who rent or lease a residence, the department must establish processes to ensure that the rent for the residence is not increased and the tenant is not evicted as a result of receiving assistance under the grant program.
The department must incorporate data collected while implementing this program into future energy assistance reports as required under RCW 19.405.120. The department may publish information on its website on the number of furnace or heating and cooling system replacements, including replacements within multifamily housing units.
The department may utilize a portion of the funding provided within this subsection to create an electronic application system.
$140,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $140,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the developmental disabilities council.
$20,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for grants to crime victims service providers. The department must distribute the funding in a manner that is consistent with the office of crime victims advocacy's state plan.
The department may submit the report required under section 1114(50)(b) of this act by October 1, 2025.
The department may submit the report required under section 1114(124)(d) of this act by October 1, 2025.
$125,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $125,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a grant to a nonprofit organization located in the city of Issaquah to provide cultural programs and navigational support for individuals and families who may face language or other cultural barriers when engaging with schools, public safety, health and human services, and local government agencies.
$150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a grant to a nonprofit organization located in the city of Olympia to provide services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, including but not limited to a domestic violence high-risk team program and housing relocation assistance, in Thurston county.
$150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to provide grants to nonprofit organizations including, but not limited to, religious nonprofits, "by and for" organizations, or cultural community centers, to fund the physical security or repair of such institutions. Grant recipients must substantiate that their site or sites have been subject to or at risk of physical attacks, threats, vandalism, or damages based on their mission, ideology, or beliefs and demonstrate a need for investments in physical security enhancements, construction or renovation, target hardening, preparedness planning, training, or exercises.
$300,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the office of crime victims advocacy to contract with a research university to continue conducting a randomized control trial comparing the strength at home program to standard domestic violence intervention treatment methods used in Washington state. The research university must have completed a randomized control trial of domestic violence intervention treatment at joint base Lewis-McChord. The target population of the randomized control trial must be individuals in Washington state who have been referred to domestic violence intervention treatment via the criminal or civil legal systems. The research university must also continue research on the efficacy of the internal family systems intervention for perpetrators of domestic violence.
$200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a grant to a nonprofit organization operating a teen center in the city of Issaquah to provide case management and counseling services and connections to housing supports for youth ages 12 to 19.
$125,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $125,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a grant to a nonprofit community-based organization to provide youth mental and behavioral health education and support services. Services may include, but are not limited to, employment, mental health, counseling, tutoring, and mentoring. The grant recipient must be a community-based organization located in Granger operating a Spanish language public radio station with the mission of addressing the social, educational, and health needs of Spanish-speaking residents of central and eastern Washington.
$125,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $125,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a grant to a nonprofit organization within the city of Tacoma that provides social services and educational programming to assist Latino and indigenous communities in honoring heritage and culture through the arts, and in overcoming barriers to social, political, economic, and cultural community development. Grant funding may be used for activities including, but not limited to, providing family support services for bilingual, bicultural clients.
$150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a grant to a nonprofit organization to provide legal aid in subjects including, but not limited to, criminal law and civil rights cases for underserved populations focusing on Black gender-diverse communities. The grant recipient must be a nonprofit organization with offices in Seattle and Tacoma and with a mission to provide intersectional legal and social services for Black intersex and gender-diverse communities in Washington.
$25,000,000 of the community reinvestment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to distribute grants for economic development, civil and criminal legal assistance, community-based violence intervention and prevention services, and reentry services programs. In making distributions under this subsection, the department must award funds among these program areas in similar proportions to awards made during the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium for these purposes.
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$250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to administer grants to strengthen family resource center services and increase capacity statewide. Grant funding may be used: For an organization to provide new services in order to meet the statutory requirements of a family resource center, as defined in RCW 43.216.010; to increase capacity or enhance service provision at current family resource centers, including but not limited to direct staffing and administrative costs; and to conduct data collection, evaluation, and quality improvement activities.
Eligible applicants for a grant under (a) of this subsection including current family resource centers, as defined in RCW 43.330.010, or organizations in the process of becoming qualified as family resource centers. Applicants must affirm their ability and willingness to serve all families requesting services in order to receive a grant. Applicants must currently be or agree to become a member of a statewide family resource center network during the grant award period in order to receive a grant. Applicants must provide proof of certification in the standards of quality for family strengthening and support developed by the national family support network of one member of the applicant's organizational leadership in order to receive a grant.
Of the amounts provided in (a) of this subsection, $50,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $50,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to provide a grant to the statewide nonprofit organization that serves as the registered Washington state network member of the national family support network. The grant recipient may use the grant funding for costs including, but not limited to, outreach and engagement, data and evaluation, and providing training and development opportunities in support of family resource centers statewide.
$125,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $125,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a grant to a nonprofit organization to support the development of and outreach for community-led mental health support groups and classes serving individuals and families throughout Washington state, with special focus on Latino communities, rural areas, and tribes. The grant recipient must be a nonprofit organization that serves as the Washington state office of a national grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for individuals affected by mental health conditions.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE—HOUSING
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$1,000,000 of the home security fund—state appropriation, $2,000,000 of the Washington housing trust account—state appropriation, and $1,000,000 of the affordable housing for all account—state appropriation are provided solely for the department of commerce for services to homeless families and youth through the Washington youth and families fund.
$1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $2,000,000 of the home security fund—state appropriation are provided solely for the administration of the grant program required in chapter 43.185C RCW, linking homeless students and their families with stable housing.
$11,252,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $11,252,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for housing assistance, including long-term rental subsidies, permanent supportive housing, and low- and no-barrier housing beds, for unhoused individuals. Priority must be given to individuals with a mental health disorder, substance use disorder, or other complex conditions; individuals with a criminal history; and individuals transitioning from behavioral health treatment facilities or local jails.
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$12,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $12,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $37,000,000 of the affordable housing for all account—state appropriation are provided solely for grants to support the building operation, maintenance, and service costs of permanent supportive housing projects or units within housing projects that have or will receive funding from the housing trust fund—state account or other public capital funding that:
Is dedicated as permanent supportive housing units;
Is occupied by low-income households with incomes at or below 30 percent of the area median income; and
Requires a supplement to rent income to cover ongoing property operating, maintenance, and service expenses.
Permanent supportive housing projects receiving federal operating subsidies that do not fully cover the operation, maintenance, and service costs of the projects are eligible to receive grants as described in this subsection.
The department may use a reasonable amount of funding provided in this subsection to administer the grants.
Within amounts provided in this subsection, the department must provide staff support for the permanent supportive housing operations, maintenance, and services forecast. The department must develop a model to estimate demand for operating, maintenance, and services costs for permanent supportive housing units that qualify for grant funding under (a) of this subsection. The model shall incorporate factors including the number of qualifying units currently in operation; the number of new qualifying units assumed to come online since the previous forecast and the timing of when those units will become operational; the impacts of enacted or proposed investments in the capital budget on the number of new potentially qualifying units; the number of units supported through a grant awarded under (a) of this subsection; the historical actual per unit average grant awards under (a) of this subsection; reported data from housing providers on actual costs for operations, maintenance, and services; and other factors identified as appropriate for estimating the demand for maintenance, operations, and services for qualifying permanent supportive housing units. The forecast methodology, updates, and methodology changes must be conducted in coordination with staff from the department, the office of financial management, and the appropriate fiscal committees of the legislature. The forecast must be updated each February and November during the fiscal biennium and the department must submit a report to the legislature summarizing the updated forecast based on actual awards made under (a) of this subsection and the completed construction of new qualifying units.
$7,000,000 of the home security fund—state appropriation is provided solely for the office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs to:
Expand outreach, services, and housing for homeless youth and young adults including but not limited to secure crisis residential centers, crisis residential centers, and HOPE beds, so that resources are equitably distributed across the state;
Contract with other public agency partners to test innovative program models that prevent youth from exiting public systems into homelessness; and
Support the development of an integrated services model, increase performance outcomes, and enable providers to have the necessary skills and expertise to effectively operate youth programs.
$3,800,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $3,800,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the office of homeless youth to build infrastructure and services to support a continuum of interventions, including but not limited to prevention, crisis response, and long-term housing, to reduce youth homelessness in communities identified as part of the anchor community initiative.
$1,913,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,912,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the office of homeless youth to contract with one or more nonprofit organizations to provide youth services and young adult housing on a multi-acre youth campus located in the city of Tacoma. Youth services include, but are not limited to, HOPE beds and crisis residential centers to provide temporary shelter and permanency planning for youth under the age of 18. Young adult housing includes, but is not limited to, rental assistance and case management for young adults ages 18 to 24. The department shall submit an annual report to the legislature on the use of the funds. The report is due annually on June 30th. The report shall include but is not limited to:
A breakdown of expenditures by program and expense type, including the cost per bed;
The number of youth and young adults helped by each program;
The number of youth and young adults on the waiting list for programs, if any; and
Any other metric or measure the department deems appropriate to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of the funds.
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$68,550,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $68,550,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the essential needs and housing support program and related services.
The department may use a portion of the funds provided in this subsection to continue the pilot program established in section 127(106), chapter 357, Laws of 2020 (addressing the immediate housing needs of low or extremely low-income elderly or disabled adults in certain counties who receive social security disability or retirement income).
The department must ensure the timely redistribution of the funding provided in this subsection among entities or counties to reflect actual caseload changes as required under RCW 43.185C.220(5)(c).
The department may use a portion of the funds provided in this subsection to provide housing supports for individuals enrolled in the foundational community supports initiative who are transitioning off of benefits under RCW 74.04.805 due to increased income or other changes in eligibility.
$1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $4,500,000 of the home security fund—state appropriation are provided solely for the consolidated homeless grant program. Of the amounts provided in this subsection:
$4,500,000 of the home security fund—state appropriation is provided solely for permanent supportive housing targeted at those families who are chronically homeless and where at least one member of the family has a disability. The department will also connect these families to medicaid supportive services.
$500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for diversion services for those families and individuals who are at substantial risk of losing stable housing or who have recently become homeless and are determined to have a high probability of returning to stable housing.
$1,007,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,007,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to administer a transitional housing program for nondependent homeless youth.
$80,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $80,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to establish an identification assistance and support program to assist homeless persons in collecting documentation and procuring an identicard issued by the department of licensing. This program may be operated through a contract for services. The program shall operate in one county west of the crest of the Cascade mountain range with a population of 1,000,000 or more and one county east of the crest of the Cascade mountain range with a population of 500,000 or more.
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$2,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs to administer flexible funding to serve eligible youth and young adults. The flexible funding administered under this subsection may be used for the immediate needs of eligible youth or young adults. An eligible youth or young adult may receive support under this subsection more than once.
Flexible funding provided under this subsection may be used for purposes including but not limited to:
Car repair or other transportation assistance;
Rental application fees, a security deposit, or short-term rental assistance;
Offsetting costs for first and last month's rent and security deposits;
Transportation costs to go to work;
Assistance in obtaining photo identification or birth certificates; and
Other uses that will support the eligible youth or young adult's housing stability, education, or employment, or meet immediate basic needs.
The flexible funding provided under this subsection may be provided to:
Eligible youth and young adults. For the purposes of this subsection, an eligible youth or young adult is a person under age 25 who is experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness, including but not limited to those who are unsheltered, doubled up or in unsafe living situations, exiting inpatient programs, or in school;
Community-based providers assisting eligible youth or young adults in attaining safe and stable housing; and
Individuals or entities, including landlords, providing safe housing or other support designed to lead to housing for eligible youth or young adults.
$607,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $607,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to assist homeowners at risk of foreclosure pursuant to chapter 61.24 RCW. Funding provided in this section may be used for activities to prevent mortgage or tax lien foreclosure, housing counselors, a foreclosure prevention hotline, legal services for low-income individuals, mediation, and other activities that promote homeownership. The department may contract with other foreclosure fairness program state partners to carry out this work.
$1,400,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,400,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the office of homeless youth to administer a competitive grant process to award funding to licensed youth shelters, HOPE centers, and crisis residential centers to provide behavioral health support services for youth in crisis, and to increase funding for current grantees.
$55,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $55,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to continue grant funding for emergency housing and shelter capacity and associated supports such as street outreach, diversion services, short-term rental assistance, hotel and motel vouchers, housing search and placement, and housing stability case management. Entities eligible for grant funding include local governments and nonprofit entities. The department may use existing programs, such as the consolidated homelessness grant program, to award funding under this subsection. Grants provided under this subsection must be used to maintain or increase current emergency housing capacity, funded by the shelter program grant and other programs, as practicable due to increased costs of goods, services, and wages. Emergency housing includes transitional housing, congregate or noncongregate shelter, sanctioned encampments, or short-term hotel or motel stays.
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$45,050,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $45,050,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a targeted grant program to transition persons residing in encampments to safer housing opportunities, with an emphasis on ensuring individuals living unsheltered reach permanent housing solutions. Eligible grant recipients include local governments and nonprofit organizations operating to provide housing or services. The department may provide funding to state agencies to ensure individuals accessing housing services are also able to access other wrap-around services that enable them to obtain housing such as food, personal identification, and other related services. Local government and nonprofit grant recipients may use grant funding to provide outreach, housing, case management, transportation, site monitoring, and other services needed to assist individuals residing in encampments and on public rights-of-way with moving into housing.
When awarding grants under (a) of this subsection, the department must prioritize applicants that focus on ensuring an expeditious path to or remaining in sustainable permanent housing solutions, and that demonstrate an understanding of working with individuals to identify their optimal housing type and level of ongoing services through the effective use of outreach, engagement, and temporary lodging and permanent housing placement.
Grant recipients under (a) of this subsection must enter into a memorandum of understanding with the department, and other state agencies if applicable, as a condition of receiving funds. Memoranda of understanding must specify the responsibilities of the grant recipients and the state agencies and must include specific measurable outcomes for each entity signing the memorandum. The department must publish all signed memoranda on the department's website and must publish updates on outcomes for each memorandum at least every 90 days, while taking steps to protect the privacy of individuals served by the program. At a minimum, outcomes must include:
The number of people actually living in any encampment identified for intervention by the department or grantees;
The demographics of those living in any encampment identified for intervention by the department or grantees;
The duration of engagement with individuals living within encampments;
The types of housing options that were offered;
The number of individuals who accepted offered housing;
Any reasons given for why individuals declined offered housing;
The types of assistance provided to move individuals into offered housing;
Any services and benefits in which an individual was successfully enrolled; and
ix. The housing outcomes of individuals who were placed into housing every six months after placement.
Grant recipients under (a) of this subsection may not transition individuals from encampments or close encampments unless they have provided extensive outreach and offered each individual temporary lodging or permanent housing that matches the actual situation and needs of each person, is noncongregate whenever possible, and takes into consideration individuals' immediate and long-term needs and abilities to achieve and maintain housing stability. Grant recipients who initially match an individual to temporary lodging must make efforts to transition the person to a permanent housing placement within six months except under unusual circumstances. The department must establish criteria regarding the safety, accessibility, and habitability of housing options to be offered by grant recipients to ensure that such options are private, sanitary, healthy, and dignified, and that grant recipients provide options that are well-matched to an individual's assessed needs.
Funding granted to eligible recipients under (a) of this subsection may not be used to supplant or replace existing funding provided for housing or homeless services.
$200,000,000 of the covenant homeownership account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of the covenant homeownership program.
Before awarding or entering into grants or contracts for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium for homeless housing and service programs that are funded from the home security fund account or the affordable housing for all account, the department must first consult with local governments and eligible grantees to ensure that funding from these accounts is used to maintain the quantity and types of homeless housing and services funded in local communities as of February 28, 2025. The department may take into consideration local document recording fee balances and individual county fluctuations in recording fee collections when allocating state funds. The department must redeploy funds to other nonprofit and county grantees if originally granted amounts are not expended or committed within a reasonable timeline. The department may then provide funding to eligible entities to undertake the activities described in RCW 36.22.250(4)(b), such as funding for project-based vouchers and other assistance necessary to support permanent supportive housing as defined in RCW 36.70A.030 or as administered by the office of apple health and homes created in RCW 43.330.181.
$425,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $425,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the continuation of existing contracts with a nonprofit organization to increase housing supply and equitable housing outcomes by advancing affordable housing options, including affordable homeownership or affordable rental housing, supportive housing, transitional housing, shelter, or housing funded through the apple health and homes program, that are co-located with community services such as education centers, health clinics, nonprofit organizations, social services, or community spaces or facilities, available to residents or the public, on underutilized or tax-exempt land. Contract funding may be used for costs including, but not limited to, identifying properties and implementing strategies to accelerate the development of affordable housing, conducting affordable housing site predevelopment activities, providing technical assistance on topics related to affordable housing development, facilitating collaboration and codevelopment between affordable housing and community partners, and conducting community engagement activities.
$58,802,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $58,802,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for grants for homeless housing programs and services including, but not limited to, emergency housing and shelter, temporary housing, permanent supportive housing programs, and other homeless housing services and initiatives, including those funded through the document recording fee collected pursuant to RCW 36.22.250. Grant funds must be prioritized for maintaining existing levels of service and preventing the closure of existing beds or programs.
$100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Engrossed House Bill No. 1217 (residential tenants). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
Within existing resources, the department must review current policies and practices regarding reimbursement documentation requirements for grant and contract recipients, with a focus on requirements for grants made under subsection (4) of this section and RCW 36.22.250(5), to improve the efficiency of the reimbursement process and streamline compliance processes for grants and contract recipients while continuing to manage risks related to financial controls and federal requirements. In reviewing policies and practices, the department may consider implementing process changes and other approaches, including but not limited to risk-based tiering of requirements for grant and contract recipients.
Within existing resources, the department must consult with permanent supportive housing providers awarded grants under subsection (4) of this section or RCW 36.22.250(5) to provide awardees the opportunity to provide feedback and develop recommendations on topics including, but not limited to, allowable expenditures under these grant programs, statewide application benchmarks for operations and maintenance costs per unit and services costs per tenant, and opportunities to streamline grant administration.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE—LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
The department shall administer its growth management act technical assistance and pass-through grants so that smaller cities and counties receive proportionately more assistance than larger cities or counties.
$6,145,000 of the liquor revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to contract with the municipal research and services center of Washington.
$100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to produce the biennial report identifying a list of projects to address incompatible developments near military installations as provided in RCW 43.330.520.
$1,160,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,159,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the statewide broadband office established in RCW 43.330.532.
$9,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $9,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department for grants for updating and implementing comprehensive plans and development regulations in order to implement the requirements of the growth management act.
In allocating grant funding to local jurisdictions, awards must be based on a formula, determined by the department, to ensure that grants are distributed equitably among cities and counties. Grants will be used primarily to fund the review and update requirements for counties and cities required by RCW 36.70A.130. Funding provided on this formula basis shall cover additional county and city costs, if applicable, to implement chapter 254, Laws of 2021 (Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1220) and to implement chapter 368, Laws of 2023 (land use permitting/local).
Within the amounts not utilized under (a) of this subsection, the department shall establish a competitive grant program to implement requirements of the growth management act.
Up to $500,000 per biennium may be allocated toward growth management policy research and development or to assess the ongoing effectiveness of existing growth management policy.
The department must develop a process for consulting with local governments, affected stakeholders, and the appropriate committees of the legislature to establish emphasis areas for competitive grant distribution and for research priorities.
Within the amounts provided in this section, the department must publish on its website housing data needed to complete housing needs assessments required by RCW 36.70A.070(2)(a). The data shall include:
Housing profiles for each county and city in the state, including cost burden, vacancy, and income;
Data to assess racially disparate impacts, exclusion, and displacement; and
A dashboard to display data in an easily accessible format.
$847,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $847,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to increase middle housing.
$22,544,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for local government climate planning implementation.
$500,000 of the community preservation and development authority account—state appropriation is provided solely for the Pioneer Square-International district community preservation and development authority established in RCW 43.167.060 to carry out the duties and responsibilities set forth in RCW 43.167.030.
$287,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $288,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely as pass-through funding to Walla Walla Community College for its water and environmental center.
$5,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $5,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to provide grants to entities that provide digital navigator services, devices, and subscriptions. These services must include, but are not limited to, one-on-one assistance for people with limited access to services, including individuals seeking work, students seeking digital technical support, families supporting students, English language learners, medicaid clients, people experiencing poverty, and seniors.
$40,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $40,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1183 (building codes). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$75,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1096 (lot splitting). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$266,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $428,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Third Substitute House Bill No. 1491 (transit-oriented housing dev). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE—OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$4,152,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $4,152,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for associate development organizations. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the department shall consider an associate development organization's total resources when making contracting and fund allocation decisions, in addition to the schedule provided in RCW 43.330.086. The department may distribute the funding as follows:
For associate development organizations serving urban counties, which are counties other than rural counties as defined in RCW 82.14.370, a locally matched allocation of up to $1.00 per capita, totaling no more than $300,000 per organization; and
For associate development organizations in rural counties, as defined in RCW 82.14.370, a $1.00 per capita allocation with a base allocation of $50,000.
$60,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $60,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to submit the necessary Washington state membership dues for the Pacific Northwest economic region.
$1,219,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,219,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to identify and invest in strategic growth areas, support key sectors, and align existing economic development programs and priorities. The department must consider Washington's position as the most trade-dependent state when identifying priority investments. The department must engage states and provinces in the northwest as well as associate development organizations, small business development centers, chambers of commerce, ports, and other partners to leverage the funds provided. Sector leads established by the department may include the industries of: (a) Aerospace; (b) clean technology and renewable and nonrenewable energy; (c) wood products and other natural resource industries; (d) information and communication technology; (e) life sciences and global health; (f) maritime; (g) military and defense; and (h) creative industries. The department may establish these sector leads by hiring new staff, expanding the duties of current staff, or working with partner organizations and or other agencies to serve in the role of sector lead.
$22,220,000 of the Andy Hill cancer research endowment fund match transfer account—state appropriation is provided solely for the Andy Hill cancer research endowment program. Amounts provided in this subsection may be used for grants and administration costs.
$100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a grant to assist people with limited incomes in urban areas of the state start and sustain small businesses. The grant recipient must be a nonprofit organization involving a network of microenterprise organizations and professionals to support micro entrepreneurship and access to economic development resources.
$2,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a nonprofit organization whose sole purpose is to provide grants, capacity building, and technical assistance support to a network of microenterprise development organizations. The microenterprise development organizations will support rural and urban Black, indigenous and people of color owned businesses, veteran owned businesses, and limited resourced and other hard to serve businesses with five or fewer employees throughout the state with business training, technical assistance, and microloans.
$200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to strengthen capacity of the keep Washington working act work group established in RCW 43.330.510.
$500,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to contract with a nonregulatory coalition located in Seattle that supports the strategic development and activation of Washington state's participation in the West Coast wide-floating offshore wind supply chain through a collaborative approach. The department and nonregulatory coalition shall identify economic, community, and workforce development opportunities resulting from Washington state's participation in the offshore wind supply chain through conducting convenings, workshops, and studies as appropriate.
$197,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the department to complete the final report of the electrical transmission workforce needs study pursuant to section 1116(40) of this act. The department must submit the final report of the study to the appropriate committees of the legislature by November 1, 2025.
$125,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $125,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Substitute House Bill No. 1833 (AI grant program). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE—ENERGY AND INNOVATION
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
The department is authorized to require an applicant to pay an application fee to cover the cost of reviewing the project and preparing an advisory opinion on whether a proposed electric generation project or conservation resource qualifies to meet mandatory conservation targets.
$500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to build a mapping and forecasting tool that provides locations and information on charging and refueling infrastructure as required in chapter 300, Laws of 2021 (zero emissions transp.). The department shall collaborate with the interagency electric vehicle coordinating council established in chapter 182, Laws of 2022 (transportation resources) when developing the tool and must work to meet benchmarks established in chapter 182, Laws of 2022 (transportation resources).
$6,000,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for grants to support port districts, counties, cities, towns, special purpose districts, any other municipal corporations or quasi-municipal corporations, and tribes to support siting and permitting of clean energy projects in the state. Eligible uses of grant funding provided in this section include supporting predevelopment work for sites intended for clean energy projects, land use studies, conducting or engaging in planning efforts such as planned actions and programmatic environmental impact statements, and staff to improve permit timeliness and certainty.
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$500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the department to contract with one or more of the western national laboratories, or a similar independent research organization, in consultation with state and federal energy agencies, stakeholders, and relevant utilities, to conduct an analysis for new electricity generation, transmission, ancillary services, efficiency and storage sufficient to offset those presently provided by the lower Snake river dams. The analysis should include a list of requirements for a replacement portfolio that diversifies and improves the resilience and maintains the reliability and adequacy of the electric power system, is consistent with the state's statutory and regulatory requirements for clean electricity generation, and is supplementary to the resources that will be required to replace fossil fuels in the electrical generation, transportation, industry, and buildings sectors. The department and its contractor's assessment will include quantitative analysis based on available data as well as qualitative input gathered from tribal and other governments, the Northwest power and conservation council, relevant utilities, and other key stakeholders. The analysis must include the following:
Expected trends for demand, and distinct scenarios that examine potential outcomes for electricity demand, generation, and storage technologies development, land use and land use constraints, and cost through 2050, as well as the most recent analysis of future resource adequacy and reliability;
A resource portfolio approach in which a combination of commercially available generating resources, energy efficiency, conservation, and demand response programs, transmission resources, and other programs and resources that would be necessary prerequisites to replace the power and grid reliability services otherwise provided by the lower Snake river dams and the time frame needed to put those resources into operation;
Identification of generation and transmission siting options consistent with the overall replacement resource portfolio, in coordination with other state processes and requirements supporting the planning of clean energy and transmission siting;
An evaluation of alternatives for the development, ownership and operation of the replacement resource portfolio;
Examination of possible impacts and opportunities that might result from the renewal of the Columbia river treaty, revisions of the Bonneville power administration preference contracts, implementation of the western resource adequacy program (WRAP), and other changes in operation and governance of the regional electric power system, consistent with statutory and regulatory requirements of the clean energy transformation act;
Identification of revenue and payment structures sufficient to maintain reliable and affordable electricity supplies for ratepayers, with emphasis on overburdened communities;
Development of distinct scenarios that examine different potential cost and timeline potentials for development and implementation of identified generation and transmission needs and options including planning, permitting, design, and construction, including relevant federal authorities, consistent with the statutory and regulatory requirements of the clean energy transformation act;
Quantification of impacts to greenhouse gas emissions including life-cycle emissions analysis associated with implementation of identified generation and transmission needs and options including (A) planning, permitting, design, and construction, and, if relevant, emissions associated with the acquisition of non-Washington state domestic or foreign sources of electricity, and (B) any additional operations of existing fossil-fueled generating resources; and
ix. An inventory of electricity demand by state-owned or operated facilities and information needed to complete a request for proposals (RFP) to satisfy this demand through new nonhydro renewable energy generation and/or conservation.
The department shall, to the extent determined practicable, consider related analyses undertaken by the federal government as part of the Columbia river system operation stay of litigation agreed to in National Wildlife Federation et al. v. National Marine Fisheries Service et al. in October 2021.
The department shall provide a status update to the energy and environment committees of the legislature and governor's office by June 30, 2026.
$163,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to administer a pilot program to provide grants and technical assistance to support planning, predevelopment, and installation of commercial, dual-use solar power demonstration projects. Eligible grant recipients may include, but are not limited to, nonprofit organizations, public entities, and federally recognized tribes.
$20,588,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to administer a grant program to assist owners of public buildings in covering the costs of conducting an investment grade energy audit for those buildings. Public buildings include those owned by state and local governments, tribes, and school districts.
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$10,000,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to administer a program to assist community-based organizations, local governments, ports, tribes, and other entities to access federal tax incentives and grants. Eligible entities for the program include, but are not limited to, local governments in Washington, tribal governments and tribal entities, community-based organizations, housing authorities, ports, transit agencies, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses. The department shall prioritize assistance that benefits vulnerable populations in overburdened communities, with a goal of directing at least 25 percent of funds to this purpose.
Within the amounts provided in (a) of this subsection, the department must contract with a nonprofit organization to provide the following services:
Development of tax guidance resources for clean energy tax credits, including core legal documents to be used broadly across stakeholders;
Providing tailored marketing materials for these resources targeting underserved entities; and
Providing funds to subcontract with clean energy tax attorneys to pilot office hours style support available to eligible entities across the state.
$1,078,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to develop plans to test hydrogen combustion and resulting nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions, technical assistance for strategic end uses of hydrogen, a feasibility assessment regarding underground storage of hydrogen in Washington, and an environmental justice toolkit for hydrogen projects.
$1,678,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 344, Laws of 2024 (public building materials), including to develop and maintain a publicly accessible database for covered projects to submit environmental and working conditions data, to convene a technical work group, and to develop legislative reports.
$3,500,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to provide and facilitate access to energy assistance programs, including incentives, energy audits, and rebate programs to retrofit homes and small businesses.
$250,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to contract with a nonprofit entity that represents the maritime industry to develop and publish a strategic framework regarding the production, supply, and use of sustainable maritime fuels and deployment of low and zero-emissions vessel technologies in Washington. Analyses will include relevant human and environmental health and equity considerations. Funding under this subsection may be used for activities including, but not limited to, convening stakeholders and building organizational capacity. Stakeholder engagement pursuant to this subsection shall include, at a minimum, engagement with federal and state agencies, ports, industry, labor, research institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and relevant federally recognized tribes.
$2,500,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department for activities that engage tribes or overburdened communities when siting renewable energy generation or electrical transmission facilities in Washington state. Of the amounts provided in this subsection:
$2,000,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for engagement of a tribal collaborative and participating tribes to identify areas with higher and lower potential for avoiding conflicts with tribes when siting renewable energy generation and electrical transmission facilities. The effort must consider tribal renewable energy and transmission needs, tribal sovereignty and rights, sensitive natural areas and working lands, and the goal to minimize harm while maximizing benefits to tribal communities. The department may contract for this purpose.
$500,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to engage with communities to create a framework and process to support early and ongoing overburdened community input for the planning and development of transmission corridors. This shall, to the extent feasible, include identifying ways for overburdened communities to benefit from transmission corridor development as well as ways to reduce and avoid conflict with overburdened communities in the development of transmission corridors. Engagement activities may be coordinated with the tribal collaborative described in section 133 of this act and other relevant community engagement activities within the department.
$456,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to develop guidance documents regarding the different types of battery energy storage systems technologies. The guidance documents must address safety considerations, emergency response preparation and requirements, and siting and zoning. The department shall contract with a facilitator to convene a work group of staff and relevant stakeholders with expertise on the topic. The guidance documents shall be completed by June 30, 2027.
$719,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to develop a guidebook to support local governments in integrating clean energy development into planning and zoning requirements, including dual-use clean energy technologies and colocation with agricultural uses. The guidebook shall be developed through a stakeholder engagement process that includes, but is not limited to, federally recognized tribes and local governments. The department shall offer direct technical assistance to local governments, including methods and best practices for siting clean energy projects and colocation of energy facilities with agricultural operations, open space areas, and other land uses.
$450,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to contract with the Washington state academy of sciences to complete a study to determine the value of distributed solar and storage in Washington state. Including any factors that it finds relevant, the academy shall develop policy recommendations and options for a methodology or methodologies that utility regulators and governing bodies may use after the statutory four percent net metering threshold is met. The academy shall submit a final report to the department and the utilities and transportation commission by October 1, 2026.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE—PROGRAM SUPPORT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$253,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to incorporate equity and environmental justice into agency grant programs with the goal of reducing programmatic barriers to vulnerable populations in overburdened communities in accessing department funds. The department shall prioritize grant programs receiving funds from the accounts established under RCW 70A.65.240, 70A.65.250, 70A.65.260, 70A.65.270, and 70A.65.280.
$1,500,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to continue implementation of chapter 70A.02 RCW.
FOR THE ECONOMIC AND REVENUE FORECAST COUNCIL
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
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The student achievement council and all institutions of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.92.030 and eligible for state financial aid programs under chapters 28B.92 and 28B.118 RCW shall ensure that data needed to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of state financial aid programs are promptly transmitted to the education data center so that it is available and easily accessible. The data to be reported must include but not be limited to:
The number of Washington college grant and college bound recipients;
Persistence and completion rates of Washington college grant recipients and college bound recipients, disaggregated by institution of higher education;
Washington college grant recipients grade point averages; and
Washington college grant and college bound scholarship program costs.
The student achievement council shall submit student unit record data for state financial aid program applicants and recipients to the education data center.
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$173,471,000 of the information technology system development revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for the one Washington enterprise resource planning statewide program phase 1A (agency financial reporting system replacement) and is subject to the conditions, limitations, and review requirements of section 701 of this act.
Of the amount provided in this subsection, $20,400,000 of the information technology system development revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for a technology pool to pay for phase 1A (agency financial reporting system replacement—core financials) state agency costs due to legacy system remediation work associated with impacted financial systems and interfaces. The office of financial management must manage the pool, authorize funds, track costs by agency by fiscal month, and report after each fiscal month close on the agency spending to Washington technology solutions so that the spending is included in the statewide dashboard actual spending.
The one Washington solution must be capable of being continually updated, as necessary.
Beginning July 1, 2025, the office of financial management shall provide written quarterly reports, within 30 calendar days of the end of each fiscal quarter, to legislative fiscal committees and the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee to include how funding was spent compared to the budget spending plan for the prior quarter by fiscal month and what the ensuing quarter budget will be by fiscal month. All reporting must be separated by phase of one Washington subprojects. The written report must also include:
A list of quantifiable deliverables accomplished and amount spent associated with each deliverable, by fiscal month;
A report on the contract full-time equivalent charged compared to the budget spending plan by month for each contracted vendor, to include interagency agreements with other state agencies, and what the ensuing contract equivalent budget spending plan assumes by fiscal month;
A report identifying each state agency that applied for and received technology pool resources, the staffing equivalent used, and the cost by fiscal month by agency compared to the budget spending plan by fiscal month;
A report on budget spending plan by fiscal month by phase compared to actual spending by fiscal month, and the projected spending plan by fiscal month for the ensuing quarter; and
A report on current financial office performance metrics that at least 10 state agencies use, to include the monthly performance data, that began July 1, 2021.
Prior to the expenditure of the amounts provided in this subsection, the director of the office of financial management must review and approve the spending in writing.
The legislature intends to provide additional funding for fiscal year 2027 costs for phase 1A (agency financial reporting system replacement) to be completed.
$250,000 of the office of financial management central services account—state appropriation is provided solely for a dedicated information technology budget staff for the work associated with statewide information technology projects that at least are subject to the conditions, limitations, and review requirements of section 701 of this act and are under the oversight of Washington technology solutions. The staff will be responsible for providing a monthly financial report after each fiscal month close to fiscal staff of the senate ways and means and house appropriations committees to reflect at least:
Fund balance of the information technology pool account after each fiscal month close;
Amount by information technology project, differentiated if in the technology pool or the agency budget, of what funding has been approved to date and for the last fiscal month;
Amount by agency of what funding has been approved to date and for the last fiscal month;
Total amount approved to date, differentiated if in the technology pool or the agency budget, and for the last fiscal month;
A projection for the information technology pool account by fiscal month through the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium close, and a calculation spent to date as a percentage of the total appropriation;
A projection of each information technology project spending compared to budget spending plan by fiscal month through the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, and a calculation of amount spent to date as a percentage of total project cost; and
A list of agencies and projects that have not yet applied for nor been approved for funding by the office of financial management.
$250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of chapter 245, Laws of 2022 (state boards, etc./stipends).
Within existing resources, the labor relations section shall produce a report annually on workforce data and trends for the previous fiscal year. At a minimum, the report must include a workforce profile; information on employee compensation, including salaries and cost of overtime; and information on retention, including average length of service and workforce turnover.
The office of financial management must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
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$350,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the office of financial management to conduct a study of the future long-term uses of the Olympic heritage behavioral health campus. The study must assess the options for maximizing the facility's ability to receive federal matching funds for services provided while contributing to the health of the entire state behavioral health system based on community needs. The study must examine Washington behavioral health system trends, including demand and capacity for voluntary and involuntary behavioral health in-patient treatment, forecasted bed need and current and planned statewide capacity for civil and forensic state hospital populations, short-term civil commitment capacity trends, and trends in prosecutorial forensic referrals. The study must also consider area provider admittance and refusal rates. The study must include:
(A) Voluntary behavioral health treatment services, including diversion, prediversion, and specialty services for people with co-occurring conditions including substance use disorders, intellectual or developmental disabilities, traumatic brain disorders, or dementia;
(B) Services for patients that are deemed not guilty by reason of insanity;
(C) Integrated service approaches that address medical, housing, vocational, and other needs of behaviorally disabled individuals with criminal legal involvement or likelihood of criminal legal involvement;
(D) Long-term involuntary treatment services for specialized populations such as those with developmental disabilities or dementia;
(E) Short-term involuntary treatment services;
(F) Long-term involuntary treatment services for civil conversion patients;
(G) Out-patient intensive behavioral health treatment including partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient care;
(H) Crisis response services; and
(I) Other services that will increase the state's ability to comply with requirements for providing timely admission of competency restoration patients into treatment beds;
ii. Review of potential for additional capacity or services on the entirety of the property, including any capital improvements needed to expand services under the options described in (a)(i) of this subsection;
iii. Identification and evaluation of strategies to obtain federal matching funding opportunities, specifically focusing on innovative medicaid framework adjustments and the consideration of necessary state plan amendments;
iv. Estimated costs, required staffing and workforce availability for each of the recommended types of services if available; and
v. Consideration of options for providers that can provide the different services recommended at the facility and an analysis on the cost differential and potential federal reimbursement for the different providers. The office of financial management may consider a variety of provider types or partners, including, but not limited to:
(A) Tribal or local governments;
(B) Acute care hospitals already providing similar care;
(C) Providers contracted by the health care authority; and
(D) State-operated options.
b. The office of financial management shall consult with the University of Washington school of medicine, the health care authority, and the department of social and health services in developing and conducting the study.
c. The office of financial management shall submit a final report with its findings and recommendations to the governor and the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the legislature by December 1, 2025.
d. The office of financial management may contract with one or more third parties and consult with other state entities to conduct the study. The contract is exempt from the competitive procurement requirements in chapter 39.26 RCW.
FOR THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: $74,000 of the administrative hearings revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for the implementation of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1213 (paid family and medical leave protections). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
FOR THE WASHINGTON STATE LOTTERY
The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations:
No portion of this appropriation may be used for acquisition of gaming system capabilities that violate state law.
Pursuant to RCW 67.70.040, the commission shall take such action necessary to reduce retail commissions to an average of 5.1 percent of sales.
FOR THE COMMISSION ON HISPANIC AFFAIRS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: $105,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $105,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for grants to gang youth intervention specialists for a pilot program within high schools in Washington. Grants may be provided without using a competitive selection process.
FOR THE COMMISSION ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN AFFAIRS
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF RETIREMENT SYSTEMS—OPERATIONS
The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$208,000 of the department of retirement systems expense account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Substitute House Bill No. 2034 (LEOFF 1 restatement). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$20,000 of the department of retirement systems expense account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of House Bill No. 1349 (pension credit for leave). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$37,000 of the department of retirement systems expense account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of House Bill No. 1936 (schools/postretirement). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$1,661,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,661,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the implementation of chapter 196, Laws of 2021 (capital gains tax).
$254,114,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $275,117,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of chapter 195, Laws of 2021 (working families tax exempt.). Of the total amounts provided in this subsection:
$14,005,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $14,103,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for administration of the working families tax exemption program; and
$239,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $259,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for remittances under the working families tax exemption program.
The department must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
$10,402,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $15,864,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to implement 2025 revenue legislation.
$480,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the department to conduct a study regarding Washington state's current system of alcohol taxation and fees and produce a final report as described in this subsection. The report is specific to taxes and fees where the amount of the tax or fee is based on the sales price, sales volume, or alcohol content of the alcohol product.
The final report must include the following information:
The specific types of state taxes and fees applicable to spirits, beer, and wine, by category, and including general taxes such as sales and business and occupation taxes;
Current and historical tax and fee rates by tax or fee type;
Annual sales in the state of spirits, wine, and beer in total and per capita over the past 25 years;
Annual spirits, wine, and beer tax and fee revenues per capita generated in the state over the past 25 years in total and by tax or fee type;
To the extent practicable, an analysis of total and per capita spirits sales and related tax and fee revenues in other states, differentiated by whether the sale of off-premises spirits is controlled by the state or allowed by licensed private entities;
To the extent practicable, an analysis of total and per capita spirits sales and related tax and fee revenues in other states and countries differentiated by whether spirits taxation is based on volume, price, or alcohol content; and
To the extent practicable, an analysis of total and per capita spirits, beer, and wine sales and tax and fee revenues in this state and other state by each applicable unit of measurement of alcohol content and volume, differentiated by product category.
FOR THE BOARD OF TAX APPEALS
FOR THE OFFICE OF MINORITY AND WOMEN'S BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
FOR THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$1,244,000 of the insurance commissioner's regulatory account—state appropriation is provided solely for the commissioner to continue its work on behavioral health parity compliance, enforcement, and provider network oversight. The commissioner may use internal staff and contracted experts to oversee provider directories and evaluate consumer access to services for mental health and substance use disorders in state-regulated individual, small group, and large group health plans.
$257,000 of the insurance commissioner's regulatory account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1430 (APRN & PA reimbursement). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$350,000 of the insurance commissioner's regulatory account—state appropriation is provided solely for the commissioner to review and evaluate the efficacy of current property protection class rating methodologies and to study the feasibility of modernizing community property classification rating schedules to more accurately reflect the fire protection risk and available mitigations for a specific property by December 31, 2025.
The commissioner shall collect information from entities transacting insurance in the state and other sources to evaluate feasibility, limitations, and options. The commissioner must confer with the association of Washington fire chiefs, Washington state association of fire marshals, Washington survey and rating bureau, insurers, and other interested parties as needed for the feasibility study and report of findings.
The commissioner may contract with fire protection experts and other consultants, as needed, to analyze data gathered, evaluate feasibility, assess limitations, develop options and recommendations, and prepare the report.
The study shall evaluate, at a minimum:
Metrics used in the Washington survey and rating bureau's community protection class grading schedule;
Barriers to implementing a modern community protection class rating manual;
Whether and how a new modern community protection grading schedule may benefit the insurance consumers of the state; and
Statutory or implementation considerations regarding feasibility of a modern community protection class grading schedule.
$491,000 of the insurance commissioner's fraud account—state appropriation is provided solely for the commissioner to collaborate with the Pierce county prosecuting attorney's office regarding the criminal prosecution of matters investigated by the limited authority peace officers employed by the commissioner.
$100,000 of the insurance commissioner's regulatory account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1686 (health care entity registry). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$442,000 of the insurance commissioner's regulatory account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1589 (health carriers and providers). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$528,000 of the insurance commissioner's regulatory account—state appropriation is provided solely for the commissioner to study insurers' use of credit history, credit-based insurance scores, other rate factors that may have disparate impacts on Washington residents, and alternatives to their use, in determining personal insurance premiums, rates, or eligibility for coverage, and the associated impacts to consumer costs and the availability of insurance. The commissioner must provide a report of findings to the appropriate policy committees of the legislature by November 1, 2026.
In conducting the study, the commissioner shall:
Collect information from entities transacting personal insurance as defined in RCW 48.19.035(1)(e), and any identified authorized insurers are required to provide the requested information to the commissioner;
Investigate and obtain any other relevant information that may assist the commissioner with analyzing insurers' use of credit history, credit-based insurance scoring models, other rate factors that may disparately impact Washington residents, and alternatives to their use, in determining personal insurance premiums, rates, eligibility for coverage, and evaluating the associated impacts to consumer costs and the availability of insurance;
Contract with actuarial and other consultants, as needed, to:
(A) Analyze insurers' use of credit history, credit-based insurance scoring models, or other rate factors that may disparately impact Washington residents, in determining premiums, rates, and eligibility for coverage for people of various races, ethnicities, sexes, socioeconomic status, and national origins;
(B) Identify and analyze alternate rate factors that could be used to determine premiums, rates, and eligibility for coverage that neither rely on credit history or credit-based insurance scoring models, nor disparately impact Washington residents of various races, ethnicities, sexes, socioeconomic status, or national origins;
(C) Analyze the likely impact of insurers' uses under (a)(iii)(A) of this subsection and alternative rate factors identified under (a)(iii)(A) of this subsection, on consumer costs, rates, premiums eligibility for coverage, and availability of insurance for people of various races, ethnicities, sexes, socioeconomic status, and national origins; and
iv. Develop for legislative consideration, policy options and their likely impacts on consumer costs, premiums, rates, eligibility for coverage, and the availability of personal insurance, of use of rate plans that include and exclude credit history, credit-based insurance scoring models, or other rate factors that may have a disparate impact on Washington residents.
b. Consistent with RCW 43.01.036, the commissioner shall submit a final report by November 1, 2026, with review findings, policy options, and recommendations regarding allowance, prohibition, or contingent use, of credit history, credit-based insurance scoring models, other disparately impactful rating factors, and alternatives to their use, for personal insurance, and the associated impacts on consumer costs, premiums, rates, eligibility for coverage, and availability of insurance for people of various races, ethnicities, sexes, socioeconomic status, and national origins.
c. Data requested by, or provided to, the commissioner and the commissioner's contracted consultants for the purpose of complying with the study and reporting requirements in this subsection is confidential by law and privileged and is not subject to public disclosure under chapter 42.56 RCW. Nothing in this subsection prohibits the commissioner from preparing and publishing reports, analyses, or other documents using the data received under this subsection so long as the data is in aggregate form and does not permit the identification of information related to individual companies. Data in the aggregate form is deemed open records available for public inspection. Nothing in this subsection affects, limits, or amends the commissioner's authority under chapter 48.02.065(8) RCW.
$368,000 of the insurance commissioner's regulatory account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1516 (insurance/affordable units). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$1,287,000 of the insurance commissioner's regulatory account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1432 (mental health services). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$250,000 of the insurance commissioner's regulatory account—state appropriation is provided solely for the commissioner, in consultation with the health care authority, to complete an analysis of the cost to implement an obesity treatment benefit as described in House Bill No. 1326 (diabetes and obesity).
$14,000 of the insurance commissioner's regulatory account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1971 (prescription hormone therapy). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$284,000 of the insurance commissioner's regulatory account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Substitute House Bill No. 1669 (prosthetic limb coverage). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$56,000 of the insurance commissioner's regulatory account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Substitute House Bill No. 1793 (reports of fire losses). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$3,297,000 of the insurance commissioner's regulatory account—state appropriation is provided solely for the commissioner to enhance consumer education, outreach, counseling, and complaint resolution for elders and persons with disabilities related to medicare program enrollment and access to care through the senior health insurance benefit advisor program. Activities under this subsection may include, but are not limited to: Contracts with community-based organizations with language skills and relationships with medicare beneficiaries; permanent or part-time staffing; volunteer recruitment; and outreach activities.
$250,000 of the insurance commissioner's regulatory account —state appropriation is provided solely for the commissioner to enter into an interagency agreement with the health care authority to support economic, actuarial, or other modeling related to design of a universal health care system, as directed in RCW 41.05.840.
FOR THE STATE INVESTMENT BOARD
FOR THE LIQUOR AND CANNABIS BOARD
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
The liquor and cannabis board may require electronic payment of the cannabis excise tax levied by RCW 69.50.535. The liquor and cannabis board may allow a waiver to the electronic payment requirement for good cause as provided by rule.
$500,000 of the liquor revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1515 (alcohol service in public). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$165,000 of the liquor revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of House Bill No. 2035 (liquor license fees). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
Within existing resources appropriated in this section, the liquor and cannabis board must cooperate with the department of revenue to provide data relevant to the study regarding Washington state's current system of alcohol taxation and fees, as provided in section 142(5) of this act.
FOR THE UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
Up to $800,000 of the public service revolving account—state appropriation in this section is for the utilities and transportation commission to supplement funds committed by a telecommunications company to expand rural broadband service on behalf of an eligible governmental entity. The amount in this subsection represents payments collected by the utilities and transportation commission pursuant to the Qwest performance assurance plan.
$39,000 of the public service revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1990 (utility disaster costs). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$71,000 of the public service revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1522 (utility wildfire mitigation). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$202,000 of the public service revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1514 (low carbon thermal energy). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
FOR THE MILITARY DEPARTMENT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
The military department shall submit a report to the office of financial management and the legislative fiscal committees by February 1st and October 31st of each year detailing information on the disaster response account, including: (a) The amount and type of deposits into the account; (b) the current available fund balance as of the reporting date; and (c) the projected fund balance at the end of the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium based on current revenue and expenditure patterns.
$40,000,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation is provided solely for homeland security, subject to the following conditions: Any communications equipment purchased by local jurisdictions or state agencies shall be consistent with standards set by the Washington state interoperability executive committee.
$11,000,000 of the 911 account—state appropriation is provided solely for financial assistance to counties.
$784,000 of the disaster response account—state appropriation is provided solely for fire suppression training, equipment, and supporting costs to national guard soldiers and airmen.
$876,000 of the disaster response account—state appropriation is provided solely for a dedicated access and functional needs program manager, access and functional need services, and a dedicated tribal liaison to assist with disaster preparedness and response.
The department must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
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$355,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the department to conduct a study regarding statewide building code and construction standards pertaining to earthquake and tsunami resilience as well as recommendations for functional recovery of buildings and critical infrastructure directly following an earthquake. In conducting the study, the department must request input from the state building code council and representatives of appropriate public and private sector entities. The department may contract for all or a portion of the study. The study must, at a minimum, include an assessment of:
Functional recovery building code standards that are being developed at the federal level, have been proposed or adopted in other countries, states, or local jurisdictions with a high risk of earthquakes, or are developed by public or private organizations with expertise in earthquake performance standards and safety;
The levels of functional recovery supported by current state and local building and construction codes;
The objectives, feasibility, necessary measures, and estimated costs of adopting and implementing statewide functional recovery building code standards, and how this assessment is impacted by whether the standards:
(A) Are mandatory or voluntary;
(B) Apply to only certain types of structures and infrastructure or prioritize certain types of structures and infrastructure;
(C) Apply to existing structures and infrastructure in addition to new construction;
(D) Are intended to apply to only specific seismic hazard levels; or
(E) Include nonstructural components as well as structural systems;
iv. How statewide standards for functional recovery would fit into an all hazards approach for state emergency response and recovery;
v. Funding opportunities that provide for the coordination of state and federal funds for the purposes of improving the state's preparedness for functional recovery following a significant earthquake or tsunami; and
vi. Equity considerations for the development of statewide building code standards for functional recovery.
b. The department must submit a preliminary report with interim findings to the appropriate committees of the legislature by June 1, 2025. The department must submit a final report summarizing the study's findings and including policy recommendations relating to statewide building code standards for functional recovery to the appropriate committees of the legislature by May 1, 2026.
FOR THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS COMMISSION
FOR THE BOARD OF ACCOUNTANCY
FOR THE BOARD FOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS
The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$91,000 of the volunteer firefighters' and reserve officers' administrative account—state appropriation is provided solely for contracting for small agency budget and accounting services with the department of enterprise services.
$50,000 of the volunteer firefighters' and reserve officers' administrative account—state appropriation is provided solely for the board to contract with the department of commerce to conduct a study on the extension of duty-related occupational disease presumptions to participants in the volunteer firefighters' relief and pension system. The study must examine the presumption in RCW 51.32.185, and report to the fiscal committees of the legislature by June 30, 2026, on the prevalence of these conditions among volunteer firefighters, and the fiscal impact of extending additional relief and pension benefits to participants.
FOR THE FORENSIC INVESTIGATION COUNCIL
The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations:
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$230,000 of the death investigations account—state appropriation is provided solely for providing financial assistance to local jurisdictions in multiple death investigations. The forensic investigation council shall develop criteria for awarding these funds for multiple death investigations involving an unanticipated, extraordinary, and catastrophic event or those involving multiple jurisdictions.
Of the amount provided in this subsection, $20,000 of the death investigations account—state appropriation is provided solely for the Adams county crime lab to investigate a double homicide that occurred in fiscal year 2021.
$210,000 of the death investigations account—state appropriation is provided solely for providing financial assistance to local jurisdictions in identifying human remains.
The forensic investigation council must collaborate and work with the Washington state patrol for the patrol to provide services related to public records requests, to include responding to, or assisting the council in responding to, public disclosure requests received by the council.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENTERPRISE SERVICES
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$6,984,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $6,772,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the payment of facilities and services charges to include campus rent, parking, security, contracts, public and historic facilities, financial cost recovery, and capital projects surcharges allocable to the senate, house of representatives, statute law committee, legislative support services, and joint legislative systems committee. The department shall allocate charges attributable to these agencies among the affected revolving funds. The department shall maintain an interagency agreement with these agencies to establish performance standards, prioritization of preservation and capital improvement projects, and quality assurance provisions for the delivery of services under this subsection. The legislative agencies named in this subsection shall continue to have all of the same rights of occupancy and space use on the capitol campus as historically established.
Before any agency may purchase a passenger motor vehicle as defined in RCW 43.19.560, the agency must have approval from the director of the department of enterprise services. Agencies that are exempted from the requirement are the Washington state patrol, Washington state department of transportation, and the department of natural resources.
From the fee charged to master contract vendors, the department shall transfer to the office of minority and women's business enterprises in equal monthly installments $1,500,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $1,300,000 in fiscal year 2027.
Within existing resources, the department, in collaboration with Washington technology solutions, must provide a report to the governor and fiscal committees of the legislative by October 31 of each calendar year that reflects information technology contract information based on a contract snapshot from June 30 of that same calendar year, and must also include any contract that was active since July 1 of the previous calendar year. The department will coordinate to receive contract information for all contracts to include those where the department has delegated authority so that the report includes statewide contract information. The report must contain a list of all information technology contracts to include the agency name, contract number, vendor name, contract term start and end dates, contract dollar amount in total, and contract dollar amounts by state fiscal year. The report must also include, by contract, the contract spending projections by state fiscal year for each ensuing state fiscal year through the contract term, and note the type of service delivered. The list of contracts must be provided electronically in Excel and be sortable by all field requirements. The report must also include trend analytics on information technology contracts, and recommendations for reducing costs where possible.
$654,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $654,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department, in collaboration with the state efficiency and environmental performance program, to implement the zero emission vehicle strategy.
$1,501,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for zero emission electric vehicle supply equipment infrastructure at facilities to accommodate charging station installation. The electric vehicle charging equipment must allow for the collection of usage data and must be coordinated with the state efficiency and environmental performance program. The department must prioritize locations based on state efficiency and environmental performance location priorities, and at least where zero emission fleet vehicles are or are scheduled to be purchased. The department must report when and where the equipment was installed, usage data at each charging station, and the state agencies and facilities that benefit from the installation of the charging station to the fiscal committees of the legislature by June 30. The department shall collaborate with the interagency electric vehicle coordinating council to implement this subsection and must work to meet benchmarks established in chapter 182, Laws of 2022 (transportation resources).
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$6,052,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $6,052,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for contracting with a nonprofit organization to produce gavel-to-gavel television coverage of state government deliberations and other events statewide. The funding level for each year of the contract shall be based on the amount provided in this subsection. The nonprofit organization shall be required to raise contributions or commitments to make contributions, in cash or in kind, in an amount equal to 40 percent of the state contribution. The department may make full or partial payment once all criteria in this subsection have been satisfactorily documented.
The legislature finds that the commitment of on-going funding is necessary to ensure continuous, autonomous, and independent coverage of public affairs. For that purpose, the department shall enter into a contract with the nonprofit organization to provide public affairs coverage.
The nonprofit organization shall prepare an annual independent audit, an annual financial statement, and an annual report, including benchmarks that measure the success of the nonprofit organization in meeting the intent of the program.
No portion of any amounts disbursed pursuant to this subsection may be used, directly or indirectly, for any of the following purposes:
Attempting to influence the passage or defeat of any legislation by the legislature of the state of Washington, by any county, city, town, or other political subdivision of the state of Washington, or by the congress, or the adoption or rejection of any rule, standard, rate, or other legislative enactment of any state agency;
Making contributions reportable under chapter 42.17A RCW; or
Providing any: (A) Gift; (B) honoraria; or (C) travel, lodging, meals, or entertainment to a public officer or employee.
$2,000,000 of the prescribed fire claims account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1563 (prescribed fire claims). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$350,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $350,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the Washington main street program.
$125,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $125,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the implementation of the black historic sites survey project.
The department must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
FOR THE WASHINGTON TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS AGENCY
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$2,000,000 of the Washington technology solutions revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for experienced information technology project managers to provide critical support to agency IT projects that are under oversight from Washington technology solutions. The staff or vendors will:
Provide master level project management guidance to agency IT stakeholders;
Consider statewide best practices from the public and private sectors, independent review and analysis, vendor management, budget and timing quality assurance and other support of current or past IT projects in at least Washington state and share these with agency IT stakeholders and legislative fiscal staff at least twice annually and post these to the statewide IT dashboard; and
Provide independent recommendations to legislative fiscal committees by December of each calendar year on oversight of IT projects to include opportunities for accountability and performance metrics.
$2,226,000 of the Washington technology solutions revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for the enterprise data management pilot project, and is subject to the conditions, limitations, and review requirements of section 701 of this act.
$16,790,000 of the Washington technology solutions revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for the office of cyber security.
$2,692,000 of the Washington technology solutions revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for the office of privacy and data protection.
Washington technology solutions shall work with customer agencies using the Washington state electronic records vault (WASERV) to identify opportunities to:
Reduce storage volumes and costs associated with vault records stored beyond the agencies' record retention schedules; and
Assess a customized service charge as defined in chapter 304, Laws of 2017 for costs of using WASERV to prepare data compilations in response to public records requests.
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In conjunction with Washington technology solutions' prioritization of proposed information technology expenditures, agency budget requests for proposed information technology expenditures must include the following:
The agency's priority ranking of each information technology request;
The estimated cost by fiscal year and by fund for the current biennium;
The estimated cost by fiscal year and by fund for the ensuing biennium;
The estimated total cost for the current and ensuing biennium;
The total cost by fiscal year, by fund, and in total, of the information technology project since it began;
The estimated cost by fiscal year and by fund over all biennia through implementation and close out and into maintenance and operations;
The estimated cost by fiscal year and by fund for service level agreements once the project is implemented;
The estimated cost by fiscal year and by fund for agency staffing for maintenance and operations once the project is implemented; and
ix. The expected fiscal year when the agency expects to complete the request.
Washington technology solutions must not increase fees charged for existing services without prior approval by the office of financial management. The agency may develop fees to recover the actual cost of new infrastructure to support increased use of cloud technologies.
Within existing resources, the agency must provide oversight of state procurement and contracting for information technology goods and services by the department of enterprise services.
Within existing resources, the agency must host, administer, and support the state employee directory in an online format to provide public employee contact information.
The health care authority, the health benefit exchange, the department of social and health services, the department of health, the department of corrections, and the department of children, youth, and families shall work together within existing resources to establish the health and human services enterprise coalition (the coalition). The coalition, led by the health care authority, must be a multi-organization collaborative that provides strategic direction and federal funding guidance for projects that have cross-organizational or enterprise impact, including information technology projects that affect organizations within the coalition. Washington technology solutions shall maintain a statewide perspective when collaborating with the coalition to ensure that the development of projects identified in this report are planned for in a manner that ensures the efficient use of state resources and maximizes federal financial participation. The work of the coalition and any project identified as a coalition project is subject to the conditions, limitations, and review provided in section 701 of this act.
$9,120,000 of the Washington technology solutions revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for the creation and ongoing delivery of information technology services tailored to the needs of small agencies. The scope of services must include, at a minimum, full-service desktop support, service assistance, security, and consultation.
$86,566,000 of the Washington technology solutions revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for the procurement and distribution of Microsoft 365 licenses which must include advanced security features and cloud-based private branch exchange capabilities for state agencies. The office must report annually to fiscal committees of the legislature each December 31, on the count and type of licenses distributed by Washington technology solutions to each state agency. The report must also separately report on the count and type of Microsoft 365 licenses that state agencies have in addition to those that are distributed by Washington technology solutions so that the total count, type of license, and cost is known for statewide Microsoft 365 licenses.
Washington technology solutions shall maintain an information technology project dashboard that, at minimum, provides updated information each fiscal month on the projects subject to section 701 of this act.
The statewide information technology dashboard must include, at a minimum, the:
Start date of the project;
End date of the project, when the project will close out and implementation will commence;
Term of the project in state fiscal years across all biennia to reflect the start of the project through the end of the project;
Total project cost from start date through the end date of the project in total dollars, and a subtotal of near general fund outlook;
Near general fund outlook budget and actual spending in total dollars and by fiscal month for central service agencies that bill out project costs;
Start date of maintenance and operations;
Estimated annual state fiscal year cost of maintenance and operations after implementation and close out;
Actual spending by state fiscal year and in total for state fiscal years that have closed;
ix. Date a feasibility study was completed or note if none has been completed to date;
(A) Washington technology solutions;
(B) Quality assurance vendor, if applicable; and
(C) Agency project team;
xi. Monthly quality assurance reports, if applicable;
xii. Monthly Washington technology solutions status reports on budget, scope, schedule, and overall project status; and
xiii. Historical project budget and expenditures through fiscal year 2025.
b. The statewide dashboard must retain a roll up of the entire project cost, including all subprojects, that can display subproject detail. This includes coalition projects that are active. For projects that include multiple agencies or subprojects and roll up, the dashboard must display:
i. A separate technology budget and investment plan for each impacted agency; and
ii. A statewide project technology budget roll up that includes each affected agency at the subproject level.
c. Washington technology solutions may recommend additional elements to include but must have agreement with legislative fiscal committees and the office of financial management prior to including additional elements.
d. The agency must ensure timely posting of project data on the statewide information technology dashboard for at least each project funded in the budget and those projects subject to the conditions of section 701 of this act to include, at a minimum, posting on the dashboard:
i. The budget funded level by project for each project under oversight within 30 calendar days of the budget being signed into law;
ii. The project historical expenditures through completed fiscal years by December 31; and
iii. Whether each project has completed a feasibility study.
e. Washington technology solutions must post to the statewide dashboard a list of funding received by fiscal year by enacted session law, and how much was received citing chapter law as a list of funding provided by fiscal year.
Within existing resources, Washington technology solutions must collaborate with the department of enterprise services on the annual contract report that provides information technology contract information. Washington technology solutions will:
Provide data to the department of enterprise services annually by September 1 of each year; and
Provide analysis on contract information for all agencies comparing spending across state fiscal years by, at least, the contract spending towers.
$8,666,000 of the Washington technology solutions revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of the enterprise cloud computing program as outlined in the December 2020 Washington state cloud readiness report. Funding provided includes, but is not limited to, cloud service broker resources, cloud center of excellence, cloud management tools, a network assessment, cybersecurity governance, and a cloud security roadmap.
$3,498,000 of the Washington technology solutions revolving account—state appropriation is provided solely for the implementation of the recommendations of the cloud transition task force report to include:
A cloud readiness program to help agencies plan and prepare for transitioning to cloud computing;
A cloud retraining program to provide a coordinated approach to skills development and retraining; and
Staffing to define career pathways and core competencies for the state's information technology workforce.
Washington technology solutions must collaborate with the office of the secretary of state in the evaluation of the office of the secretary of state's information technology infrastructure and applications in determining the appropriate candidates for the location of data and the systems that could be exempt from Washington technology solutions oversight.
FOR THE BOARD OF REGISTRATION OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND LAND SURVEYORS
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
The appropriations to the department of social and health services in this act shall be expended for the programs and in the amounts specified in this act. Appropriations made in this act to the department of social and health services shall initially be allotted as required by this act. Subsequent allotment modifications shall not include transfers of moneys between sections of this act except as expressly provided in this act, nor shall allotment modifications permit moneys that are provided solely for a specified purpose to be used for other than that purpose.
The department of social and health services shall not initiate any services that require expenditure of state general fund moneys unless expressly authorized in this act or other law. The department may seek, receive, and spend, under RCW 43.79.260 through 43.79.282, federal moneys not anticipated in this act as long as the federal funding does not require expenditure of state moneys for the program in excess of amounts anticipated in this act. If the department receives unanticipated unrestricted federal moneys, those moneys shall be spent for services authorized in this act or in any other legislation providing appropriation authority, and an equal amount of appropriated state general fund moneys shall lapse. Upon the lapsing of any moneys under this subsection, the office of financial management shall notify the legislative fiscal committees. As used in this subsection, "unrestricted federal moneys" includes block grants and other funds that federal law does not require to be spent on specifically defined projects or matched on a formula basis by state funds.
The legislature finds that medicaid payment rates, as calculated by the department pursuant to the appropriations in this act, bear a reasonable relationship to the costs incurred by efficiently and economically operated facilities for providing quality services and will be sufficient to enlist enough providers so that care and services are available to the extent that such care and services are available to the general population in the geographic area. The legislature finds that cost reports, payment data from the federal government, historical utilization, economic data, and clinical input constitute reliable data upon which to determine the payment rates.
The department shall to the maximum extent practicable use the same system for delivery of spoken-language interpreter services for social services appointments as the one established for medical appointments in the health care authority. When contracting directly with an individual to deliver spoken language interpreter services, the department shall only contract with language access providers who are working at a location in the state and who are state-certified or state-authorized, except that when such a provider is not available, the department may use a language access provider who meets other certifications or standards deemed to meet state standards, including interpreters in other states.
Information technology projects or investments and proposed projects or investments impacting time capture, payroll and payment processes and systems, eligibility, case management, and authorization systems within the department of social and health services are subject to technical oversight by Washington technology solutions.
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The department shall facilitate enrollment under the medicaid expansion for clients applying for or receiving state funded services from the department and its contractors. Prior to open enrollment, the department shall coordinate with the health care authority to provide referrals to the Washington health benefit exchange for clients that will be ineligible for medicaid.
To facilitate a single point of entry across public and medical assistance programs, and to maximize the use of federal funding, the health care authority, the department of social and health services, and the health benefit exchange will coordinate efforts to expand HealthPlanfinder access to public assistance and medical eligibility staff. The department shall complete medicaid applications in the HealthPlanfinder for households receiving or applying for public assistance benefits.
The health care authority, the health benefit exchange, the department of social and health services, the department of health, the department of corrections, and the department of children, youth, and families shall work together within existing resources to establish the health and human services enterprise coalition (the coalition). The coalition, led by the health care authority, must be a multi-organization collaborative that provides strategic direction and federal funding guidance for projects that have cross-organizational or enterprise impact, including information technology projects that affect organizations within the coalition. Washington technology solutions shall maintain a statewide perspective when collaborating with the coalition to ensure that projects are planned for in a manner that ensures the efficient use of state resources, support the adoption of a cohesive technology and data architecture, and maximize federal financial participation. The work of the coalition is subject to the conditions, limitations, and review provided in section 701 of this act.
The department must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES—MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
The state psychiatric hospitals and residential treatment facilities may use funds appropriated in this subsection to purchase goods, services, and supplies through hospital group purchasing organizations when it is cost-effective to do so.
$320,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $320,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a community partnership between western state hospital and the city of Lakewood to support community policing efforts in the Lakewood community surrounding western state hospital. The amounts provided in this subsection are for the salaries, benefits, supplies, and equipment for the city of Lakewood to produce incident and police response reports, investigate potential criminal conduct, assist with charging consultations, liaison between staff and prosecutors, provide staff training on criminal justice procedures, assist with parking enforcement, and attend meetings with hospital staff.
$45,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $45,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for payment to the city of Lakewood for police services provided by the city at western state hospital and adjacent areas.
$320,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $320,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the salaries, benefits, supplies, and equipment for one full-time investigator, one full-time police officer, and one full-time community services officer for policing efforts at eastern state hospital. The department must collect data from the city of Medical Lake on the use of the funds and the number of calls responded to by the community policing program and submit a report with this information to the office of financial management and the appropriate fiscal committees of the legislature each December of the fiscal biennium.
$25,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $25,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for payment to the city of Medical Lake for police services provided by the city at eastern state hospital and adjacent areas.
$250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department, in collaboration with the health care authority, to develop and implement a predictive modeling tool which identifies clients who are at high risk of future involvement with the criminal justice system and for developing a model to estimate demand for civil and forensic state hospital bed needs pursuant to the following requirements.
By the first day of each December during the fiscal biennium, the department, in coordination with the health care authority, must submit a report to the office of financial management and the appropriate committees of the legislature that summarizes how the predictive modeling tool has been implemented and includes the following: (i) The number of individuals identified by the tool as having a high risk of future criminal justice involvement; (ii) the method and frequency for which the department is providing lists of high-risk clients to contracted managed care organizations and behavioral health administrative services organizations; (iii) a summary of how the managed care organizations and behavioral health administrative services organizations are utilizing the data to improve the coordination of care for the identified individuals; and (iv) a summary of the administrative data to identify whether implementation of the tool is resulting in increased access and service levels and lower recidivism rates for high-risk clients at the state and regional level.
The department must provide staff support for the forensic and long-term civil commitment bed forecast which must be conducted under the direction of the office of financial management. The forecast methodology, updates, and methodology changes must be conducted in coordination with staff from the department, the health care authority, the office of financial management, and the appropriate fiscal committees of the state legislature. The model shall incorporate factors for capacity in state hospitals as well as contracted facilities, which provide similar levels of care, referral patterns, wait lists, lengths of stay, and other factors identified as appropriate for estimating the number of beds needed to meet the demand for civil and forensic state hospital services. Factors should include identification of need for the services and analysis of the effect of community investments in behavioral health services and other types of beds that may reduce the need for long-term civil commitment needs. The forecast must be updated each February, June, and November during the fiscal biennium and the department must submit a report to the legislature and the appropriate committees of the legislature summarizing the updated forecast based on the caseload forecast council's schedule for entitlement program forecasts.
$9,119,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $9,145,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the settlement agreement under Trueblood, et al. v. Department of Social and Health Services, et al., United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Cause No. 14-cv-01178-MJP. The department, in collaboration with the health care authority and the criminal justice training commission, must implement the provisions of the settlement agreement pursuant to the timeline and implementation plan provided for under the settlement agreement. This includes implementing provisions related to competency evaluations, competency restoration, forensic navigators, crisis diversion and supports, education and training, and workforce development.
$7,147,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $7,147,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to maintain implementation of efforts to improve the timeliness of competency evaluation services for individuals who are in local jails pursuant to chapter 5, Laws of 2015 (timeliness of competency treatment and evaluation services). This funding must be used solely to maintain increases in the number of competency evaluators that began in fiscal year 2016 pursuant to the settlement agreement under Trueblood, et al. v. Department of Social and Health Services, et al., United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Cause No. 14-cv-01178-MJP.
$71,690,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $77,825,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of efforts to improve the timeliness of competency restoration services pursuant to chapter 5, Laws of 2015 (timeliness of competency treatment and evaluation services) and the settlement agreement under Trueblood, et al. v. Department of Social and Health Services, et al., United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Cause No. 14-cv-01178-MJP. These amounts must be used to maintain increases that were implemented between fiscal year 2016 and fiscal year 2025. Pursuant to chapter 7, Laws of 2015 1st sp. sess. (timeliness of competency treatment and evaluation services), the department may contract some of these amounts for services at alternative locations if the secretary determines that there is a need.
$84,565,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $77,343,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $960,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the department to continue to implement an acuity based staffing tool at western state hospital and eastern state hospital in collaboration with the hospital staffing committees. The staffing tool must be used to identify, on a daily basis, the clinical acuity on each patient ward and determine the minimum level of direct care staff by profession to be deployed to meet the needs of the patients on each ward. The department must evaluate interrater reliability of the tool within each hospital and between the two hospitals. The department must also continue to update, in collaboration with the office of financial management's labor relations office, the staffing committees, and state labor unions, an overall state hospital staffing plan that looks at all positions and functions of the facilities.
Within the amounts provided in this section, the department must establish, monitor, track, and report monthly staffing and expenditures at the state hospitals, including overtime and use of locums, to the functional categories identified in the recommended staffing plan. The allotments and tracking of staffing and expenditures must include all areas of the state hospitals, must be done at the ward level, and must include contracted facilities providing forensic restoration services as well as the office of forensic mental health services.
By December 1st of each fiscal year of the biennium, the department must submit reports to the office of financial management and the appropriate committees of the legislature that provide a comparison of monthly spending, staffing levels, overtime, and use of locums for the prior year compared to allotments and to the recommended state hospital staffing model. The format for these reports must be developed in consultation with staff from the office of financial management and the appropriate committees of the legislature. The reports must include a summary of the results of the evaluation of the interrater reliability in use of the staffing acuity tool and an update from the hospital staffing committees.
Monthly staffing levels and related expenditures at the state hospitals must not exceed official allotments without prior written approval from the director of the office of financial management. In the event the director of the office of financial management approves an increase in monthly staffing levels and expenditures beyond what is budgeted, notice must be provided to the appropriate committees of the legislature within 30 days of such approval. The notice must identify the reason for the authorization to exceed budgeted staffing levels and the time frame for the authorization. Extensions of authorizations under this subsection must also be submitted to the director of the office of financial management for written approval in advance of the expiration of an authorization. The office of financial management must notify the appropriate committees of the legislature of any extensions of authorizations granted under this subsection within 30 days of granting such authorizations and identify the reason and time frame for the extension.
$8,611,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $8,611,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $924,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for a violence reduction team at western state hospital to improve patient and staff safety at eastern and western state hospitals. A report must be submitted by December 1st of each fiscal year of the biennium, which includes a description of the violence reduction or safety strategy, a profile of the types of patients being served, the staffing model being used, and outcomes associated with each strategy. The outcomes section should include tracking data on facility-wide metrics related to patient and staff safety as well as individual outcomes related to the patients served.
$2,593,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,593,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for services to patients found not guilty by reason of insanity under the Ross v. Lashway settlement agreement.
Within the amounts provided in this subsection, the department must develop and submit an annual state hospital performance report for eastern and western state hospitals. Each measure included in the performance report must include baseline performance data, agency performance targets, and performance for the most recent fiscal year. The performance report must include a one page dashboard as well as charts for each fiscal year and quality of care measure broken out by hospital and including but not limited to: (a) Monthly FTE expenditures compared to allotments; (b) monthly dollar expenditures compared to allotments; (c) monthly FTE expenditures per thousand patient bed days; (d) monthly dollar expenditures per thousand patient bed days; (e) percentage of FTE expenditures for overtime; (f) average length of stay by category of patient; (g) average monthly civil wait list; (h) average monthly forensic wait list; (i) rate of staff assaults per thousand patient bed days; (j) rate of patient assaults per thousand patient bed days; (k) average number of days to release after a patient has been determined to be clinically ready for discharge; and (l) average monthly vacancy rates for key clinical positions. The department must submit the state hospital performance report to the office of financial management and the appropriate committees of the legislature by the first day of each December of the biennium.
$546,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $566,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for design and planning activities for the new forensic hospital being constructed on the grounds of western state hospital.
$135,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $135,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to maintain an on-site safety compliance officer, stationed at western state hospital, to provide oversight and accountability of the hospital's response to safety concerns regarding the hospital's work environment.
$100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to track compliance with the requirements of RCW 71.05.365 for transition of state hospital patients into community settings within 14 days of the determination that they no longer require active psychiatric treatment at an inpatient level of care. The department must use these amounts to track the following elements related to this requirement: (a) The date on which an individual is determined to no longer require active psychiatric treatment at an inpatient level of care; (b) the date on which the behavioral health entities and other organizations responsible for resource management services for the person is notified of this determination; and (c) the date on which either the individual is transitioned to the community or has been reevaluated and determined to again require active psychiatric treatment at an inpatient level of care. The department must provide this information in regular intervals to behavioral health entities and other organizations responsible for resource management services. The department must summarize the information and provide a report to the office of financial management and the appropriate committees of the legislature on progress toward meeting the 14 day standard by December 1st of each year of the biennium.
$74,436,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $78,635,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to operate the maple lane campus as described in (a) and (b) of this subsection.
The department shall operate the Oak, Columbia, and Cascade cottages to provide:
Treatment services to individuals committed to a state hospital under chapter 71.05 RCW pursuant to the dismissal of criminal charges and a civil evaluation ordered under RCW 10.77.086 or 10.77.088; and
Treatment services to individuals acquitted of a crime by reason of insanity and subsequently ordered to receive treatment services under RCW 10.77.120.
The department shall open and operate the Baker and Chelan cottages to provide treatment services to individuals committed to a state hospital under chapter 71.05 RCW pursuant to the dismissal of criminal charges and a civil evaluation ordered under RCW 10.77.086 or 10.77.088.
In considering placements at the maple lane campus, the department must maximize forensic bed capacity at the state hospitals for individuals in jails awaiting admission that are class members of Trueblood, et al. v. Department of Social and Health Services, et al., United States district court for the western district of Washington, cause no. 14-cv-01178-MJP.
$1,412,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,412,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for relocation, storage, and other costs associated with building demolition on the western state hospital campus.
$4,512,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $4,345,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of chapter 453, Laws of 2023 (competency evaluations).
$4,118,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $4,118,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $396,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the department to address delays in patient discharge as provided in this subsection.
The department shall hire staff dedicated to discharge reviews, including psychologists to complete reviews and staff for additional discharge review work, including, but not limited to, scheduling, planning, and providing transportation; and establish and implement a sex offense and problematic behavior program as part of the sex offense review and referral team program.
Of the amounts provided in this subsection, $504,000 per year shall be used for bed fees for patients who are not guilty by reason of insanity.
The department shall track data as it relates to this subsection and, where available, compare it to historical data.
Within the amounts provided in this section, the department is provided funding to operate civil long-term inpatient beds at the state hospitals as follows:
Funding is sufficient for the department to operate 162 civil beds at eastern state hospital in both fiscal year 2026 and fiscal year 2027.
Funding is sufficient for the department to operate 287 civil beds at western state hospital in both fiscal year 2026 and fiscal year 2027.
The department shall fully operate funded civil capacity at eastern state hospital, including reopening and operating civil beds that are not needed for eastern Washington residents to provide services for western Washington residents.
The department shall coordinate with the health care authority toward increasing community capacity for long-term inpatient services required under section 214(24) of this act.
$62,943,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $62,943,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to operate 72 beds in three wards in the Olympic heritage behavioral health facility.
$141,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $141,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1218 (competency eval. & restoration). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$175,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $175,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1162 (health care work violence). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES—DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES PROGRAM
The appropriations in this subsection are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
a. Individuals who receive supplemental security income (SSI) state supplemental payments shall not become eligible for medical assistance under RCW 74.09.510 solely on the basis of receiving those payments.
b. In accordance with RCW 18.51.050, 18.20.050, 70.128.060, and 43.135.055, the department is authorized to increase nursing facility, assisted living facility, and adult family home fees as necessary to fully support the actual costs of conducting the licensure, inspection, and regulatory programs. The license fees may not exceed the department's annual licensing and oversight activity costs and shall include the department's cost of paying providers for the amount of the license fee attributed to medicaid clients.
i. The current annual license renewal fee for adult family homes is $502 per bed in fiscal year 2026 and $454 per bed in fiscal year 2027. A nonrefundable processing fee of $2,750 shall be charged for the initial licensing of each adult family home. In addition, a processing fee of $700 shall be imposed on providers submitting an application for a change of ownership.
ii. The current annual license renewal fee for assisted living facilities is $383 per bed in fiscal year 2026 and $381 in fiscal year 2027.
iii. The current annual license renewal fee for nursing facilities is $814 per bed in fiscal year 2026 and $834 per bed in fiscal year 2027.
c. $14,742,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $35,028,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $62,704,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the rate increase for the new consumer-directed employer contracted individual providers as set by the consumer-directed employer rate setting board in accordance with RCW 74.39A.530.
d. $1,146,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $2,755,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $4,914,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the homecare agency parity consistent with the rate set by the consumer-directed employer rate setting board in accordance with RCW 74.39A.530.
e. $1,027,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,862,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $3,639,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for administrative costs of the consumer-directed employer as set by the consumer-directed employer rate setting board in accordance with RCW 74.39A.530.
f. $228,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $420,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $817,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely to increase the administrative rate for home care agencies by 30 cents per hour effective July 1, 2025, and an additional 23 cents per hour effective July 1, 2026.
g. $6,953,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $7,815,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $18,212,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the implementation of an agreement reached between the governor and the adult family home council under the provisions of chapter 41.56 RCW for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, as provided in section 908 of this act.
h. The department may authorize a one-time waiver of all or any portion of the licensing and processing fees required under RCW 70.128.060 in any case in which the department determines that an adult family home is being relicensed because of exceptional circumstances, such as death or incapacity of a provider, and that to require the full payment of the licensing and processing fees would present a hardship to the applicant. In these situations the department is also granted the authority to waive the required residential administrator training for a period of 120 days if necessary to ensure continuity of care during the relicensing process.
i. $16,083,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $16,083,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $31,786,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely to increase rates by three percent, effective July 1, 2025, for community residential service providers offering supported living, group home, group training home, licensed staff residential services, community protection, and children's out-of-home services to individuals with developmental disabilities.
j. Community residential cost reports that are submitted by or on behalf of contracted agency providers are required to include information about agency staffing including health insurance, wages, number of positions, and turnover.
k. Sufficient appropriations are provided to continue community alternative placement beds that prioritize the transition of clients who are ready for discharge from the state psychiatric hospitals, but who have additional long-term care or developmental disability needs.
i. Community alternative placement beds include enhanced service facility beds, adult family home beds, skilled nursing facility beds, shared supportive housing beds, state operated living alternative beds, and assisted living facility beds.
ii. Each client must receive an individualized assessment prior to leaving one of the state psychiatric hospitals. The individualized assessment must identify and authorize personal care, nursing care, behavioral health stabilization, physical therapy, or other necessary services to meet the unique needs of each client. It is the expectation that, in most cases, staffing ratios in all community alternative placement options described in (i)(i) of this subsection will need to increase to meet the needs of clients leaving the state psychiatric hospitals. If specialized training is necessary to meet the needs of a client before he or she enters a community placement, then the person centered service plan must also identify and authorize this training.
iii. When reviewing placement options, the department must consider the safety of other residents, as well as the safety of staff, in a facility. An initial evaluation of each placement, including any documented safety concerns, must occur within thirty days of a client leaving one of the state psychiatric hospitals and entering one of the community placement options described in (i)(i) of this subsection. At a minimum, the department must perform two additional evaluations of each placement during the first year that a client has lived in the facility.
iv. In developing bed capacity, the department shall consider the complex needs of individuals waiting for discharge from the state psychiatric hospitals.
l. Sufficient appropriations are provided for discharge case managers stationed at the state psychiatric hospitals. Discharge case managers will transition clients ready for hospital discharge into less restrictive alternative community placements. The transition of clients ready for discharge will free up bed capacity at the state psychiatric hospitals.
m. The annual certification renewal fee for community residential service businesses is $859 per client in fiscal year 2026 and $859 per client in fiscal year 2027. The annual certification renewal fee may not exceed the department's annual licensing and oversight activity costs.
n. $2,631,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $2,631,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $2,293,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided for enhanced respite beds across the state for children. These services are intended to provide families and caregivers with a break in caregiving, the opportunity for behavioral stabilization of the child, and the ability to partner with the state in the development of an individualized service plan that allows the child to remain in his or her home. The department must provide the legislature with a respite utilization report in January of each year that provides information about the number of children who have used enhanced respite in the preceding year, as well as the location and number of days per month that each respite bed was occupied.
o. $2,173,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,154,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided for 13 community respite beds across the state for adults. These services are intended to provide families and caregivers with a break in caregiving and the opportunity for stabilization of the individual in a community-based setting as an alternative to using a residential habilitation center to provide planned or emergent respite. The department must provide the legislature with a respite utilization report by January of each year that provides information about the number of individuals who have used community respite in the preceding year, as well as the location and number of days per month that each respite bed was occupied.
p. $204,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $204,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $512,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for a one-time bridge rate for assisted living facilities, enhanced adult residential centers, and adult residential centers, with high medicaid occupancy. The bridge rate does not replace or substitute the capital add-on rate found in RCW 74.39A.320 and the same methodology from RCW 74.39A.320 shall be used to determine each facility's medicaid occupancy percentage for the purposes of this one-time bridge rate add-on. Facilities with a medicaid occupancy level 75 percent or more shall receive a $20.99 add-on per resident day effective July 1, 2025.
q. A nonrefundable fee of $485 shall be charged for each application to increase bed capacity at an adult family home to seven or eight beds.
r. The appropriations in this section include sufficient funding to provide access to the individual and family services waiver and the basic plus waiver to those individuals on the service request list as forecasted by the caseload forecast council. For subsequent policy level budgets, the department shall submit a request for funding associated with individuals requesting to receive the individual and family services waiver and the basic plus waiver in accordance with the courtesy forecasts provided by the caseload forecast council.
s. $2,669,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $2,669,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $4,206,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely to operate intensive habilitation services and enhanced out-of-home services facilities.
t. $510,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,416,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $1,925,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for supported employment and community inclusion services for those individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities who are transitioning from high school in the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and are anticipated to utilize these services.
u. $3,345,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $3,345,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to provide personal care services for up to 33 clients who are not United States citizens and who are ineligible for medicaid upon their discharge from an acute care hospital. The department must prioritize the funding provided in this subsection for such clients in acute care hospitals who are also on the department's wait list for services.
v. $1,807,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,807,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $4,092,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for a specialty rate for adult family homes to serve up to 100 individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities who also have co-occurring health or behavioral health diagnoses.
w. $3,104,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $3,104,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $6,082,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for a program that provides a specialty rate for community residential providers who receive additional training to support individuals with complex physical and behavioral health needs.
i. Of the amounts provided in this subsection (1)(w), $2,705,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $2,705,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $5,412,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the specialty rate for community residential providers to serve up to 30 individuals.
ii. Of the amounts provided in this subsection (1)(w), $399,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $399,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $670,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the department to hire staff to support this specialty program, including expanding existing training programs available for community residential providers and to support providers in locating affordable housing.
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i. $9,346,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $9,346,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $15,292,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the department to operate a transitional facility specializing in treatment for youth aged 13-17 who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, or autism spectrum disorder, and a severe psychiatric diagnosis requiring 24/7 care under the direction of a physician. Youth admitted to the facility require health services wherein treatment modalities and interventions are adapted to specifically provide youth with I/DD benefits from the level of care provided. Services must be provided at a leased property in Burien, serve no more than 12 youth at one time, and be implemented in a way that prioritizes transition to less restrictive community-based settings. Youth shall be voluntarily admitted to the facility by their own consent or the consent of their guardian or legal representative. The department shall collaborate with the department of children, youth, and families to identify youth for placement in this setting and regarding appropriate discharge options with a focus on less restrictive community-based settings. Youth shall enter the facility only by their own consent or the consent of their guardian.
ii. The department and the health care authority shall collaborate in the identification and evaluation of strategies to obtain federal matching funding opportunities, specifically focusing on innovative medicaid framework adjustments and the consideration of necessary state plan amendments. This collaborative effort aims not only to enhance the funding available for the operation of the facility but also to maintain adherence to its fundamental objective of offering voluntary, transitional services. These services are designed to facilitate the transition of youth to community-based settings that are less restrictive, aligning with the facility's commitment to supporting youth with complex needs in a manner that encourages their movement toward independence.
The appropriations in this subsection are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
a. Individuals receiving services as supplemental security income (SSI) state supplemental payments may not become eligible for medical assistance under RCW 74.09.510 due solely to the receipt of SSI state supplemental payments.
b. The residential habilitation centers may use funds appropriated in this subsection to purchase goods, services, and supplies through hospital group purchasing organizations when it is cost-effective to do so.
c. Sufficient appropriations are provided for the department to support the transition of individuals residing at Rainier School and Yakima Valley School, or the two other residential habilitation centers, into appropriate alternative residential settings, should those facilities be closed. The department shall ensure that each affected individual is offered a meaningful choice of alternative placements, including other residential habilitation centers, supported living arrangements, state operated living alternatives, adult family homes, skilled nursing facilities, or other community-based settings. When transitioning individuals, the department shall prioritize client choice, autonomy, individual preferences, medical and behavioral health care needs, and opportunities for community integration. The department shall develop individualized transition plans in collaboration with each resident, their family or legal guardian, caregivers, and support providers. The department shall coordinate closely with other state agencies, local entities, health care providers, and community stakeholders to ensure seamless transitions. The funding provided shall cover all costs associated with assessments, planning, relocation expenses, necessary housing modifications, staff training, crisis support, and related transition activities. Additionally, the department shall implement robust oversight and accountability measures, regularly monitoring transition outcomes, individual well-being and satisfaction.
d. $4,189,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $4,189,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $8,376,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the continued operation of the 12-bed crisis stabilization and respite facility located on the campus of Yakima Valley School. It is the intent of the legislature that the operation of this facility continue into future fiscal biennia regardless of any partial or full closure of Yakima Valley School or any other residential habilitation centers.
PROGRAM SUPPORT
SPECIAL PROJECTS
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES—AGING AND ADULT SERVICES PROGRAM
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
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For purposes of implementing chapter 74.46 RCW, the weighted average nursing facility payment rate may not exceed $376.54 for fiscal year 2026 and may not exceed $376.54 for fiscal year 2027.
The department shall provide a medicaid rate add-on to reimburse the medicaid share of the skilled nursing facility safety net assessment as a medicaid allowable cost. The nursing facility safety net rate add-on may not be included in the calculation of the annual statewide weighted average nursing facility payment rate.
In accordance with RCW 18.51.050, 18.20.050, 70.128.060, and 43.135.055, the department is authorized to increase nursing facility, assisted living facility, and adult family home fees as necessary to fully support the actual costs of conducting the licensure, inspection, and regulatory programs. The license fees may not exceed the department's annual licensing and oversight activity costs and shall include the department's cost of paying providers for the amount of the license fee attributed to medicaid clients.
The current annual license renewal fee for adult family homes is $502 per bed in fiscal year 2026 and $454 per bed in fiscal year 2027. A nonrefundable processing fee of $2,750 shall be charged for the initial licensing of each adult family home. In addition, a processing fee of $700 shall be imposed on providers submitting an application for a change of ownership.
The current annual license renewal fee for assisted living facilities is $383 per bed in fiscal year 2026 and $381 in fiscal year 2027.
The current annual license renewal fee for nursing facilities is $814 per bed in fiscal year 2026 and $834 per bed in fiscal year 2027.
The department is authorized to place long-term care clients residing in nursing homes and paid for with state-only funds into less restrictive community care settings while continuing to meet the client's care needs.
$33,412,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $80,128,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $143,047,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the rate increase for the new consumer-directed employer contracted individual providers as set by the consumer-directed rate setting board in accordance with RCW 74.39A.530.
$10,012,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $23,830,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $42,637,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the homecare agency parity consistent with the rate set by the consumer-directed employer rate setting board in accordance with RCW 74.39A.530.
$2,327,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $4,259,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $8,297,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for administrative costs of the consumer-directed employer as set by the consumer-directed employer rate setting board in accordance with RCW 74.39A.530.
$1,991,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $3,637,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $7,090,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely to increase the administrative rate for home care agencies by 30 cents per hour effective July 1, 2025, and an additional 23 cents per hour effective July 1, 2026.
The department may authorize a one-time waiver of all or any portion of the licensing and processing fees required under RCW 70.128.060 in any case in which the department determines that an adult family home is being relicensed because of exceptional circumstances, such as death or incapacity of a provider, and that to require the full payment of the licensing and processing fees would present a hardship to the applicant. In these situations the department is also granted the authority to waive the required residential administrator training for a period of 120 days if necessary to ensure continuity of care during the relicensing process.
In accordance with RCW 18.390.030, the biennial registration fee for continuing care retirement communities shall be $900 for each facility.
Appropriations in this section are sufficient to fund discharge case managers stationed at the state psychiatric hospitals. Discharge case managers will transition clients ready for hospital discharge into less restrictive alternative community placements. The transition of clients ready for discharge will free up bed capacity at the state psychiatric hospitals.
Appropriations in this section are sufficient to fund financial service specialists stationed at the state psychiatric hospitals. Financial service specialists will help to transition clients ready for hospital discharge into alternative community placements. The transition of clients ready for discharge will free up bed capacity at the state hospitals.
The department shall continue to administer tailored support for older adults, medicaid alternative care, presumptive eligibility, and housing supports, as described in initiative 2 of the 1115 demonstration waiver. This initiative will be funded by the health care authority through the medicaid quality improvement program. The secretary in collaboration with the director of the health care authority shall report to the office of financial management all expenditures of this subsection and shall provide such fiscal data in the time, manner, and form requested. The department shall not increase general fund—state expenditures on this initiative.
$54,119,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $64,390,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $147,644,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the implementation of an agreement reached between the governor and the adult family home council under the provisions of chapter 41.56 RCW for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, as provided in section 908 of this act.
Appropriations provided in this section are sufficient to continue community alternative placement beds that prioritize the transition of clients who are ready for discharge from the state psychiatric hospitals, but who have additional long-term care or developmental disability needs.
Community alternative placement beds include enhanced service facility beds, adult family home beds, skilled nursing facility beds, shared supportive housing beds, state operated living alternative beds, assisted living facility beds, adult residential care beds, and specialized dementia beds.
Each client must receive an individualized assessment prior to leaving one of the state psychiatric hospitals. The individualized assessment must identify and authorize personal care, nursing care, behavioral health stabilization, physical therapy, or other necessary services to meet the unique needs of each client. It is the expectation that, in most cases, staffing ratios in all community alternative placement options described in (a) of this subsection will need to increase to meet the needs of clients leaving the state psychiatric hospitals. If specialized training is necessary to meet the needs of a client before he or she enters a community placement, then the person centered service plan must also identify and authorize this training.
When reviewing placement options, the department must consider the safety of other residents, as well as the safety of staff, in a facility. An initial evaluation of each placement, including any documented safety concerns, must occur within thirty days of a client leaving one of the state psychiatric hospitals and entering one of the community placement options described in (a) of this subsection. At a minimum, the department must perform two additional evaluations of each placement during the first year that a client has lived in the facility.
In developing bed capacity, the department shall consider the complex needs of individuals waiting for discharge from the state psychiatric hospitals.
The annual certification renewal fee for community residential service businesses is $859 per client in fiscal year 2026 and $859 per client in fiscal year 2027. The annual certification renewal fee may not exceed the department's annual licensing and oversight activity costs.
$5,094,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $5,094,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for services and support to individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind.
$36,394,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $36,394,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $80,130,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for rate adjustments for skilled nursing facilities.
$8,747,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $8,747,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $19,878,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for a one-time bridge rate for assisted living facilities, enhanced adult residential centers, and adult residential centers, with high medicaid occupancy. The bridge rate does not replace or substitute the capital add-on rate found in RCW 74.39A.320 and the same methodology from RCW 74.39A.320 shall be used to determine each facility's medicaid occupancy percentage for the purposes of this one-time bridge rate add-on. Facilities with a medicaid occupancy level 75 percent or more shall receive a $20.99 add-on per resident day effective July 1, 2025.
A nonrefundable fee of $485 shall be charged for each application to increase bed capacity at an adult family home to seven or eight beds.
$1,858,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,857,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for operation of the volunteer services program. Funding must be prioritized towards serving populations traditionally served by long-term care services to include senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
$989,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $989,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the kinship navigator program in the Colville Indian reservation, Yakama Nation, and other tribal areas.
The traumatic brain injury council shall collaborate with other state agencies in their efforts to address traumatic brain injuries to ensure that efforts are complimentary and continue to support the state's broader efforts to address this issue.
$2,807,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $2,811,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $70,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the kinship care support program. Of the amounts provided in this subsection:
$863,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $867,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the kinship care support program.
$1,726,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,734,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $70,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for kinship navigators, including an increase in the number of kinship navigators so that each area agency on aging has one kinship navigator and King county has two kinship navigators.
$2,574,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,567,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to provide personal care services for up to 40 clients who are not United States citizens and who are ineligible for medicaid upon their discharge from an acute care hospital. The department must prioritize the funding provided in this subsection for such clients in acute care hospitals who are also on the department's wait list for services.
$24,848,000 of the long-term services and supports trust account—state appropriation is provided solely for the information technology project for the long-term services and supports trust program, and is subject to the conditions, limitations, and review requirements of section 701 of this act.
$13,982,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $13,982,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the area agencies on aging to maintain senior nutrition services. This includes, but is not limited to, meals at sites, through pantries, and home-delivery.
$4,388,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $8,526,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $7,285,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the nursing home to community program to increase the rental subsidy base to $1,500 and expand the program by 200 additional slots. Eligibility for these slots is strictly limited to individuals who are transitioning directly from nursing homes, acute care hospitals, or other high-cost institutional care settings. Individuals not transitioning from such facilities are not eligible for these slots. The department shall report to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature by October 1st of each year on the utilization of these slots. Reports must include, at a minimum, information on the client origin, facility type previously occupied by clients, program cost utilization, average subsidy provided per client, client demographic data, care acuity scores, presence of behaviors, underlying medical conditions, and outcomes related to housing stability and health care utilization.
$150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to contract with an organization to enhance direct services, outreach, and case management services for seniors residing in at least four senior housing communities located within a city adjacent to a major international airport in King county. These funds must be used to connect seniors to health, housing, and social resources to support their ability to live independently and safely in their homes.
$750,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $750,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for community-based dementia education and support activities in three areas of the state, including dementia resource catalyst staff and direct services for people with dementia and their caregivers.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES—ECONOMIC SERVICES PROGRAM
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
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$202,962,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $185,782,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, $868,257,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation, and $4,000,000 of the administrative contingency account—state appropriation are provided solely for all components of the WorkFirst program. Within the amounts provided for the WorkFirst program, the department may provide assistance using state-only funds for families eligible for temporary assistance for needy families. The budget structure must include budget units for the following: Cash assistance, child care, WorkFirst activities, and administration of the program. Within these budget units, the department must develop program index codes for specific activities and develop allotments and track expenditures using these codes. The department shall report to the office of financial management and the relevant fiscal and policy committees of the legislature prior to adopting a structure change.
$532,030,000 of the amounts in (a) of this subsection is for assistance to clients, including grants, diversion cash assistance, and additional diversion emergency assistance including but not limited to assistance authorized under RCW 74.08A.210. The department may use state funds to provide support to working families that are eligible for temporary assistance for needy families but otherwise not receiving cash assistance.
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$170,134,000 of the amounts in (a) of this subsection is for WorkFirst job search, education and training activities, barrier removal services, limited English proficiency services, and tribal assistance under RCW 74.08A.040. The department must allocate this funding based on client outcomes and cost effectiveness measures. Within amounts provided in this subsection (1)(c), the department shall implement the working family support program.
$2,474,000 of the amounts provided in (c)(i) of this subsection is for enhanced transportation assistance. The department must prioritize the use of these funds for the recipients most in need of financial assistance to facilitate their return to work. The department must not utilize these funds to supplant repayment arrangements that are currently in place to facilitate the reinstatement of drivers' licenses.
Of the amounts in (a) of this subsection, $353,402,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation is for the working connections child care program under RCW 43.216.020 within the department of children, youth, and families. The department is the lead agency for and recipient of the federal temporary assistance for needy families grant. A portion of this grant must be used to fund child care subsidies expenditures at the department of children, youth, and families.
The department of social and health services shall work in collaboration with the department of children, youth, and families to determine the appropriate amount of state expenditures for the working connections child care program to claim towards the state's maintenance of effort for the temporary assistance for needy families program. The departments will also collaborate to track the average monthly child care subsidy caseload and expenditures by fund type, including child care development fund, general fund—state appropriation, and temporary assistance for needy families for the purpose of estimating the annual temporary assistance for needy families reimbursement from the department of social and health services to the department of children, youth, and families.
On December 1st of each year of the biennium the department of children, youth, and families must report to the governor and the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the legislature the total state contribution for the working connections child care program claimed the previous fiscal year towards the state's maintenance of effort for the temporary assistance for needy families program and the total temporary assistance for needy families reimbursement from the department of social and health services for the previous fiscal year.
Of the amounts in (a) of this subsection, $68,496,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation is for child welfare services within the department of children, youth, and families.
Of the amounts in (a) of this subsection, $136,939,000 is for WorkFirst administration and overhead.
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The department shall submit quarterly expenditure reports to the governor, the fiscal committees of the legislature, and the legislative WorkFirst poverty reduction oversight task force under RCW 74.08A.341. In addition to these requirements, the department must detail any fund transfers across budget units identified in (a) through (e) of this subsection. The department shall not initiate any services that require expenditure of state general fund moneys that are not consistent with policies established by the legislature.
The department may transfer up to 10 percent of funding between budget units identified in (b) through (f) of this subsection. The department shall provide notification prior to any transfer to the office of financial management and to the appropriate legislative committees and the legislative-executive WorkFirst poverty reduction oversight task force. The approval of the director of financial management is required prior to any transfer under this subsection.
On January 2nd and July 1st of each year, the department shall provide a maintenance of effort and participation rate tracking report for temporary assistance for needy families to the office of financial management, the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the legislature, and the legislative-executive WorkFirst poverty reduction oversight task force. The report must detail the following information for temporary assistance for needy families:
An overview of federal rules related to maintenance of effort, excess maintenance of effort, participation rates for temporary assistance for needy families, and the child care development fund as it pertains to maintenance of effort and participation rates;
Countable maintenance of effort and excess maintenance of effort, by source, provided for the previous federal fiscal year;
Countable maintenance of effort and excess maintenance of effort, by source, for the current fiscal year, including changes in countable maintenance of effort from the previous year;
The status of reportable federal participation rate requirements, including any impact of excess maintenance of effort on participation targets;
Potential new sources of maintenance of effort and progress to obtain additional maintenance of effort;
A two-year projection for meeting federal block grant and contingency fund maintenance of effort, participation targets, and future reportable federal participation rate requirements; and
Proposed and enacted federal law changes affecting maintenance of effort or the participation rate, what impact these changes have on Washington's temporary assistance for needy families program, and the department's plan to comply with these changes.
i. In the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, it is the intent of the legislature to provide appropriations from the state general fund for the purposes of (a) of this subsection if the department does not receive additional federal temporary assistance for needy families contingency funds in each fiscal year as assumed in the budget outlook.
$3,545,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $3,545,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for naturalization services.
$2,366,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for employment services for refugees and immigrants, of which $1,774,000 is provided solely for the department to pass through to statewide refugee and immigrant assistance organizations for limited English proficiency pathway services; and $2,366,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 is provided solely for employment services for refugees and immigrants, of which $1,774,000 is provided solely for the department to pass through to statewide refugee and immigrant assistance organizations for limited English proficiency pathway services.
On January 1st of each year, the department must report to the governor and the legislature on all sources of funding available for both refugee and immigrant services and naturalization services during the current fiscal year and the amounts expended to date by service type and funding source. The report must also include the number of clients served and outcome data for the clients.
To ensure expenditures remain within available funds appropriated in this section, the legislature establishes the benefit under the state food assistance program, pursuant to RCW 74.08A.120, to be 100 percent of the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program benefit amount.
The department shall review clients receiving services through the aged, blind, or disabled assistance program, to determine whether they would benefit from assistance in becoming naturalized citizens, and thus be eligible to receive federal supplemental security income benefits. Those cases shall be given high priority for naturalization funding through the department.
The department shall continue the interagency agreement with the department of veterans' affairs to establish a process for referral of veterans who may be eligible for veterans' services. This agreement must include out-stationing department of veterans' affairs staff in selected community service office locations in King and Pierce counties to facilitate applications for veterans' services.
$1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for operational support of the Washington information network 211 organization.
$560,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $560,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a state-funded employment and training program for recipients of the state's food assistance program.
$4,984,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $4,406,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $17,548,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the alignment of eligibility rules in accordance with federal center for medicare and medicaid services' regulations in 42 C.F.R. Sec. 433.112(b) and in coordination with the health benefit exchange. Funding is subject to the conditions, limitations, and review requirements of section 701 of this act.
Within existing resources, a revised integrated eligibility and enrollment roadmap and schedule will be created to accommodate eligibility rule updates that are necessary to meet the federal center for medicare and medicaid services' regulations.
$1,067,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,067,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $4,980,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the integrated eligibility and enrollment modernization project office.
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$500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for sponsorship stabilization funds for eligible unaccompanied children and their sponsors.
Of the amounts provided in (a) of this subsection, $350,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for sponsorship stabilization funds for eligible unaccompanied children and their sponsors in order to address financial hardship and support household well-being. Stabilization funds can be used to support the sponsorship household with costs of housing, childcare, transportation, internet and data services, household goods, and other unmet needs. The funds may be provided on behalf of an unaccompanied child when the following eligibility criteria are met:
The unaccompanied child is between the ages of 0-17, has been placed in Washington under the care of a nonparental sponsor following release from the United States office of refugee resettlement custody, and has not been reunified with a parent; and
The sponsorship household demonstrates financial need and has an income below 250 percent of the federal poverty level. A sponsorship household receiving stabilization funds on behalf of a child who turns 18 may continue to receive funds for an additional 60 days after the child reaches 18 years of age.
The department may work with community-based organizations to administer sponsorship stabilization supports. Up to 10 percent of the amounts provided in (b) of this subsection may be used by the community-based organizations to cover administrative expenses associated with the distribution of these supports.
Of the amounts provided in (a) of this subsection, up to $150,000 is provided solely to cover the administrative resources necessary for the department to administer the sponsorship stabilization program.
$185,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the department to meet the terms of its settlement agreement with the United States department of agriculture (USDA), specifically to fund employment and training program services and activities targeted to able-bodied adults without dependents receiving food benefits from the USDA supplemental nutrition assistance program, but open to all basic food employment and training participants including participants who are not able-bodied adults without dependents.
$1,140,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,141,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely to fully integrate the asset verification system into the automated client eligibility system (ACES).
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$6,911,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $4,924,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $11,837,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the implementation of the summer electronic benefit transfer program for the summer break months following the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. The program implementation must align with the federal summer electronic benefit program requirements defined in the consolidated appropriations act, 2023 (136 Stat. 4459). The department may use a third-party entity to administer the program through March of 2027.
Within existing resources, the department must submit a report by September 12, 2025, to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the legislature and the governor that includes detailed estimates of the cost and timeline to administer the summer electronic benefit transfer program within the community services division. The report shall also include a comparison of the potential benefits and risks of administering the program within the division or through using a vendor and any recommendations the department may have.
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$25,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely to the office of refugee and immigrant assistance to expand support services for individuals newly arriving to the United States and Washington who do not qualify for federal refugee resettlement program services. Support services include, but are not limited to, housing assistance, food, transportation, childhood education services, education and employment supports, connection to legal services, and social services navigation.
Of the amounts in (a) of this subsection, up to $810,000 for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for staffing at the office of refugee and immigrant assistance to cover the administrative expenses of implementing this subsection.
By June 30th of each fiscal year, the department must submit a report to the governor and the legislature that shows the prior fiscal year's call and lobby wait times by month and queue, number of customer contacts by month and queue, processing times for the various queues for the three most recent fiscal years along with an explanation for any changes to the most recent year's processing times, number of filled public benefit specialists 3 positions and vacancies by month, any available wait time impacts associated with the individual technology solution enhancements, any telephonic savings experienced due to fewer customers waiting on hold, and recommendations to continue reducing customer wait times.
Within existing resources, the department shall assess the ongoing feasibility of continuing services with a third-party employment verification vendor. A report shall be submitted to the legislature and governor by September 12, 2025, that includes the following:
A detailed overview of the current employment verification process, including the general instances in which employment verification is deemed necessary, when the third-party vendor is used to complete this task and who completes the verification;
Current cost of the third-party vendor along with projected rate increases;
Available options to reduce the ongoing cost of using a third-party vendor for employment verification services, including but not limited to an inventory of available vendors and their rates and ways to streamline employment verification costs by reducing duplicative or unnecessary searches;
Costs and risks associated with using in-house services to verify employment instead of using a third-party vendor; and
Recommendations of cost-effective and sustainable employment verification options.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES—VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$550,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $550,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for grants to federally recognized tribes of Washington to support culturally appropriate vocational rehabilitation services and adaptive technologies for tribal members with disabilities who are seeking employment.
$150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the department to contract with community-based nonprofit organizations that collaborate statewide to provide services in counties west of the Cascade mountains, in central Washington, and counties in the most eastern part of the state. The entities must specialize in fostering independent living core services, community integration, and accessibility for individuals with developmental disabilities. These nonprofit organizations must have knowledge, demonstrate effectiveness, and specialize in fostering independent living, community integration, and accessibility for individuals with developmental disabilities. These funds must be used to support efforts to enhance inclusive community spaces, assist individuals transitioning from institutional settings to independent living, and strengthen capacity for more inclusive emergency preparedness.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES—SPECIAL COMMITMENT PROGRAM
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The special commitment center may use funds appropriated in this subsection to purchase goods, services, and supplies through hospital group purchasing organizations when it is cost-effective to do so.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES—ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORTING SERVICES PROGRAM
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
Within amounts appropriated in this section, the department shall provide to the department of health, where available, the following data for all nutrition assistance programs funded by the United States department of agriculture and administered by the department. The department must provide the report for the preceding federal fiscal year by February 1, 2026, and February 1, 2027. The report must provide:
The number of people in Washington who are eligible for the program;
The number of people in Washington who participated in the program;
The average annual participation rate in the program;
Participation rates by geographic distribution; and
The annual federal funding of the program in Washington.
$399,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $467,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $508,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the implementation of an agreement reached between the governor and the Washington federation of state employees for the language access providers under the provisions of chapter 41.56 RCW for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium as provided in section 908 of this act.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES—PAYMENTS TO OTHER AGENCIES PROGRAM
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Within the amounts appropriated in this section, the department must extend master property insurance to all buildings owned by the department valued over $250,000 and to all locations leased by the department with contents valued over $250,000.
FOR THE STATE HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY
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During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the health care authority shall provide support and data as required by the office of the state actuary in providing the legislature with health care actuarial analysis, including providing any information in the possession of the health care authority or available to the health care authority through contracts with providers, plans, insurers, consultants, or any other entities contracting with the health care authority.
Information technology projects or investments and proposed projects or investments impacting time capture, payroll and payment processes and systems, eligibility, case management, and authorization systems within the health care authority are subject to technical oversight by Washington technology solutions.
The health care authority shall not initiate any services that require expenditure of state general fund moneys unless expressly authorized in this act or other law. The health care authority may seek, receive, and spend, under RCW 43.79.260 through 43.79.282, federal moneys not anticipated in this act as long as the federal funding does not require expenditure of state moneys for the program in excess of amounts anticipated in this act. If the health care authority receives unanticipated unrestricted federal moneys, those moneys shall be spent for services authorized in this act or in any other legislation providing appropriation authority, and an equal amount of appropriated state general fund moneys shall lapse. Upon the lapsing of any moneys under this subsection, the office of financial management shall notify the legislative fiscal committees. As used in this subsection, "unrestricted federal moneys" includes block grants and other funds that federal law does not require to be spent on specifically defined projects or matched on a formula basis by state funds.
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The health care authority, the health benefit exchange, the department of social and health services, the department of health, the department of corrections, and the department of children, youth, and families shall work together within existing resources to establish the health and human services enterprise coalition (the coalition). The coalition, led by the health care authority, must be a multi-organization collaborative that provides strategic direction and federal funding guidance for projects that have cross-organizational or enterprise impact, including information technology projects that affect organizations within the coalition. Washington technology solutions shall maintain a statewide perspective when collaborating with the coalition to ensure that projects are planned for in a manner that ensures the efficient use of state resources, supports the adoption of a cohesive technology and data architecture, and maximizes federal financial participation. The work of the coalition and any project identified as a coalition project is subject to the conditions, limitations, and review provided in section 701 of this act.
The health care authority must submit a report on November 1st of each fiscal year to the fiscal committees of the legislature. The report must include, at a minimum:
A list of active coalition projects as of July 1st of the fiscal year. This must include all current and ongoing coalition projects, which coalition agencies are involved in these projects, and the funding being expended on each project, including in-kind funding. For each project, the report must include which federal requirements each coalition project is working to satisfy, and when each project is anticipated to satisfy those requirements; and
A list of coalition projects that are planned in the current and following fiscal year. This must include which coalition agencies are involved in these projects, including the anticipated in-kind funding by agency, and if a budget request will be submitted for funding. This must reflect all funding required by fiscal year and by fund source and include the budget outlook period.
FOR THE STATE HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY—MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
The authority may not accept or expend any federal funds received under an 1115 demonstration waiver except as described in this section unless the legislature has appropriated the federal funding. To ensure compliance with legislative requirements and terms and conditions of the waiver, the authority shall implement the renewal of the 1115 demonstration waiver and reporting requirements with oversight from the office of financial management. The legislature finds that appropriate management of the renewal of the 1115 demonstration waiver as set forth in subsections (2), (3), and (4) of this section requires sound, consistent, timely, and transparent oversight and analytic review in addition to lack of redundancy with other established measures. The patient must be considered first and foremost in the implementation and execution of the demonstration waiver. To accomplish these goals, the authority shall develop consistent performance measures that focus on population health and health outcomes. The authority shall limit the number of projects that accountable communities of health may participate in under initiative 1 to a maximum of six and shall seek to develop common performance measures when possible. The joint select committee on health care oversight will evaluate the measures chosen: (a) For effectiveness and appropriateness; and (b) to provide patients and health care providers with significant input into the implementation of the demonstration waiver to promote improved population health and patient health outcomes. In cooperation with the department of social and health services, the authority shall consult with and provide notification of work on applications for federal waivers, including details on waiver duration, financial implications, and potential future impacts on the state budget to the joint select committee on health care oversight prior to submitting these waivers for federal approval. Prior to final approval or acceptance of funds by the authority, the authority shall submit the special terms and conditions as submitted to the centers for medicare and medicaid services and the anticipated budget for the duration of the renewed waiver to the governor, the joint select committee on health care, and the fiscal committees of the legislature. By federal standard any programs created or funded by this waiver do not create an entitlement. The demonstration period for the waiver as described in subsections (2), (3), and (4) of this section began July 1, 2023.
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$657,598,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation and $207,273,000 of the general fund—local appropriation are provided solely for accountable communities of health described in initiative 1 of the 1115 demonstration waiver and this is the maximum amount that may be expended for this purpose. In renewing this initiative, the authority shall consider local input regarding community needs and shall limit total local projects to no more than six. To provide transparency to the appropriate fiscal committees of the legislature, the authority shall provide fiscal staff of the legislature query ability into any database of the fiscal intermediary that authority staff would be authorized to access. The authority shall not supplement the amounts provided in this subsection with any general fund—state moneys appropriated in this section or any moneys that may be transferred pursuant to subsection (1) of this section. The director shall report to the fiscal committees of the legislature all expenditures under this subsection and provide such fiscal data in the time, manner, and form requested by the legislative fiscal committees.
$557,333,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation and $227,643,000 of the general fund—private/local appropriation are provided solely for the medicaid quality improvement program and this is the maximum amount that may be expended for this purpose. Medicaid quality improvement program payments do not count against the 1115 demonstration waiver spending limits and are excluded from the waiver's budget neutrality calculation. The authority may provide medicaid quality improvement program payments to apple health managed care organizations and their partnering providers as they meet designated milestones. Partnering providers and apple health managed care organizations must work together to achieve medicaid quality improvement program goals according to the performance period timelines and reporting deadlines as set forth by the authority. The authority may only use the medicaid quality improvement program to support initiatives 1, 2, and 3 as described in the 1115 demonstration waiver and may not pursue its use for other purposes. Any programs created or funded by the medicaid quality improvement program do not constitute an entitlement for clients or providers. The authority shall not supplement the amounts provided in this subsection with any general fund—state, general fund—federal, or general fund—local moneys appropriated in this section or any moneys that may be transferred pursuant to subsection (1) of this section. The director shall report to the joint select committee on health care oversight not less than quarterly on financial and health outcomes. The director shall report to the fiscal committees of the legislature all expenditures under this subsection and shall provide such fiscal data in the time, manner, and form requested by the legislative fiscal committees.
In collaboration with the accountable communities of health, the authority will submit a report to the governor and the joint select committee on health care oversight describing how each of the accountable community of health's work aligns with the community needs assessment no later than December 1, 2026.
Performance measures and payments for accountable communities of health shall reflect accountability measures that demonstrate progress toward transparent, measurable, and meaningful goals that have an impact on improved population health and improved health outcomes, including a path to financial sustainability. While these goals may have variation to account for unique community demographics, measures should be standardized when possible.
$146,275,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation and $146,290,000 of the general fund—local appropriation are provided solely for long-term support services as described in initiative 2 of the 1115 demonstration waiver as well as administrative expenses for initiative 3 and this is the maximum amount that may be expended for this purpose. The authority shall contract with and provide funding to the department of social and health services to administer initiative 2. The director in cooperation with the secretary of the department of social and health services shall report to the office of financial management all of the expenditures of this section and shall provide such fiscal data in the time, manner, and form requested. The authority shall not supplement the amounts provided in this subsection with any general fund—state moneys appropriated in this section or any moneys that may be transferred pursuant to subsection (1) of this section.
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$131,704,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation and $58,916,000 of the general fund—local appropriation are provided solely for supported housing and employment services described in initiative 3a and 3b of the 1115 demonstration waiver and this is the maximum amount that may be expended for this purpose. Under this initiative, the authority and the department of social and health services shall ensure that allowable and necessary services are provided to eligible clients as identified by the department or its third-party administrator. The authority and the department, in consultation with the medical assistance expenditure forecast work group, shall ensure that reasonable reimbursements are established for services deemed necessary within an identified limit per individual. The authority shall not supplement the amounts provided in this subsection with any general fund—state moneys appropriated in this section or any moneys that may be transferred pursuant to subsection (1) of this section. The director shall report to the joint select committee on health care oversight no less than quarterly on financial and health outcomes. The director shall also report to the fiscal committees of the legislature all of the expenditures of this subsection and shall provide such fiscal data in the time, manner, and form requested by the legislative fiscal committees.
$62,475,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation and $44,275,000 of the general fund—local appropriation are provided solely for additional housing supports described in the 1115 demonstration waiver and this is the maximum amount that may be expended for this purpose. The authority shall not supplement the amounts provided in this subsection with any general fund—state moneys appropriated in this section or any moneys that may be transferred pursuant to subsection (1) of this section. The director shall report to the joint select committee on health care oversight no less than quarterly on financial and health outcomes. The director shall also report to the fiscal committees of the legislature all of the expenditures of this subsection and shall provide such fiscal data in the time, manner, and form requested by the legislative fiscal committees.
The director shall report to the joint select committee on health care oversight no less than quarterly on utilization and caseload statistics for both supportive housing and employment services and its progress toward increasing uptake and availability for these services.
$250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $3,008,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for supported employment services and $750,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $3,162,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for supported housing services, similar to the services described in initiatives 3a and 3b of the 1115 demonstration waiver to individuals who are ineligible for medicaid. Under these initiatives, the authority and the department of social and health services shall ensure that allowable and necessary services are provided to eligible clients as identified by the authority or its third-party administrator. Before authorizing services, eligibility for initiative 3a or 3b of the 1115 demonstration waiver must first be determined.
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$4,279,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $6,107,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $66,104,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for prerelease services including, but not limited to, case management, clinical consultations, medication assisted therapy, community health worker services, 30-day supply of medications, durable medical equipment, medications, laboratory services, and radiology services.
The authority shall coordinate with the department of corrections for prison reentry implementation pursuant to the waiver terms. The authority will coordinate with tribes, other state agencies, and jail administrations as necessary to achieve the terms of the section 1115 medicaid transformation waiver. The authority shall use its statutory reentry advisory work group and subgroups as necessary to coordinate with partners to achieve these goals.
Sufficient amounts are appropriated in this subsection to implement the medicaid expansion as defined in the social security act, section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(VIII).
The legislature finds that medicaid payment rates, as calculated by the health care authority pursuant to the appropriations in this act, bear a reasonable relationship to the costs incurred by efficiently and economically operated facilities for providing quality services and will be sufficient to enlist enough providers so that care and services are available to the extent that such care and services are available to the general population in the geographic area. The legislature finds that the cost reports, payment data from the federal government, historical utilization, economic data, and clinical input constitute reliable data upon which to determine the payment rates.
Based on quarterly expenditure reports and caseload forecasts, if the health care authority estimates that expenditures for the medical assistance program will exceed the appropriations, the health care authority shall take steps including but not limited to reduction of rates or elimination of optional services to reduce expenditures so that total program costs do not exceed the annual appropriation authority.
In determining financial eligibility for medicaid-funded services, the health care authority is authorized to disregard recoveries by Holocaust survivors of insurance proceeds or other assets, as defined in RCW 48.104.030.
The legislature affirms that it is in the state's interest for Harborview medical center to remain an economically viable component of the state's health care system.
When a person is ineligible for medicaid solely by reason of residence in an institution for mental diseases, the health care authority shall provide the person with the same benefits as he or she would receive if eligible for medicaid, using state-only funds to the extent necessary.
$4,261,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $4,261,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $8,522,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for low-income disproportionate share hospital payments.
Within the amounts appropriated in this section, the health care authority shall provide disproportionate share hospital payments to hospitals that provide services to children in the children's health program who are not eligible for services under Title XIX or XXI of the federal social security act due to their citizenship status.
$7,000,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation is provided solely for supplemental payments to nursing homes operated by public hospital districts. The public hospital district shall be responsible for providing the required nonfederal match for the supplemental payment, and the payments shall not exceed the maximum allowable under federal rules. It is the legislature's intent that the payments shall be supplemental to and shall not in any way offset or reduce the payments calculated and provided in accordance with part E of chapter 74.46 RCW. It is the legislature's further intent that costs otherwise allowable for rate-setting and settlement against payments under chapter 74.46 RCW shall not be disallowed solely because such costs have been paid by revenues retained by the nursing home from these supplemental payments. The supplemental payments are subject to retrospective interim and final cost settlements based on the nursing homes' as-filed and final medicare cost reports. The timing of the interim and final cost settlements shall be at the health care authority's discretion. During either the interim cost settlement or the final cost settlement, the health care authority shall recoup from the public hospital districts the supplemental payments that exceed the medicaid cost limit and/or the medicare upper payment limit. The health care authority shall apply federal rules for identifying the eligible incurred medicaid costs and the medicare upper payment limit.
The health care authority shall continue the inpatient hospital certified public expenditures program for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. The program shall apply to all public hospitals, including those owned or operated by the state, except those classified as critical access hospitals or state psychiatric institutions. The health care authority shall submit reports to the governor and legislature by November 1st of each fiscal year that evaluate whether savings continue to exceed costs for this program. If the certified public expenditures (CPE) program in its current form is no longer cost-effective to maintain, the health care authority shall submit a report to the governor and legislature detailing cost-effective alternative uses of local, state, and federal resources as a replacement for this program. During fiscal year 2026 and fiscal year 2027, hospitals in the program shall be paid and shall retain 100 percent of the federal portion of the allowable hospital cost for each medicaid inpatient fee-for-service claim payable by medical assistance and 100 percent of the federal portion of the maximum disproportionate share hospital payment allowable under federal regulations. For the purpose of determining the amount of any state grant under this subsection, payments will include the federal portion of medicaid program supplemental payments received by the hospitals. Inpatient medicaid payments shall be established using an allowable methodology that approximates the cost of claims submitted by the hospitals. Payments made to each hospital in the program in each fiscal year of the biennium shall be compared to a baseline amount. The baseline amount will be determined by the total of (a) the inpatient claim payment amounts that would have been paid during the fiscal year had the hospital not been in the CPE program based on the reimbursement rates developed, implemented, and consistent with policies approved in the 2025-2027 biennial operating appropriations act and in effect on July 1, 2015, (b) one-half of the indigent assistance disproportionate share hospital payment amounts paid to and retained by each hospital during fiscal year 2005, and (c) all of the other disproportionate share hospital payment amounts paid to and retained by each hospital during fiscal year 2005 to the extent the same disproportionate share hospital programs exist in the 2019-2021 fiscal biennium. If payments during the fiscal year exceed the hospital's baseline amount, no additional payments will be made to the hospital except the federal portion of allowable disproportionate share hospital payments for which the hospital can certify allowable match. If payments during the fiscal year are less than the baseline amount, the hospital will be paid a state grant equal to the difference between payments during the fiscal year and the applicable baseline amount. Payment of the state grant shall be made in the applicable fiscal year and distributed in monthly payments. The grants will be recalculated and redistributed as the baseline is updated during the fiscal year. The grant payments are subject to an interim settlement within 11 months after the end of the fiscal year. A final settlement shall be performed. To the extent that either settlement determines that a hospital has received funds in excess of what it would have received as described in this subsection, the hospital must repay the excess amounts to the state when requested.
The health care authority shall seek public-private partnerships and federal funds that are or may become available to provide ongoing support for outreach and education efforts under the federal children's health insurance program reauthorization act of 2009.
The health care authority shall target funding for maternity support services towards pregnant women with factors that lead to higher rates of poor birth outcomes, including hypertension, a preterm or low birth weight birth in the most recent previous birth, a cognitive deficit or developmental disability, substance abuse, severe mental illness, unhealthy weight or failure to gain weight, tobacco use, or African American or Native American race. The health care authority shall prioritize evidence-based practices for delivery of maternity support services. To the extent practicable, the health care authority shall develop a mechanism to increase federal funding for maternity support services by leveraging local public funding for those services.
The authority shall submit a report to the governor and the legislature by September 15, 2026, that delineates the number of individuals in medicaid managed care, by carrier, age, gender, and eligibility category, receiving preventative services and vaccinations. The report should include baseline and benchmark information from the previous two fiscal years and should be inclusive of, but not limited to, services recommended under the United States preventative services task force, advisory committee on immunization practices, early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment (EPSDT) guidelines, and other relevant preventative and vaccination medicaid guidelines and requirements.
Managed care contracts must incorporate accountability measures that monitor patient health and improved health outcomes, and shall include an expectation that each patient receive a wellness examination that documents the baseline health status and allows for monitoring of health improvements and outcome measures.
Sufficient amounts are appropriated in this section for the authority to provide an adult dental benefit.
The health care authority shall coordinate with the department of social and health services to provide referrals to the Washington health benefit exchange for clients that will be ineligible for medicaid.
To facilitate a single point of entry across public and medical assistance programs, and to maximize the use of federal funding, the health care authority, the department of social and health services, and the health benefit exchange will coordinate efforts to expand HealthPlanfinder access to public assistance and medical eligibility staff. The health care authority shall complete medicaid applications in the HealthPlanfinder for households receiving or applying for medical assistance benefits.
$90,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $90,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $180,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely to continue operation by a nonprofit organization of a toll-free hotline that assists families to learn about and enroll in the apple health for kids program.
Within the amounts appropriated in this section, the authority shall reimburse for primary care services provided by naturopathic physicians.
Within the amounts appropriated in this section, the authority shall continue to provide coverage for pregnant teens that qualify under existing pregnancy medical programs, but whose eligibility for pregnancy related services would otherwise end due to the application of the new modified adjusted gross income eligibility standard.
Sufficient amounts are appropriated in this section to remove the mental health visit limit and to provide the shingles vaccine and screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment benefits that are available in the medicaid alternative benefit plan in the classic medicaid benefit plan.
The authority shall use revenue appropriated from the dedicated cannabis account for contracts with community health centers under RCW 69.50.540 in lieu of general fund—state payments to community health centers for services provided to medical assistance clients, and it is the intent of the legislature that this policy will be continued in subsequent fiscal biennia.
For any service eligible under the medicaid state plan for encounter payments, managed care organizations at the request of a rural health clinic shall pay the full published encounter rate directly to the clinic. At no time will a managed care organization be at risk for or have any right to the supplemental portion of the claim. Payments will be reconciled on at least an annual basis between the managed care organization and the authority, with final review and approval by the authority.
Sufficient amounts are appropriated in this section for the authority to provide a medicaid equivalent adult dental benefit to clients enrolled in the medical care service program.
Sufficient amounts are provided in this section for the authority to provide services identical to those services covered by the Washington state family planning waiver program as of August 2018 to individuals who:
Are 19 years of age;
Are at or below 260 percent of the federal poverty level as established in WAC 182-505-0100;
Are not covered by other public or private insurance; and
Need family planning services and are not currently covered by or eligible for another medical assistance program for family planning.
The authority shall ensure that appropriate resources are dedicated to implementing the recommendations of the centers for medicare and medicaid services center for program integrity as provided to the authority in the January 2019 Washington focused program integrity review final report. Additionally, the authority shall:
Work to ensure the efficient operations of the managed care plans, including but not limited to, a deconflicting process for audits with and among the managed care plans and the medicaid fraud division at the attorney general's office, to ensure the authority staff perform central audits of cases that appear across multiple managed care plans, versus the audits performed by the individual managed care plans or the fraud division;
Remain accountable for operating in an effective and efficient manner, including performing program integrity activities that ensure high value in the medical assistance program in general and in medicaid managed care specifically;
Work with its contracted actuary and the medical assistance expenditure forecast work group to develop methods and metrics related to managed care program integrity activity that shall be incorporated into annual rate setting; and
Work with the medical assistance expenditure forecast work group to ensure the results of program integrity activity are incorporated into the rate setting process in a transparent, timely, measurable, quantifiable manner.
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The authority shall not enter into any future value-based arrangements with federally qualified health centers or rural health clinics prior to receiving approval from the office of financial management and the appropriate committees of the legislature.
The authority shall not modify the reconciliation process with federally qualified health centers or rural health clinics without notification to and the opportunity to comment from the office of financial management.
The authority shall require all managed care organizations to provide information to the authority to account for all payments to rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers to include how payments are made, including any additional payments and whether there is a sub-capitation arrangement or value-based purchasing arrangement.
For each fiscal year, the authority shall reconcile on an annual basis with rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers.
For each fiscal year, the authority shall properly accrue for any anticipated reconciliations with rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers during the fiscal year close process following generally accepted accounting practices.
Within the amounts appropriated in this section, the authority is to include allergen control bed and pillow covers as part of the durable medical equipment benefit for children with an asthma diagnosis enrolled in medical assistance programs.
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Sufficient funds are provided in this section for the authority for the reimbursement of services provided by doulas for apple health clients.
The authority shall continue to collaborate with an external organization for participatory and equity-focused engagement with doulas and doula partners across the state of Washington. This organization must work in collaboration with community partners who advance equitable access to improve perinatal outcomes and care through holistic services for multiracial communities.
The external organization will be responsible for implementing a statewide doula hub and referral system consistent with the recommendations for the design of a statewide doula hub and referral system report done in partnership with the authority.
The authority and the external organization will continue to collaborate on how to:
Provide statewide professional and workforce development and sustainability support for birth doulas;
Increase statewide access to doula services for apple health birthing people;
Assist doulas with department of health credentialing requirements;
Assist doulas with the medicaid provider enrollment process including, but not limited to, support with:
(A) Provider enrollment with the authority;
(B) Contracting with medicaid managed care organizations;
(C) Provider billing and claims submission processes;
(D) Provider payment requirements; and
(E) Eligibility support within ProviderOne; and
v. Establish communications with birthing people, families, birth workers, and health care providers who are seeking to connect with state-certified and medicaid-enrolled birth doulas through a statewide directory or referral system.
Sufficient funds are provided in this section for the authority to extend continuous eligibility for apple health to children ages zero to six with income at or below 215 percent of the federal poverty level. The centers for medicare and medicaid services must approve the 1115 medicaid waiver prior to the implementation of this policy.
Sufficient funds are provided to continue reimbursing dental health aid therapists for services performed in tribal facilities for medicaid clients. The authority must leverage any federal funding that may become available as a result of appeal decisions from the centers for medicare and medicaid services or the United States court of appeals for the ninth circuit.
Within the amounts appropriated in this section, the authority shall implement the requirements of RCW 74.09.830 and the American rescue plan act of 2021, P.L. 117-2, in extending health care coverage during the postpartum period. The authority shall make every effort to expedite and complete eligibility determinations for individuals who are likely eligible to receive health care coverage under Title XIX or Title XXI of the federal social security act to ensure the state is receiving maximum federal match. This includes, but is not limited to, working with managed care organizations to provide continuous outreach in various modalities until the individual's eligibility determination is completed. The authority must submit quarterly reports to the caseload forecast work group on the number of individuals who are likely eligible to receive health care coverage under Title XIX or Title XXI of the federal social security act but are waiting for the authority to complete eligibility determination, the number of individuals who were likely eligible but are now receiving health care coverage with the maximum federal match under Title XIX or Title XXI of the federal social security act, and outreach activities including the work with managed care organizations.
$500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the perinatal support warm line to provide peer support, resources, and referrals to new and expectant parents and people in the emotional transition to parenthood experiencing, or at risk of, postpartum depression or other mental health issues.
Sufficient funding is provided to remove the asset test from the medicare savings program review process.
Sufficient funding is provided to eliminate the mid-certification review process for the aged, blind, or disabled and housing and essential needs referral programs.
$2,545,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $2,545,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $9,280,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for reimbursement for community health worker services.
Sufficient amounts are appropriated in this section for the authority to provide coverage for all federal food and drug administration-approved HIV antiviral drugs without prior authorization. This coverage must be provided to apple health clients enrolled in both fee-for-service and managed care programs.
Sufficient funds are provided in this section to maintain access for primary care services for medicaid-enrolled patients through increased provider rates.
Sufficient funds are provided in this section for work required of the authority as specified in RCW 41.05.840.
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Sufficient funds are provided in this section for an outpatient directed payment program.
The authority shall:
Maintain the program to support the state's access and other quality of care goals and to not increase general fund—state expenditures;
Seek approval from the centers for medicare and medicaid services to expand the medicaid outpatient directed payment program for hospital outpatient services provided to medicaid program managed care recipients by UW Medicine hospitals and, at their option, UW Medicine affiliated hospitals;
Direct managed care organizations to make payments to eligible providers at levels required to ensure enrollees have timely access to critical high-quality care as allowed under 42 C.F.R. 438.6(c); and
Increase medicaid payments for hospital outpatient services provided by UW Medicine hospitals and, at their option, UW Medicine affiliated hospitals to the average payment received from commercial payers.
Any incremental costs incurred by the authority in the development, implementation, and maintenance of this program shall be the responsibility of the participating hospitals.
Participating hospitals shall retain the full amount of payments provided under this program.
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Sufficient funds are provided in this section for an inpatient directed payment program.
The authority shall:
Design the program to support the state's access and other quality of care goals and to not increase general fund—state expenditures;
Seek approval from the centers for medicare and medicaid services to create a medicaid inpatient directed payment program for hospital inpatient services provided to medicaid program managed care recipients by UW Medicine hospitals and, at their option, UW Medicine affiliated hospitals;
Upon approval, direct managed care organizations to make payments to eligible providers at levels required to ensure enrollees have timely access to critical high-quality care as allowed under 42 C.F.R. 438.6(c); and
Increase medicaid payments for hospital inpatient services provided by UW Medicine and, at their option, UW Medicine affiliated hospitals to the average payment received from commercial payers.
Any incremental costs incurred by the authority in the development, implementation, and maintenance of this program shall be the responsibility of the participating hospitals.
Participating hospitals shall retain the full amount of payments provided under this program.
Participating hospitals will provide the local funds to fund the required nonfederal contribution.
This program shall be effective as soon as administratively possible.
Within the amounts appropriated in this section, the authority shall maintain and increase access for family planning services for patients seeking services through department of health sexual and reproductive health program family planning providers based on the rates in effect as of July 1, 2022.
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Within the amounts appropriated in this section the authority, in consultation with the health and human services enterprise coalition, community-based organizations, health plans, accountable communities of health, and safety net providers, shall determine the cost and implementation impacts of a statewide community information exchange (CIE). A CIE platform must serve as a tool for addressing the social determinants of health, defined as nonclinical community and social factors such as housing, food security, transportation, financial strain, and interpersonal safety, that affect health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes.
Prior to issuing a request for proposals or beginning this project, the authority must work with stakeholders in (a) of this subsection to determine which platforms already exist within the Washington public and private health care system to determine interoperability needs and fiscal impacts to both the state and impacted providers and organizations that will be using a single statewide community information exchange platform.
The authority shall provide the office of financial management and fiscal committees of the legislature a proposal to leverage medicaid enterprise financing or other federal funds prior to beginning this project and shall not expend funds under a 1115 waiver or any other waiver without legislative authorization.
Sufficient funds are provided in this section for the authority to implement the community information exchange program. The technology solution chosen by the health care authority should be capable of interoperating with other state funded systems in Washington and should be able to electronically refer individuals to services using a closed-loop referral process. Funding for the community information exchange program is subject to the conditions, limitations, and review requirements of section 701 of this act.
Sufficient funds in this section are provided for staff dedicated to data review, analysis, and management, and policy analysis in support of the health care cost transparency board as described in chapter 70.390 RCW.
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$70,662,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $70,262,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the authority to implement a program with coverage comparable to the amount, duration, and scope of care provided in the categorically needy medicaid program for adult individuals who:
Have an immigration status making them ineligible for federal medicaid or federal subsidies through the health benefit exchange;
Are age 19 and older, including over age 65, and have countable income of up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level; and
Are not eligible for another full scope federally funded medical assistance program, including any expansion of medicaid coverage for deferred action for childhood arrivals recipients.
Within the amounts provided in this subsection, the authority shall use the same eligibility, enrollment, redetermination and renewal, and appeals procedures as categorically needy medicaid, except where flexibility is necessary to maintain privacy or minimize burden to applicants or enrollees.
The authority in collaboration with the health benefit exchange, the department of social and health services, and community organizations must develop and implement an outreach and education campaign.
The authority must provide the following information to the governor's office and appropriate committees of the legislature by February 1st and November 1st of each year:
Actual and forecasted expenditures;
Actual and forecasted data from the caseload forecast council; and
The availability and impact of any federal program or proposed rule that expands access to health care for the population described in this subsection, such as the expansion of medicaid coverage for deferred action for childhood arrivals recipients.
The amount provided in this subsection is the maximum amount allowable for the purposes of this program.
Within the amounts appropriated in this section, the authority shall make administrative and system changes in anticipation of receiving federal authority to provide continuous eligibility for children ages zero to six covered though the apple health children's health insurance program. The centers for medicare and medicaid services must approve the section 1115 medicaid waiver prior to the implementation of this policy.
$300,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $300,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the Bree collaborative to support collaborative learning and targeted technical assistance for quality improvement initiatives.
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The authority shall collaborate with the University of Washington on a supplemental payment program for the family medicine residency network as a supplement to the family medical education funding with additional federal funding.
The authority shall provide a recommendation and report to the governor's office and fiscal committees of the legislature no later than September 30, 2025. The recommendation shall include how the supplemental payment program can improve the following:
Fiscal support for graduate medical education training;
Access to quality health care services;
The state's ability to ensure that medicaid graduate medical education funding supports the state's workforce development goals; and
Health care access for underserved populations and regions.
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No later than October 1, 2025, the authority shall convene negotiations with representatives of primary care providers to develop budget-neutral, value-based prospective payment methodologies for primary care services provided to apple health enrollees, with the goal of entering into arrangements appropriate to each primary care delivery system no later than calendar year 2027. The authority shall prioritize the development of methodologies that grow capacity to provide comprehensive, whole person care. This includes, but is not limited to, promoting workforce stability, team-based delivery models, accountability for quality outcomes, equity-based care, and improvements in population health.
The authority shall, at a minimum, convene negotiations with representatives of the statewide associations representing the following categories of providers to develop budget-neutral payment methodologies that maximize access and quality for medicaid patients and are appropriate to their respective primary care delivery systems:
Family physicians;
Pediatricians; and
Federally qualified health centers.
$1,724,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $4,345,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $6,068,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the authority in coordination with the department of social and health services to develop and implement a Katie Beckett section 1115 demonstration waiver. The authority shall limit enrollment to 1,000 clients during the waiver period. Based upon the experience developed during the waiver period, the authority shall make recommendations to the legislature for a future tax equity and fiscal responsibility act state plan option.
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Sufficient amounts are appropriated in this section for the qualified medicare beneficiary program. The authority shall reduce the eligibility threshold for the qualified medicare beneficiary program to up to 100 percent of the federal poverty level.
The authority may adopt any rules necessary to administer this subsection. Nothing in this subsection limits the authority's existing rule-making authority related to medicare savings programs.
$200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the authority to contract with a managed care organization for an enhanced case management pilot program to expand resources for patients with post-acute care transitions. The managed care organization must cover the largest number of apple health clients in the state and implement the pilot program with a hospital in Columbia county. The pilot program must provide continuous support for 31 days post-discharge including, but not limited to:
Transportation;
Transitional housing assistance;
Rehabilitation referrals and coordination;
Safety net program navigation and enrollment;
Transitional primary care; and
24-hour clinic phone support.
$50,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $50,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 1686 (health care entity registry). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$111,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $810,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for implementation of Substitute Senate Bill No. 1392 (medicaid access program). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$165,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $165,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the authority, in consultation with tribes as required under 42 C.F.R. Sec. 431.408(b), to apply for a section 1115 waiver no later than December 31, 2025, to provide coverage of traditional health care practices.
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$150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for one-time bridge grants to hospitals in financial distress or at risk of limiting access to labor and delivery services due to a low-volume of deliveries at the hospital.
To qualify for these grants, a hospital must:
Be located in Washington and not be part of a system of three or more hospitals;
Serve individuals enrolled in state and federal medical assistance programs;
Continue to maintain a medicaid population at similar utilization levels as the most current complete calendar year data;
Be necessary for an adequate provider network for the medicaid program;
Demonstrate a plan for long-term financial sustainability; and
Be at risk of limiting access to labor and delivery services due to a low-volume of deliveries at the hospital as defined in (c)(i) and (ii) of this subsection.
The funds must be distributed in grant amounts not to exceed $150,000 per hospital to a hospital that:
Has had fewer than 200 births funded by medicaid in the hospital's labor and delivery unit in the previous calendar year according to health care authority records; and
Is located in a municipality with a population between 9,000 and 12,000.
$330,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $330,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $786,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely to comply with federal eligibility rule changes required by the centers for medicare and medicaid services and funding is subject to the conditions, limitations, and review requirements of section 701 of this act.
FOR THE STATE HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY—EMPLOYEE AND RETIREE BENEFITS PROGRAM
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
Any savings from reduced claims costs must be reserved for funding benefits during future fiscal biennia and may not be used for administrative expenses. The health care authority shall deposit any moneys received on behalf of the uniform medical plan resulting from rebates on prescription drugs, audits of hospitals, subrogation payments, or any other moneys received as a result of prior uniform medical plan claims payments, in the public employees' and retirees' insurance account to be used for insurance benefits.
Any changes to benefits must be approved by the applicable program board. Neither board shall make any changes to benefits without considering a comprehensive analysis of the cost of those changes, and shall not increase benefits unless offsetting cost reductions from other benefit revisions are sufficient to fund the changes. The public employees' benefits board shall not make any change in retiree eligibility criteria that reestablishes eligibility for enrollment in retiree benefits.
Except as may be provided in a health care bargaining agreement pursuant to RCW 41.80.020, to provide benefits within the level of funding provided in part IX of this bill, the public employees' benefits board and the school employees' benefits board shall require employee premium copayments, increases in point-of-service cost sharing, or the implementation of managed competition, or make other change to benefits consistent with RCW 41.05.065.
The board shall collect a surcharge payment of $25 per month from members who use tobacco products, and a surcharge payment of not less than $50 per month from members who cover a spouse or domestic partner where the spouse or domestic partner has chosen not to enroll in another employer-based group health insurance that has benefits and premiums with an actuarial value of not less than 95 percent of the actuarial value of the public employees' benefits board plan with the largest enrollment. The surcharge payments shall be collected in addition to the member premium payment.
FOR THE STATE HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY—HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
The receipt and use of medicaid funds provided to the health benefit exchange from the health care authority are subject to compliance with state and federal regulations and policies governing the Washington apple health programs, including timely and proper application, eligibility, and enrollment procedures.
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By July 15th, October 15th, and January 15th of each year, the authority shall make a payment of 30 percent of the general fund—state appropriation, 30 percent of the health benefit exchange account—state appropriation, and 30 percent of the health care affordability account—state appropriation to the exchange. By April 15th of each year, the authority shall make a payment of 10 percent of the general fund—state appropriation, 10 percent of the health benefit exchange account—state appropriation, and 10 percent of the health care affordability account—state appropriation to the exchange.
The exchange shall monitor actual to projected revenues and make necessary adjustments in expenditures or carrier assessments to ensure expenditures do not exceed actual revenues.
Payments made from general fund—state appropriation and health benefit exchange account—state appropriation shall be available for expenditure for no longer than the period of the appropriation from which it was made. When the actual cost of materials and services have been fully determined, and in no event later than the lapsing of the appropriation, any unexpended balance of the payment shall be returned to the authority for credit to the fund or account from which it was made, and under no condition shall expenditures exceed actual revenue.
$75,000,000 of the state health care affordability account—state appropriation is provided solely for the exchange to administer a premium assistance program, as established in RCW 43.71.110. An individual is eligible for the premium assistance provided if the individual: (i) Has income up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level; and (ii) meets other eligibility criteria as established in RCW 43.71.110(4)(a).
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$10,000,000 of the state health care affordability account—state appropriation is provided solely to provide premium assistance for customers ineligible for federal premium tax credits who meet the eligibility criteria established in subsection (3)(a) of this section, and is contingent upon continued approval of the applicable waiver described in RCW 43.71.120.
In the event the applicable waiver described in RCW 43.71.120 is suspended, terminated, or otherwise ended, $10,000,000 of the state health care affordability account—state appropriation is provided solely to:
ii. Provide state premium assistance to state program customers who meet the eligibility criteria established in subsection (3) of this section.
The exchange may establish or designate a separate entity to administer the state program. Administration of the state program must include, but is not limited to, establishing requirements for eligibility, continued participation, and carrier payments.
Moneys collected for premiums written on qualified health benefit plans and qualified dental plans offered through the state program must be deposited in the state health care affordability account under RCW 43.71.130, through a procedure established by the exchange that aligns with the requirements of RCW 48.14.0201(5)(b), 48.14.020(2), and 43.71.080.
The exchange, and any entity involved in implementing this program, is subject to RCW 43.17.425.
$1,117,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,182,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, $12,510,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation, and $809,000 of the health benefit exchange account—state appropriation are provided solely to make improvements to healthplanfinder to comply with federal eligibility rules changes required by the centers for medicare and medicaid services and funding is subject to the conditions, limitations, and review requirements of section 701 of this act.
FOR THE STATE HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY—COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
For the purposes of this section, "behavioral health entities" means managed care organizations and behavioral health administrative services organizations that reimburse providers for behavioral health services.
Within the amounts appropriated in this section, funding is provided for implementation of the settlement agreement under Trueblood, et al. v. Department of Social and Health Services, et al., United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Cause No. 14-cv-01178-MJP. In addition to amounts provided solely for implementation of the settlement agreement, class members must have access to supports and services funded throughout this section for which they meet eligibility and medical necessity requirements. The authority must include language in contracts that requires regional behavioral health entities to develop and implement plans for improving access to timely and appropriate treatment for individuals with behavioral health needs and current or prior criminal justice involvement who are eligible for services under these contracts.
$61,636,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $66,816,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $15,804,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely to continue the phase-in of the settlement agreement under Trueblood, et al. v. Department of Social and Health Services, et al., United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Cause No. 14-cv-01178-MJP. The authority, in collaboration with the department of social and health services and the criminal justice training commission, must implement the provisions of the settlement agreement pursuant to the timeline and implementation plan provided for under the settlement agreement. This includes implementing provisions related to competency evaluations, competency restoration, crisis diversion and supports, education and training, and workforce development.
$8,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $8,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to continue diversion grant programs funded through contempt fines pursuant to Trueblood, et al. v. Department of Social and Health Services, et al., United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Cause No. 14-cv-01178-MJP. The authority must consult with the plaintiffs and court monitor to determine, within the amounts provided, which of the programs will continue to receive funding through this appropriation. The programs shall use this funding to provide assessments, mental health treatment, substance use disorder treatment, case management, employment, and other social services.
$18,891,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $18,561,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $41,062,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the authority and behavioral health entities to continue to contract for implementation of high-intensity programs for assertive community treatment (PACT) teams. In determining the proportion of medicaid and nonmedicaid funding provided to behavioral health entities with PACT teams, the authority shall consider the differences between behavioral health entities in the percentages of services and other costs associated with the teams that are not reimbursable under medicaid. The authority may allow behavioral health entities which have nonmedicaid reimbursable costs that are higher than the nonmedicaid allocation they receive under this section to supplement these funds with local dollars or funds received under subsection (7) of this section. The authority and behavioral health entities shall maintain consistency with all essential elements of the PACT evidence-based practice model in programs funded under this section.
$1,668,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,668,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $3,040,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the authority to maintain a pilot project to incorporate peer bridging staff into behavioral health regional teams that provide transitional services to individuals returning to their communities.
$147,449,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $147,449,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for persons and services not covered by the medicaid program. To the extent possible, levels of behavioral health entity spending must be maintained in the following priority order: Crisis and commitment services; community inpatient services; and residential care services, including personal care and emergency housing assistance. These amounts must be distributed to behavioral health entities as follows:
$132,924,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $132,924,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the authority to contract with behavioral health administrative service organizations for behavioral health treatment services not covered under the medicaid program.
$14,524,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $14,525,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the authority to contract with medicaid managed care organizations for wraparound services to medicaid enrolled individuals that are not covered under the medicaid program.
The authority is authorized to continue to contract directly, rather than through contracts with behavioral health entities for children's long-term inpatient facility services.
$2,600,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,639,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to reimburse counties for the cost of conducting involuntary act judicial proceedings as follows:
$1,025,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,025,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to reimburse Pierce county for the cost of conducting 180-day commitment hearings at the state psychiatric hospitals.
$504,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $504,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to reimburse Spokane county for the cost of conducting 180-day commitment hearings at the state psychiatric hospitals.
$171,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $210,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to reimburse Thurston county for the cost of conducting 180-day commitment hearings at the Maple Lane facility.
$900,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $900,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to reimburse either King county or other legal services organizations, or both, for the cost of conducting involuntary treatment act commitment hearings at facilities operating within King county. These amounts must be prioritized for the cost of conducting 180-day commitment hearings at state-operated facilities including facilities operated by the department of social and health services and the University of Washington center for behavioral health and learning. Any remaining amounts may be used to reimburse either King county or other legal services organizations for the cost of other involuntary treatment act commitment hearings provided in other facilities within King county.
Behavioral health entities may use local funds to earn additional federal medicaid match, provided the locally matched rate does not exceed the upper-bound of their federally allowable rate range, and provided that the enhanced funding is used only to provide medicaid state plan or waiver services to medicaid clients. Additionally, behavioral health entities may use a portion of the state funds allocated in accordance with subsection (7) of this section to earn additional medicaid match, but only to the extent that the application of such funds to medicaid services does not diminish the level of crisis and commitment, community inpatient, residential care, and outpatient services presently available to persons not eligible for medicaid.
$2,062,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,062,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for mental health services for mentally ill offenders while confined in a county or city jail and for facilitating access to programs that offer mental health services upon release from confinement. The authority must collect information from the behavioral health entities on their plan for using these funds, the numbers of individuals served, and the types of services provided.
Within the amounts appropriated in this section, funding is provided for the authority to develop and phase in intensive mental health services for high needs youth consistent with the settlement agreement in T.R. v. Dreyfus and Porter.
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The authority must establish minimum and maximum funding levels for all reserves allowed under behavioral health administrative service organization contracts and include contract language that clearly states the requirements and limitations. The reserve levels must be informed by the types of risk carried by behavioral health administrative service organizations for mandatory services and also consider reasonable levels of operating reserves. The authority must monitor and ensure that behavioral health administrative service organization reserves do not exceed maximum levels. The authority must monitor revenue and expenditure reports and must require a behavioral health administrative service organization to submit a corrective action plan on how it will spend its excess reserves within a reasonable period of time, when its reported reserves exceed maximum levels established under the contract. The authority must review and approve such plans and monitor to ensure compliance. If the authority determines that a behavioral health administrative service organization has failed to provide an adequate excess reserve corrective action plan or is not complying with an approved plan, the authority must reduce payments to the entity in accordance with remedial actions provisions included in the contract. These reductions in payments must continue until the authority determines that the entity has come into substantial compliance with an approved excess reserve corrective action plan. The authority must submit to the office of financial management and the appropriate committees of the legislature, each December of the biennium, the minimum and maximum reserve levels established in contract for each of the behavioral health administrative service organizations for the prior fiscal year and the actual reserve levels reported at the end of the fiscal year.
In contracts effective during the fiscal biennium, the authority must allow behavioral health administrative services organizations flexibility in utilizing reserve funding received pursuant to a specific legislative proviso in a prior contract period. Funding repurposed under this subsection must be used to support the duties of the administrative services organization under RCW 71.24.045 through programs serving individuals with severe and persistent behavioral health conditions and behavioral health services that promote stability and recovery within their regional service area. A behavioral health administrative services organization that wishes to repurpose reserve funding must notify the authority in advance and the authority may require modification of the plan if it determines that the behavioral health administrative services organization has not made a good faith effort to implement prior funding for the purpose for which it was originally provided.
Within the amounts provided in this section, behavioral health entities must provide outpatient chemical dependency treatment for offenders enrolled in the medicaid program who are supervised by the department of corrections pursuant to a term of community supervision. Contracts with behavioral health entities must require that behavioral health entities include in their provider network specialized expertise in the provision of manualized, evidence-based chemical dependency treatment services for offenders. The department of corrections and the authority must develop a memorandum of understanding for department of corrections offenders on active supervision who are medicaid eligible and meet medical necessity for outpatient substance use disorder treatment. The agreement will ensure that treatment services provided are coordinated, do not result in duplication of services, and maintain access and quality of care for the individuals being served. The authority must provide all necessary data, access, and reports to the department of corrections for all department of corrections offenders that receive medicaid paid services.
The criminal justice treatment account—state appropriation is provided solely for treatment and treatment support services for offenders with a substance use disorder pursuant to RCW 71.24.580. The authority must offer counties the option to administer their share of the distributions provided for under RCW 71.24.580(5)(a). If a county is not interested in administering the funds, the authority shall contract with behavioral health entities to administer these funds consistent with the plans approved by local panels pursuant to RCW 71.24.580(5)(b).
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$11,590,000 of the dedicated cannabis account—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $11,590,000 of the dedicated cannabis account—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for:
A memorandum of understanding with the department of children, youth, and families to provide substance abuse treatment programs;
A contract with the Washington state institute for public policy to conduct a cost-benefit evaluation of the implementations of chapter 3, Laws of 2013 (Initiative Measure No. 502);
Designing and administering the Washington state healthy youth survey and the Washington state young adult behavioral health survey;
Maintaining increased services to pregnant and parenting women provided through the parent child assistance program;
Maintaining increased prevention and treatment service provided by tribes and federally recognized American Indian organization to children and youth;
Maintaining increased residential treatment services for children and youth;
Training and technical assistance for the implementation of evidence-based, research based, and promising programs which prevent or reduce substance use disorder;
Expenditures into the home visiting services account; and
ix. Grants to community-based programs that provide prevention services or activities to youth.
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$1,125,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,125,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 is provided solely for Spokane behavioral health entities to implement services to reduce utilization and the census at eastern state hospital. Such services must include:
High intensity treatment team for persons who are high utilizers of psychiatric inpatient services, including those with co-occurring disorders and other special needs;
Crisis outreach and diversion services to stabilize in the community individuals in crisis who are at risk of requiring inpatient care or jail services;
Mental health services provided in nursing facilities to individuals with dementia, and consultation to facility staff treating those individuals; and
Services at the 16-bed evaluation and treatment facility.
At least annually, the Spokane county behavioral health entities shall assess the effectiveness of these services in reducing utilization at eastern state hospital, identify services that are not optimally effective, and modify those services to improve their effectiveness.
$1,850,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,850,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $13,312,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for substance use disorder peer support services included in behavioral health capitation rates in accordance with section 213(5)(ss), chapter 299, Laws of 2018. The authority shall require managed care organizations to provide access to peer support services for individuals with substance use disorders transitioning from emergency departments, inpatient facilities, or receiving treatment as part of hub and spoke networks.
$26,910,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $26,910,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, $1,000,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation, and $8,100,000 of the opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation are provided solely to maintain activities to improve outcomes for individuals with behavioral health issues interacting with law enforcement. Of these amounts:
$850,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $850,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, $1,000,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation, and $3,600,000 of the opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation are provided solely for the authority to maintain a memorandum of understanding with the criminal justice training commission to provide funding for community grants pursuant to RCW 36.28A.450.
$22,050,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $22,050,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the authority to contract with behavioral health administrative service organizations to implement the statewide recovery navigator program established in chapter 311, Laws of 2021 (ESB 5476) and for related technical assistance to support this implementation. This includes funding for recovery navigator teams to provide community-based outreach and case management services based on the law enforcement assisted diversion model and for technical assistance support from the law enforcement assisted diversion national support bureau. The authority and technical assistance contractor must encourage recovery navigator programs to provide educational information and outreach regarding recovery navigator program services to local retailers that have high levels of retail theft. Of the amounts provided in this subsection (19)(b):
$1,800,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,800,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 must be allocated to maintain recovery navigator services in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. These amounts must be in addition to the proportion of the allocation of the remaining funds in this subsection the regional behavioral health administrative services organizations serving those counties were allocated pursuant to section 22(1), chapter 311, Laws of 2021.
$2,250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for expanding recovery navigator program services in regions where fiscal year 2026 projected expenditures will exceed revenues provided under this subsection. In allocating these amounts, the authority must prioritize regions where the combined fiscal year recovery navigator program allocations and recovery navigator program reserve balances are inadequate to cover estimated fiscal year expenditures.
$1,260,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,260,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for behavioral health administrative service organizations to develop regional recovery navigator program plans pursuant to chapter 311, Laws of 2021 (ESB 5476), and to establish positions focusing on regional planning to improve access to and quality of regional behavioral health services with a focus on integrated care.
$4,500,000 of the opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation is provided solely for the authority to maintain funding for ongoing grants to law enforcement assisted diversion under RCW 71.24.590.
$2,250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the authority to maintain funding for ongoing grants to law enforcement assisted diversion programs outside of King county under RCW 71.24.590.
$500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the authority to contract with the University of Washington addictions, drug, and alcohol institute. This funding must be used for advanced, evidence-based training for law enforcement to improve interactions with individuals who use drugs. The training must be developed so it can be adapted and used statewide to decrease stigmatizing beliefs among law enforcement through positive contact with people who use drugs and improve officer well-being and effectiveness by providing skills and techniques to address the drug overdose epidemic. The institute must develop and refine this training, leveraging prior work, and in partnership with a steering committee that includes people with lived or living experience of substance use disorder and criminal legal involvement, researchers, clinicians, law enforcement officers, and others. The training must complement, but not duplicate, existing curricula already provided by the criminal justice training commission. The institute must pilot the advanced training in a subset of regional law enforcement agencies and evaluate its acceptability and feasibility through participant interviews and pretraining and posttraining ratings of stigmatizing beliefs. The institute must incorporate feedback from the pilot training sessions into a final training program that it must make available to law enforcement agencies across the state.
$1,875,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,875,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, $350,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation, and $5,400,000 of the opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation are provided solely for the authority to continue to provide support for recovery residences. Of these amounts:
$75,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $75,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $350,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely to contract with a nationally recognized recovery residence organization and to provide technical assistance to operators of recovery residences seeking certification in accordance with chapter 264, Laws of 2019 (2SHB 1528).
$1,800,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,800,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $5,400,000 of the opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation are provided solely for the authority to provide grants for the operational costs of new staffed recovery residences which serve individuals with substance use disorders who require more support than a level 1 recovery residence.
$6,510,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $6,510,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, $21,602,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation, and $3,500,000 of the opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation are provided solely for support of clubhouse programs across the state. The authority shall work with the centers for medicare and medicaid services to review opportunities to include clubhouse services as an optional "in lieu of" service in managed care organization contracts in order to maximize federal participation.
$708,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $708,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $1,598,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for implementing mental health peer respite centers and a pilot project to implement a mental health drop-in center in accordance with chapter 324, Laws of 2019 (2SHB 1394).
$446,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $446,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $178,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the University of Washington's evidence-based practice institute which supports the identification, evaluation, and implementation of evidence-based or promising practices. The institute must work with the authority to develop a plan to seek private, federal, or other grant funding in order to reduce the need for state general funds.
As an element of contractual network adequacy requirements and reporting, the authority shall direct managed care organizations to make all reasonable efforts to develop or maintain contracts with provider networks that leverage local, federal, or philanthropic funding to enhance effectiveness of medicaid-funded integrated care services. These networks must promote medicaid clients' access to a system of services that addresses additional social support services and social determinants of health as defined in RCW 43.20.025 in a manner that is integrated with the delivery of behavioral health and medical treatment services.
In establishing, re-basing, enhancing, or otherwise updating medicaid rates for behavioral health services, the authority and contracted actuaries shall use a transparent process that provides an opportunity for medicaid managed care organizations, behavioral health administrative service organizations, and behavioral health provider agencies, and their representatives, to review and provide data and feedback on proposed rate changes within their region or regions of service operation. The authority and contracted actuaries shall transparently incorporate the information gained from this process and make adjustments allowable under federal law when appropriate.
The authority shall seek input from representatives of the managed care organizations (MCOs), licensed community behavioral health agencies, and behavioral health administrative service organizations to develop specific metrics related to behavioral health outcomes under integrated managed care. These metrics must include, but are not limited to: (a) Revenues and expenditures for community behavioral health programs, including medicaid and nonmedicaid funding; (b) access to services, service denials, and utilization by state plan modality; (c) claims denials and record of timely payment to providers; (d) client demographics; and (e) social and recovery measures and managed care organization performance measures. The authority must work with managed care organizations and behavioral health administrative service organizations to integrate these metrics into an annual reporting structure designed to evaluate the performance of the behavioral health system in the state over time. The authority must submit a report to the office of financial management and the appropriate committees of the legislature, before December 30th of each year during the fiscal biennium, that details the implemented metrics and relevant performance outcomes for the prior calendar year.
The authority must pursue opportunities for shifting state costs to the state's unused allocation of federal institutions for mental disease disproportionate share hospital funding.
$1,250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the authority to contract with the King county behavioral health administrative services organization to maintain children's crisis outreach response system services that were previously funded through the department of children, youth, and families. The authority, in consultation with the behavioral health administrative services organization, medicaid managed care organizations, and the actuaries responsible for developing medicaid managed care rates, must work to maximize federal funding provided for the children's crisis outreach response system program.
$12,435,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $13,015,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $25,250,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the community children's long-term inpatient program. The number of beds is increased on a phased in basis to 62 beds by the end of fiscal year 2026 at a bed day rate of $1,121 per day.
$300,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation is provided solely for training of behavioral health consumer advocates. The authority must enter into a memorandum of understanding with the department of commerce to provide support for training of behavioral health consumer advocates pursuant to chapter 202, Laws of 2021 (E2SHB 1086).
$54,296,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $56,125,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $88,978,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the authority to contract with community hospitals or freestanding evaluation and treatment centers to provide long-term inpatient care beds as defined in RCW 71.24.025. Within these amounts, the authority must meet the requirements for reimbursing counties for the judicial services for patients being served in these settings in accordance with RCW 71.05.730. The authority must coordinate with the department of social and health services in developing the contract requirements, selecting contractors, and establishing processes for identifying patients that will be admitted to these facilities. Of the amounts in this subsection, sufficient amounts are provided for the authority to reimburse community hospitals and nonhospital residential treatment centers serving clients in long-term inpatient care beds as defined in RCW 71.24.025 as follows:
For a hospital licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW that requires a hospital specific medicaid inpatient psychiatric per diem payment rate for long-term civil commitment patients because the hospital has completed a medicare cost report, the authority shall analyze the most recent medicare cost report of the hospital after a minimum of 200 medicaid inpatient psychiatric days. The authority shall establish the inpatient psychiatric per diem payment rate for long-term civil commitment patients for the hospital at 100 percent of the allowable cost of care, based on the most recent medicare cost report of the hospital.
For a hospital licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW that has not completed a medicare cost report with more than 200 medicaid inpatient psychiatric days, the authority shall establish the medicaid inpatient psychiatric per diem payment rate for long-term civil commitment patients for the hospital at the higher of the hospital's current medicaid inpatient psychiatric rate; or the annually updated statewide average of the medicaid inpatient psychiatric per diem payment rate of all acute care hospitals licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW providing long-term civil commitment services.
For a hospital licensed under chapter 71.12 RCW and currently providing long-term civil commitment services, the authority shall establish the medicaid inpatient psychiatric per diem payment rate at $1,250 plus adjustments that may be needed to capture costs associated with long-term psychiatric patients that are not allowable on the medicare cost report or reimbursed separately. The hospital may provide the authority with supplemental data to be considered and used to make appropriate adjustments to the medicaid inpatient psychiatric per diem payment rate of the hospital. Adjustment of costs may include:
Costs associated with professional services and fees not accounted for in the hospital's medicare cost report or reimbursed separately;
Costs associated with the hospital providing the long-term psychiatric patient access to involuntary treatment court services that are not reimbursed separately; and
Other costs associated with caring for long-term psychiatric patients that are not reimbursed separately.
For a hospital licensed under chapter 71.12 RCW that requires an initial medicaid inpatient psychiatric per diem payment rate for long-term civil commitment services because it has not yet completed a medicare cost report, the authority shall establish the medicaid inpatient psychiatric per diem payment rate at the higher of:
The hospital's current medicaid inpatient psychiatric rate; or
The annually updated statewide average of the medicaid long-term inpatient psychiatric per diem payment rate of all freestanding psychiatric hospitals licensed under chapter 71.12 RCW providing long-term civil commitment services.
For nonhospital residential treatment centers certified to provide long-term inpatient care beds as defined in RCW 71.24.025, the authority shall establish the medicaid psychiatric per diem payment rate at $1,250 per bed.
The authority shall pay a rate enhancement of $500 per day for patients committed pursuant to the dismissal of criminal charges and a civil evaluation ordered under RCW 10.77.086 or 10.77.088. The enhancement shall be available to all hospital and nonhospital facilities providing services under this subsection except those whose rates are set at 100 percent of their most recent medicare cost report.
The authority may pay a rate enhancement of $500 per day for individuals with complex medical needs, challenging behaviors often diagnosed with co-occurring intellectual or developmental disability, traumatic brain injury, dementia, or significant medical issues requiring personal care. The rate enhancement shall be available to providers contracting directly with the authority.
Provider payments for vacant bed days shall not exceed six percent of their annual contracted bed days.
$150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a one-time grant to Island county to maintain support for a pilot program to improve behavioral health outcomes for young people in rural communities. In administering the pilot program, Island county shall coordinate with school districts, community groups, and health care providers to increase access to behavioral health programs for children and youth aged birth to 24 years of age. The grant funds shall be used to coordinate and expand behavioral health services. The grant funding must not be used to supplant funding from existing programs. No more than 10 percent of the funds may be used for administrative costs incurred by Island county in administering the program. Services that may be provided with the grant funding include, but are not limited to:
Support for children and youth with significant behavioral health needs to address learning loss caused by COVID-19 and remote learning;
School based behavioral health education, assessment, and brief treatment;
Screening and referral of children and youth to long-term treatment services;
Behavioral health supports provided by community agencies serving youth year-round;
Expansion of mental health first aid, a program designed to prepare adults who regularly interact with youth for how to help people in both crisis and noncrisis mental health situations;
Peer support services; and
Compensation for the incurred costs of clinical supervisors and internships.
$494,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $494,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $988,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the authority to contract with the University of Washington's project extension for community health outcomes (ECHO) and the systemic, therapeutic, assessment, resources, and treatment (START) programs for specialized training and consultation for physicians and professionals to support:
Children with developmental disabilities and behavioral health needs;
Applied behavior analysis provider training, education, and consultation; and
The screening and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.
$2,366,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation and $2,366,000 of the general fund—local appropriation are provided solely for supported housing and employment services described in initiative 3a and 3b of the 1115 demonstration waiver and this is the maximum amount that may be expended for this purpose. Within these amounts, funding is provided for the authority to support community discharge efforts for patients at the state hospitals. Under this initiative, the authority and the department of social and health services shall ensure that allowable and necessary services are provided to eligible clients as identified by the authority or its providers or third party administrator. The department and the authority in consultation with the medicaid forecast work group, shall ensure that reasonable reimbursements are established for services deemed necessary within an identified limit per individual. The authority shall not increase general fund—state expenditures above appropriated levels for this specific purpose. The secretary in collaboration with the director of the authority shall report to the joint select committee on health care oversight no less than quarterly on financial and health outcomes. The secretary in cooperation with the director shall also report to the fiscal committees of the legislature the expenditures of this subsection and shall provide such fiscal data in the time, manner, and form requested by the legislative fiscal committees.
Within the amounts provided in this section, sufficient funding is provided for the authority to maintain and increase the capabilities of a tool to track medication assisted treatment provider capacity.
$4,087,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $4,087,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $3,000,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for alternative response and coresponse services. Of the amounts provided in this subsection:
$2,000,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation is provided solely for grants to law enforcement and other first responders to include a mental health professional on the team of personnel responding to emergencies.
$1,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $1,000,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely to support the provision of behavioral health coresponder services on nonlaw enforcement emergency medical response teams.
$2,587,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,587,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the authority to support efforts by counties and cities to implement local response teams. Of these amounts:
$2,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the authority to provide a grant to the association of Washington cities to assist cities with the costs of implementing alternative response teams. This funding must be used to reimburse cities for documented costs associated with creating coresponder teams within different alternative diversion models including law enforcement assisted diversion programs, community assistance referral and education programs, and as part of mobile crisis teams. Cities are encouraged to partner with each other to create a regional response model. In awarding these funds, the association must prioritize applicants with demonstrated capacity for facility-based crisis triage and stabilization services. The association and authority must collect information regarding the number of facility-based crisis stabilization and triage beds available in the locations receiving funding through this subsection.
$587,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $587,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to support the Whatcom county alternative response team.
$2,404,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $2,637,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $6,815,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the authority to contract for long-term involuntary treatment services in a 16-bed residential treatment facility developed by the Tulalip tribe in Stanwood.
$956,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $956,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for wraparound with intensive services for youth ineligible for medicaid as outlined in the settlement agreement under AGC v. Washington State Health Care Authority, Thurston county superior court no. 21-2-00479-34.
$16,004,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $16,004,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for claims for services rendered to medicaid eligible clients admitted to institutions of mental disease that were determined to be unallowable for federal reimbursement due to medicaid's institutions for mental disease exclusion rules.
$6,010,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $6,010,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $1,980,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the authority, in coordination with the department of health, to deploy an opioid awareness campaign and to contract with syringe service programs and other service settings assisting people with substance use disorders to: Prevent and respond to overdoses; provide other harm reduction services and supplies, including but not limited to distributing naloxone; fentanyl testing and other drug testing supplies; and for expanding contingency management services. The authority is encouraged to use these funds to leverage federal funding for this purpose to expand buying power when possible. The authority should prioritize funds for naloxone in coordination with the department of health, to expand the distribution of naloxone through the department's overdose education and naloxone distribution program. Funding must be prioritized to fill naloxone access gaps in community behavioral health and other community settings, including providing naloxone for agency staff in organizations such as syringe service programs, housing providers, and street outreach programs. Of the amounts provided in this subsection, $1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the authority to deploy an opioid awareness campaign targeted at youth to increase the awareness of the dangers of fentanyl.
$2,148,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,148,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to support individuals enrolled in the foundational community supports initiative who are transitioning from benefits under RCW 74.04.805 due to increased income or other changes in eligibility. The authority, department of social and health services, and department of commerce shall collaborate on this effort.
$26,434,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $26,309,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, $4,464,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation, and $4,000,000 of the opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation are provided solely to support the housing needs of individuals with behavioral health disorders. Of the amounts provided in this subsection:
$988,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $988,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $618,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the authority to contract for three regional behavioral health mobile crisis response teams focused on supported housing to prevent individuals with behavioral health conditions at high risk of losing housing from becoming homeless, identify and prioritize serving the most vulnerable people experiencing homelessness, and increase alternative housing options to include short-term alternatives which may temporarily deescalate situations where there is high risk of a household from becoming homeless.
$5,623,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $5,623,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $3,748,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely to maintain and expand access to no barrier, and low-barrier programs using a housing first model designed to assist and stabilize housing supports for adults with behavioral health conditions. Housing supports and services shall be made available with no requirement for treatment for their behavioral health condition and must be individualized to the needs of the individual. The authority and department of commerce shall collaborate on this effort.
$337,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $337,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a rental voucher and bridge program and to implement strategies to reduce instances where an individual leaves a state operated behavioral or private behavioral health facility directly into homelessness. The authority must prioritize this funding for individuals being discharged from state operated behavioral health facilities.
$2,487,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,487,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for short-term rental subsidies for individuals with mental health or substance use disorders. This funding may be used for individuals enrolled in the foundational community support program while waiting for a longer term resource for rental support or for individuals transitioning from behavioral health treatment facilities or local jails. Individuals who would otherwise be eligible for the foundational community support program but are not eligible because of their citizenship status may also be served. Each December of the fiscal biennium, the authority must submit a report identifying the expenditures and number of individuals receiving short-term rental supports through the agency budget during the prior fiscal year broken out by region, treatment need, and the demographics of those served, including but not limited to age, country of origin within racial/ethnic categories, gender, and immigration status.
$4,211,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $4,211,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a targeted grant program to three behavioral health administrative services organizations to transition persons who are either being diverted from criminal prosecution to behavioral health treatment services or are in need of housing upon discharge from crisis stabilization services.
$3,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $3,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $4,000,000 of the opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation are provided solely for the authority to provide short-term housing vouchers for individuals with substance use disorders.
$7,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $7,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the authority to implement homeless outreach stabilization teams pursuant to chapter 311, Laws of 2021 (ESB 5476).
$2,278,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $2,153,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $98,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for implementing a postinpatient housing program designed for young adults in accordance with the provisions of chapter 175, Laws of 2024 (2SHB 1929).
$361,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $361,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $482,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the authority, in collaboration with the department of social and health services research and data analysis division, to implement community behavioral health service data into the existing executive management information system. Of these amounts, $288,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $288,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $384,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the authority to reimburse the research and data analysis division for staff costs associated with this project. The data elements shall be incorporated into the monthly executive management information system reports on a phased-in basis, allowing for elements which are readily available to be incorporated in the initial phase, and elements which require further definition and data collection changes to be incorporated in a later phase. The authority must collaborate with the research and data analysis division to ensure data elements are clearly defined and must include requirements in medicaid managed care organization and behavioral health administrative services organization contracts to provide the data in a consistent and timely manner for inclusion into the system. The community behavioral health executive management system information data elements must include, but are not limited to: Psychiatric inpatient bed days; evaluation and treatment center bed days; long-term involuntary community psychiatric inpatient bed days; children's long-term inpatient bed days; substance use disorder inpatient, residential, withdrawal evaluation and management, and secure withdrawal evaluation and management bed days; crisis triage and stabilization services bed days; mental health residential bed days; mental health and substance use disorder outpatient treatment services; opioid substitution and medication assisted treatment services; program of assertive treatment team services; wraparound with intensive services; mobile outreach crisis services; recovery navigator team services; foundational community supports housing and employment services; projects for assistance in transition from homelessness services; housing and recovery through peer services; other housing services administered by the authority; mental health and substance use disorder peer services; designated crisis responder investigations and outcomes; involuntary commitment hearings and outcomes; pregnant and parenting women case management services; and single bed certifications and no available bed reports. Wherever possible and practical, the data must include historical monthly counts and shall be broken out to distinguish services to medicaid and nonmedicaid individuals and children and adults. The authority and the research and data analysis division must consult with the office of financial management and staff from the fiscal committees of the legislature on the development and implementation of the community behavioral health data elements.
$178,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $58,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $1,000,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the authority to continue development and implementation of the certified community behavioral health clinic model for comprehensive behavioral health services. Funding must be used to secure actuarial expertise, conduct research into national data and other state models, including obtaining resources and expertise from the national council for mental well-being certified community behavioral health clinic success center; and engage stakeholders, including representatives of licensed community behavioral health agencies and medicaid managed care organizations, in the process. The authority must provide a report to the office of financial management and the appropriate committees of the legislature with findings, recommendations, and cost estimates by December 1, 2025. The study must build on the preliminary report submitted to the legislature in December 2024 and include:
Overviews of options and considerations for implementing the certified community behavioral health clinic model within Washington state, including participation as a certified community behavioral health clinic demonstration state or for independent statewide implementation;
An analysis of the impact of expanding the certified community behavioral health clinic model on the state's behavioral health systems;
Relevant federal regulations and options to implement the certified community behavioral health clinic model under those regulations;
Options for implementing a prospective payment system methodology;
An analysis of the benefits and potential challenges for integrating the certified community behavioral health clinic reimbursement model within an integrated care environment;
Actuarial analysis on the costs for implementing the certified community behavioral health clinic model, including opportunities for leveraging federal funding; and
Recommendations to the legislature on a pathway for statewide implementation including a plan for implementation no later than fiscal year 2027 that must include the following:
Implementation of the certified community behavioral health clinic model with clinics that adhere to the program standards under the federal substance abuse and mental health services administration demonstration program established under section 223 of the federal protecting access to medicare act of 2014 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a note), as amended by the bipartisan safer communities act (P.L. 117-159);
Incorporation in the planned funding model of at least one of the prospective payment system methodologies approved by the centers for medicare and medicaid services;
The plan may allow for the certified community behavioral health clinic funding model to be implemented either by applying for and joining the federal demonstration program referenced in (g)(i) of this subsection, applying to the centers for medicare and medicaid services for a medicaid state plan waiver or amendment, or both;
Continued consultation with the national council for mental wellbeing's certified community behavioral health clinic success center for technical assistance and meaningful opportunities for community behavioral health agencies to participate and offer feedback throughout the implementation process; and
Inclusion of services to children, youth, and families through the certified community behavioral health clinic funding model through providers that serve individuals of all ages as well as specialty providers that serve children, youth, and families.
$150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the authority to renew a contract with a Seattle based nonprofit organization with experience matching voluntary specialty care providers with patients in need of care to continue established pro bono counseling and behavioral health services to uninsured and underinsured individuals with incomes below 300 percent of the federal poverty line. The authority must provide the funding pursuant to a contract for documented capacity-building to continue pro bono counseling and behavioral health services. The agreement may require the contracted organization to seek, document, and report to the authority on efforts to leverage local, federal, or philanthropic funding to provide sustained operational support for the program.
$219,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $219,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to continue to support the children and youth behavioral health work group to consider and develop longer term strategies and recommendations regarding the delivery of behavioral health services for children, transitioning youth, and their caregivers pursuant to chapter 76, Laws of 2022 (2SHB 1890).
$250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the authority to continue a contract to provide information and support related to safe housing and support services for youth exiting inpatient mental health and/or substance use disorder facilities to stakeholders, inpatient treatment facilities, young people, and other community providers that serve unaccompanied youth and young adults.
$3,322,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $3,322,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, $1,814,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation, and $5,248,000 of the opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation are provided solely for the authority to contract with opioid treatment providers to operate mobile methadone units to address treatment gaps statewide. Within the amounts provided, the authority must provide service support subsidies to all mobile methadone units including those that began operations prior to fiscal year 2024. The authority must work with the actuaries responsible for setting medicaid managed care rates to explore options for creating a specific rate for mobile medication units that reflects the unique costs of these programs.
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$5,753,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $5,753,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the authority to continue a program with coverage comparable to the amount, duration, and scope of care provided in the categorically needy medicaid program for adult individuals who:
Have an immigration status making them ineligible for federal medicaid or federal subsidies through the health benefit exchange;
Are age 19 and older, including over age 65, and have countable income of up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level; and
Are not eligible for another full scope federally funded medical assistance program, including any expansion of medicaid coverage for deferred action for childhood arrivals recipients.
Within the amount provided in this subsection, the authority shall use the same eligibility, enrollment, redetermination and renewal, and appeals procedures as categorically needy medicaid, except where flexibility is necessary to maintain privacy or minimize burden to applicants or enrollees.
The authority in collaboration with the health benefit exchange, the department of social and health services, and community organizations must develop and implement an outreach and education campaign.
The authority must provide the following information to the governor's office and appropriate committees of the legislature by February 1st and November 1st of each year:
Actual and forecasted expenditures;
Actual and forecasted data from the caseload forecast council; and
The availability and impact of any federal program or proposed rule that expands access to health care for the population described in this subsection, such as the expansion of medicaid coverage for deferred action for childhood arrivals recipients.
The amount provided in this subsection is the maximum amount that may be expended for the purposes of this program.
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$14,151,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $14,151,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $35,582,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely to maintain services to medicaid and state funded clients in behavioral health residential treatment facilities.
Within the amounts provided in this subsection, $125,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $125,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the authority to reimburse the department of social and health services for staffing costs related to tracking behavioral health community capacity through the community behavioral health executive management information system and providing annual reports on the implementation of new behavioral health community capacity.
The department of commerce, the department of health, and the authority must cooperate with the department of social and health services in collecting and providing the data necessary to incorporate tracking of behavioral health beds into the behavioral health executive management information system and to prepare the required reports. The agencies must work to ensure they are using consistent definitions in classifying behavioral health bed types for the purpose of reporting capacity and utilization.
The authority and the department of social and health services must continue tracking behavioral health bed utilization for medicaid and state funded clients by type of bed in the executive management information system. The department of commerce shall identify to the department of social and health services all providers that have received funding through their capital grant program since the 2013-2015 fiscal biennium. The department of social and health services must incorporate tracking of services by provider including an element to identify providers that have received funding through the capital budget so that reports can be provided related to the average daily client counts for medicaid and state funded clients being served by provider and by facility type.
The department of social and health services, in coordination with the department of commerce, the department of health, and the authority, must submit an annual report each November of the fiscal biennium to the office of financial management and the appropriate committees of the legislature that provides the following information for each facility that has received funding through the capital budget: (i) The amount received by the state and the total project cost; (ii) the facility address; (iii) the number of new beds or additional bed capacity by the service type being provided; (iv) the utilization of the additional beds by medicaid or state funded clients by service type; and (v) a comparison of capacity to demand by service type by geographical region of the state.
$3,045,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $83,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, $172,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation, $5,000,000 of the criminal justice treatment account—state appropriation, and $5,041,000 of the opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation are provided solely for the authority to expand efforts to provide opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder medication in city, county, regional, and tribal jails.
$55,988,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation is provided solely for the authority to contract with the University of Washington behavioral health teaching facility to provide long-term inpatient care beds as defined in RCW 71.24.025. The authority must coordinate with the department of social and health services and the University of Washington to evaluate and determine criteria for the current population of state hospital patients, committed pursuant to the dismissal of criminal charges and a civil evaluation ordered under RCW 10.77.086 or 10.77.088, who can be effectively treated at the University of Washington behavioral health teaching facility.
$95,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $95,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $264,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for implementation of Substitute House Bill No. 1272 (children in crisis program). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$36,306,000 of the statewide 988 behavioral health crisis response line account—state appropriation and $21,410,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the authority to continue to implement the provisions of chapter 454, Laws of 2023 (E2SHB 1134). Within these amounts, sufficient funding is provided for the authority to:
Provide grants to new or existing mobile rapid response teams and to community-based crisis teams to support efforts for meeting the standards and criteria for receiving an endorsement pursuant to provisions of the bill. In awarding grants under this subsection, the authority must prioritize funding for proposals that demonstrate experience and strategies that prioritize culturally relevant services to community members with the least access to behavioral health services;
Expand and enhance regional crisis services provided by mobile crisis teams and community-based crisis teams either endorsed or seeking endorsement pursuant to standards adopted by the authority; and
Provide performance payments to mobile rapid response teams and community-based crisis teams that receive endorsements pursuant to chapter 454, Laws of 2023 (E2SHB 1134).
$500,000 of the opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation is provided solely for Spanish language opioid prevention services.
$16,814,000 of the tribal opioid prevention and treatment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the authority to pass through to tribes and urban Indian health programs for opioid and overdose response activities. The funding must be used for prevention, outreach, treatment, recovery support services, and other strategies to address and mitigate the effects of the misuse and abuse of opioid related products. The authority must provide the tribes and urban Indian health programs the latitude to use the funding as they see fit to benefit their communities, provided the activities are allowable under the terms of the opioid settlement agreements.
Within existing resources, the authority shall collaborate with the department of social and health services to develop a new program for individuals admitted to a state hospital for purposes of civil commitment under RCW 10.77.086. The program must prioritize the use of assisted outpatient treatment resources for eligible individuals and draw upon existing programs, including the program of assertive community treatment and the governor's opportunity for supportive housing program to provide wraparound services for individuals who may be ready to quickly return to the community following an admission.
$6,700,000 of the opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation and $700,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the authority to contract for the support of an opioid recovery and care access center in Seattle. The contractor must be an established Seattle based behavioral health provider that has developed a partnership for the project and has leveraged additional operations and research funding from other sources. The contract is exempt from the competitive procurement requirements in chapter 39.26 RCW.
$2,000,000 of the opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation is provided solely for the authority to increase access to long-acting injectable buprenorphine products. The authority must use these funds to cover the cost and administration of the drug for uninsured individuals that do not qualify for other state or federal health insurance programs.
$5,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for bridge funding grants to community behavioral health agencies participating in federal certified community behavioral health clinic expansion grant programs to sustain their continued level of operations following expiration of federal grant funding during the planning process for adoption of the certified community behavioral health clinic model statewide.
$3,216,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $5,446,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $3,457,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the authority to contract for community behavioral health services to be provided at the Olympic heritage behavioral health facility.
$12,694,000 of the statewide 988 behavioral health crisis response line account—state appropriation is provided solely for establishing grants to crisis services providers to establish and expand 23-hour crisis relief centers authorized under RCW 71.24.916. These amounts must be used to reimburse providers for the cost of providing services for uninsured individuals and costs that are not reimbursable under medicaid and private insurance. The authority must ensure that managed care organizations adhere to contract provisions regarding required services and behavioral health network adequacy standards. The authority must submit a report to the office of financial management and the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2025, with a plan and recommendations for a sustainable funding model for these services that collects appropriate amounts from medicaid managed care organizations and other insurance carriers and identifies the need for on-going behavioral health administrative services organization funding needed for individuals who do not have medicaid or other insurance coverage.
$150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a one-time grant to a nonprofit organization for start-up costs and to provide services to medicaid clients and uninsured clients in a crisis stabilization facility located in Skagit county.
$9,500,000 of the opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation is provided solely for health engagement hub pilot program sites in accordance with the provisions of chapter 1, Laws of 2023 sp. sess. (2E2SSB 5536). The authority may use funding within this subsection to contract for technical assistance and evaluation activities associated with the pilot program.
$328,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $328,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $656,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the authority to implement chapter 360, Laws of 2024 (2SHB 2320).
$2,385,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,385,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the authority to continue contracts with King county, Kitsap county, Tacoma, Everett, and Spokane for street medicine teams that rapidly assess and address the acute and chronic physical and behavioral health needs of homeless people. The teams must offer integrated, team-based medical, mental health, substance use, and infectious disease treatment and prevention, and navigation and case management services.
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$250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $500,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the authority to continue work on the behavioral health comparison rate project, including:
Developing phase 3 comparison rates for all major medicaid managed care behavioral health services not addressed in phase 1 or phase 2 of the behavioral health comparison rates project or through other work streams; and
Preparing to implement a minimum fee schedule for behavioral health services, including developing solutions to resolve any current data and systems limitations.
By October 1, 2025, the authority must provide a final report to the office of financial management and appropriate committees of the legislature that:
Summarizes the new comparison rates developed as part of phase 3;
Updates comparison rates developed in phase 1 and phase 2 for new salary and wage information based on most current bureau of labor statistics data;
Estimates the cost and other impacts to fee-for-service and managed care of incorporating additional behavioral health services developed as part of phase 3 of the behavioral health comparison rates project into a minimum fee schedule effective January 1, 2027;
Identifies planned actions and funding needs, if any, to resolve any remaining limitations to implement the phase 3 minimum fee schedule by January 1, 2027;
Provides additional analysis of variation between the comparison rates developed as part of phase 3 and current payment levels at a service and regional level; and
$300,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the authority to fund the second year of workforce grants to behavioral health agencies contracted with the authority to establish occupational therapy services for behavioral health clients. This funding must be used for establishing and integrating occupational therapy into behavioral health agency programs and operations. Funding may be used for occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant services, recruitment, training, technical assistance, fieldwork opportunities, and for other approved activities targeted to increase access to occupational therapy services within behavioral health agency settings. The authority must submit a final report to the legislature on the number of patients receiving occupational therapy through this initiative, the programs in which services were provided, and the number and type of fieldwork students trained in each participating behavioral health agency program by January 1, 2027.
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$81,542,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $81,713,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $167,792,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for supportive supervision and oversight services pursuant to a 1915(i) state plan amendment. For medicaid clients enrolled in managed care, the authority must contract for these services through managed care organizations utilizing an actuarially sound rate structure as established by the authority and approved by the centers for medicare and medicaid services. The authority may not implement a skills development and restoration benefit until funding is provided for that specific purpose. Within these amounts, funding is provided for:
Implementing supportive supervision and oversight services in adult family home settings in accordance with and contingent upon execution of the collective bargaining agreement negotiated between the state and the adult family homes and referenced in part IX of this act;
Implementing supportive supervision and oversight services in assisted living and enhanced services facilities settings;
Providing reimbursement for the state share of exceptional behavioral health personal care services for individuals who have not transitioned into the new 1915(i) state plan services; and
Administrative costs associated with implementation of the new 1915(i) state plan.
Within the amounts provided in this subsection, the authority must assure that managed care organizations reimburse the department of social and health services aging and long term support administration for the general fund—state cost of exceptional behavioral health personal care services for medicaid enrolled individuals who require these services because of a psychiatric disability.
$1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for grants to tribes to implement the Icelandic model of prevention in their communities.
$3,200,000 of the opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation is provided solely for a tribal opioid prevention campaign to inform and educate tribal communities about opioid misuse prevention, overdose response, and treatment.
$5,242,000 of the opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation is provided solely for the authority to provide grants to providers of employment and educational services to individuals with substance use disorder.
$3,297,000 of the opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation is provided solely for the authority to provide opioid treatment services through new opioid treatment providers that were funded through grants pursuant to chapter 1, Laws of 2023 sp. sess. (controlled substances).
Sufficient funds are provided in this section for the authority to begin, in January 2026, using the state general fund as the nonfederal share of match for substance use disorder services provided to non-American Indian/Alaska Native clients receiving services in a tribal facility.
$764,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $113,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $196,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1813 (medical assistance reprocurement). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$438,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $438,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $284,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for implementation of sections 2 and 3 of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1427 (peer support specialists). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
Within the amounts provided in this section, the authority shall convene a task force composed of representatives from the authority, the department of social and health services, and the office of financial management; representatives of adult family home, assisted living, and enhanced services facility providers that serve individuals through the community behavioral health support program; behavioral health advocates; and other key stakeholders. The task force shall conduct a comprehensive review of services offered through the community behavioral health support program and the residential services waiver program with the goal of creating a draft state plan amendment to improve system-wide efficiencies, data-driven outcomes, and cost-effectiveness.
The review shall include, but not be limited to:
Exploration of opportunities for aligning requirements between the community behavioral health support program and the residential service waiver programs to reduce provider administrative burden and conflicting requirements with specific attention provided to value-based patient-centered purchasing models;
Establishment of uniform oversight and clear expectations when community behavioral health support program and residential service waiver program services overlap;
Creation of a centralized framework for matching participants with complex behavioral health conditions to the most appropriate setting or level of care;
Development of outcome metrics and a practical process for gathering outcomes data such as reductions in hospital readmissions, improved quality of life, and other metrics reflective of community stability;
Identification of opportunities for streamlining or consolidation of programs to reduce overlap, ensure simpler referral pathways, and deliver more consistent services across the state's behavioral health continuum; and
By December 1, 2025, the authority must provide a report to the office of financial management and the appropriate committees of the legislature which includes, but is not limited to:
A matrix of the community behavioral health support program and other programs at the department of social and health services that provide overlapping services to community behavioral health support program clients which includes identification of the number of individuals being served, the average monthly expenditures at each agency, and the differential eligibility and service requirements for the programs;
A summary of the findings and recommendations of the task force;
Specific options identified by the work group for amendment of the community behavioral health support program state plan to reduce provider administrative burden and improve cost-effectiveness and client outcomes; and
Identification of the estimated costs, risks, benefits, and timeline of implementing the identified recommendations and options.
$2,132,000 of the opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation and $570,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the authority to contract for a program that provides Washington state emergency departments with real-time medications for opioid use disorder clinical guidance and follow-up appointment scheduling.
FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
FOR THE BOARD OF INDUSTRIAL INSURANCE APPEALS
FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING COMMISSION
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$5,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $5,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided to the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs solely to verify the address and residency of registered sex offenders and kidnapping offenders under RCW 9A.44.130.
Funding in this section is sufficient for 75 percent of the costs of providing 23 statewide basic law enforcement trainings in each fiscal year 2026 and fiscal year 2027. The criminal justice training commission must schedule its funded classes to minimize wait times throughout each fiscal year and meet statutory wait time requirements. The criminal justice training commission must track and report the average wait time for students at the beginning of each class and provide the findings in an annual report to the legislature due in December of each year. Each year, at least two classes must be held in Spokane, two classes must be held in Vancouver, two classes must be held in Arlington, and two classes must be held in Pasco.
The criminal justice training commission may not run a basic law enforcement academy class of fewer than 30 students.
$2,270,000 of the Washington internet crimes against children account—state appropriation is provided solely for the implementation of chapter 84, Laws of 2015.
$4,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $4,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the mental health field response team program administered by the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs. The association must distribute $7,000,000 in grants to the phase one and phase two regions as outlined in the settlement agreement under Trueblood, et. al. v. Department of Social and Health Services, et. al., U.S. District Court-Western District, Cause No. 14-cv-01178-MJP. The association must submit an annual report to the Governor and appropriate committees of the legislature by September 1st of each year of the biennium. The report shall include best practice recommendations on law enforcement and behavioral health field response and include outcome measures on all grants awarded.
$899,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $899,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for crisis intervention training for the phase one regions as outlined in the settlement agreement under Trueblood, et. al. v. Department of Social and Health Services, et. al., U.S. District Court-Western District, Cause No. 14-cv-01178-MJP.
$1,598,000 of the death investigations account—state appropriation is provided solely for the commission to provide 240 hours of medicolegal forensic investigation training to coroners and medical examiners to meet the recommendations of the national commission on forensic science for certification and accreditation.
$346,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for implementation of chapter 321, Laws of 2021 (officer duty to intervene).
$30,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $30,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for additional grants to local jurisdictions to investigate instances where a purchase or transfer of a firearm was attempted by an individual who is prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm.
$2,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the criminal justice training commission to provide grant funding to local law enforcement agencies to support law enforcement wellness programs. Of the amount provided in this subsection:
$1,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the commission to provide grants to local law enforcement and corrections agencies for the purpose of establishing officer wellness programs. Grants provided under this subsection may be used for, but not limited to building resilience, injury prevention, peer support programs, physical fitness, proper nutrition, stress management, suicide prevention, and physical or behavioral health services. The commission must consult with a representative from the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs and a representative of the Washington state fraternal order of police and the Washington council of police and sheriffs in the development of the grant program.
$1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs to establish and coordinate an online or mobile-based application for any Washington law enforcement officer; 911 operator or dispatcher; and any other current or retired employee of a Washington law enforcement agency, and their families, to anonymously access on-demand wellness techniques, suicide prevention, resilience, physical fitness, nutrition, and other behavioral health and wellness supports.
$290,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $290,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for academy training for limited authority Washington peace officers employed by the Washington state gambling commission, Washington state liquor and cannabis board, Washington state parks and recreation commission, department of natural resources, and the office of the insurance commissioner.
Up to 30 officers must be admitted to attend the basic law enforcement academy and up to 30 officers must be admitted to attend basic law enforcement equivalency academy.
Allocation of the training slots amongst the agencies must be based on the earliest application date to the commission. Training does not need to commence within six months of employment.
The state agencies must reimburse the commission for the actual cost of training.
$1,312,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,306,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $870,000 of the general fund—private/local appropriation are provided solely for the commission to conduct four additional corrections officer academy classes. These classes may be conducted at the corrections officer academy in Burien or at a regional corrections officer academy established by the commission.
$300,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $300,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the administration of the firearms certificate program. The commission will raise the fees for the program so that revenues collected by the program match these increased expenditures.
$710,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $672,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for additional staff to improve the delays in review and investigation of officer certification complaint cases.
Within existing resources, each agency that receives allocations from the Washington auto theft prevention authority account must produce a report detailing its expenditures from the account for fiscal years 2023, 2024, and 2025, including documentation of how expenditures were used in accordance with RCW 46.66.080. The report must include recommendations based on outcomes from prior years' expenditures for how funds from the account can be used to most effectively prevent auto theft. The report must be submitted to the office of financial management and the fiscal committees of the legislature by October 1, 2025.
$12,830,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $12,805,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the implementation of Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 2015 (public safety funding). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse. Of the amounts provided in this subsection, $12,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $12,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for local law enforcement grants to eligible entities as described in chapter 43.101 RCW.
FOR THE OFFICE OF INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIES
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$8,952,000 of the accident account—state appropriation and $8,952,000 of the medical aid account—state appropriation are provided solely for the labor and industries workers' compensation information system replacement project and is subject to the conditions, limitations, and review provided in section 701 of this act. The department must:
Submit quarterly data within 30 calendar days of the end of each quarter on:
(A) Business readiness;
(B) Change readiness;
(C) Commercial off the shelf procurement;
(D) Customer access;
(E) Program foundations;
(F) Independent assessment; and
(G) In total by fiscal year;
ii. All of the quantifiable deliverables accomplished by subprojects identified in (a)(i)(A) through (F) of this subsection and in total and the associated expenditures by each deliverable by fiscal month;
iii. The contract full time equivalent charged by subprojects identified in (a)(i)(A) through (F) of this subsection, and in total, compared to the budget spending plan by month for each contracted vendor and what the ensuing contract equivalent budget spending plan by subprojects identified in (a)(i)(A) through (F) of this subsection, and in total, assumes by fiscal month;
iv. The performance metrics by subprojects identified in (a)(i)(A) through (F) of this subsection, and in total, that are currently used, including monthly performance data; and
v. The risks identified independently by at least the quality assurance vendor and Washington technology solutions, and how the project:
(A) Has mitigated each risk; and
(B) Is working to mitigate each risk, and when it will be mitigated; and
b. Submit the report in (a) of this subsection to fiscal and policy committees of the legislature.
$258,000 of the accident account—state appropriation and $258,000 of the medical aid account—state appropriation are provided solely for the department of labor and industries safety and health assessment research for prevention program to conduct research to prevent the types of work-related injuries that require immediate hospitalization. The department will develop and maintain a tracking system to identify and respond to all immediate in-patient hospitalizations and will examine incidents in defined high-priority areas, as determined from historical data and public priorities. The research must identify and characterize hazardous situations and contributing factors using epidemiological, safety-engineering, and human factors/ergonomics methods. The research must also identify common factors in certain types of workplace injuries that lead to hospitalization. The department must submit a report to the governor and appropriate legislative committees no later than August 30th of each year of the fiscal biennium summarizing work-related immediate hospitalizations and prevention opportunities, actions that employers and workers can take to make workplaces safer, and ways to avoid severe injuries.
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$2,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for grants to promote workforce development in aerospace and aerospace related supply chain industries by: Expanding the number of registered apprenticeships, preapprenticeships, and aerospace-related programs; and providing support for registered apprenticeships or programs in aerospace and aerospace-related supply chain industries.
Grants awarded under this section may be used for:
Equipment upgrades or new equipment purchases for training purposes;
New training space and lab locations to support capacity needs and expansion of training to veterans and veteran spouses, and underserved populations;
Curriculum development and instructor training for industry experts;
Tuition assistance for degrees in engineering and high-demand degrees that support the aerospace industry; and
Funding to increase capacity and availability of child care options for shift work schedules.
An entity is eligible to receive a grant under this subsection if it is a nonprofit, nongovernmental, or institution of higher education that provides training opportunities, including apprenticeships, preapprenticeships, preemployment training, aerospace-related degree programs, or incumbent worker training to prepare workers for the aerospace and aerospace-related supply chain industries.
The department may use up to 5 percent of these funds for administration of these grants.
$500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the crime victims' compensation program to pay for medical exams for suspected victims of domestic violence. Neither the hospital, medical facility, nor victim is to pay for the cost of the medical exam. This funding must not supplant existing funding for sexual assault medical exams. If the cost of medical exams exceeds the funding provided in this subsection, the program shall not reduce the reimbursement rates for medical providers seeking reimbursement for other claimants, and instead the program shall return to paying for domestic violence medical exams after insurance.
$250,000 of the opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to analyze patients who are maintained on chronic opioids. The department must submit an annual report of its findings to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature no later than October 1st of each year of the fiscal biennium. The report shall include analysis of patient data, describing the characteristics of patients who are maintained on chronic opioids and their clinical needs, and a preliminary evaluation of potential interventions to improve care and reduce harms in this population.
$1,406,000 of the public works administration account—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the final year of system improvements to the prevailing wage program information technology system. This project is subject to the conditions, limitations, and review provided in section 701 of this act.
$205,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely to continue conducting a four-year retention study of state registered apprentices as provided in chapter 156, Laws of 2022 (apprenticeship programs). The study shall include the collection of data from all apprentices three months into their apprenticeship to understand challenges and barriers they face towards program participation. The aggregate data by trade must be displayed on a publicly available dashboard. Study data must be provided with apprenticeship coordinators to implement an early response to connect apprentices with needed supports. The department shall submit an annual report to the governor and appropriate legislative committees on June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027.
$2,879,000 of the accident account—state appropriation and $2,309,000 of the medical aid account—state appropriation are provided solely to expand access to worker rights and safety information for workers with limited English proficiency (LEP) through outreach and translation of safety-related information, training, and other materials. $2,000,000 of the amount provided in this subsection is provided solely for grants to community-based organizations to provide workplace rights and safety outreach to underserved workers.
$946,000 of the public works administration account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 342, Laws of 2023 (apprenticeship utilization).
$1,072,000 of the accident account—state appropriation and $187,000 of the medical aid account—state appropriation are provided solely to create an effective information technology solution necessary for the implementation of chapter 145, Laws of 2023 (fire-resistant materials).
$200,000 of the medical aid account—state appropriation and $200,000 of the accident account—state appropriation are provided solely for the staffing of a resolution process for complaints regarding light duty work under Title 51 RCW.
$1,044,000 of the accident account—state appropriation and $183,000 of the medical account—state appropriation are provided solely for implementation of chapter 250, Laws of 2024 (adult entertainment workers).
$1,840,000 of the accident account—state appropriation and $1,838,000 of the medical aid account—state appropriation are provided solely for claims management staffing to expand capacity to reduce claims caseload, effective July 1, 2025.
$3,477,000 of the accident account—state appropriation and $614,000 of the medical aid account—state appropriation are provided solely for wage payment act, retaliation, child labor, and determinations, and fiscal units staffing to expand capacity to conduct timely worker complaint investigations, effective July 1, 2025.
$1,495,000 of the construction registration inspection account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 213, Laws of 2023 (contractor consumer protection).
$56,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $59,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of chapter 298, Laws of 2024 (supporting victims of human trafficking and sexual abuse).
$250,000 of the medical aid account—state appropriation and $250,000 of the accident account—state appropriation are provided solely for the department of labor and industries safety and health assessment and research for prevention program to conduct research to address the high injury rates of the janitorial workforce. The research must quantify the physical demands of common janitorial work tasks and assess the safety and health needs of janitorial workers. The research must also identify potential risk factors associated with increased risk of injury in the janitorial workforce and measure workload based on the strain janitorial work tasks place on janitors' bodies. The department must conduct interviews with janitors and their employers to collect information on risk factors, identify the tools, technologies, and methodologies used to complete work, and understand the safety culture and climate of the industry. The department must produce annual progress reports through the year 2025 or until the tools are fully developed and deployed. The annual progress report must be submitted to the governor and legislature by December 1st of each year such report is due.
$3,774,000 of the accident account—state appropriation and $890,000 of the medical aid account—state appropriation are provided solely for the creation of an agriculture compliance unit within the division of occupational safety and health. The compliance unit will perform compliance inspections and provide bilingual outreach to agricultural workers and employers.
$1,642,000 of the medical aid account—state appropriation is provided solely to cover the overhead rent costs to increase the number of labor and industry vocational specialists embedded in WorkSource offices and to implement a comprehensive quality-assurance team to ensure the continuous improvement of vocational services for injured workers through the workers' compensation program.
$1,798,000 of the public works administration account—state appropriation is provided solely to maintain expanded capacity to investigate and enforce prevailing wage complaints.
$639,000 of the accident account—state appropriation and $157,000 of the medical aid account—state appropriation are provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1524 (isolated employees). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$1,251,000 of the public works administration account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1549 (responsible bidder criteria). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$197,000 of the electrical license account—state appropriation, $136,000 of the accident account—state appropriation, and $24,000 of the medical aid account—state appropriation are provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1533 (specialty electricians). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$255,000 of the accident account—state appropriation and $254,000 of the medical aid account—state appropriation are provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1788 (worker's compensation). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$1,031,000 of the accident account—state appropriation and $180,000 of the medical aid account—state appropriation are provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1644 (working minor). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$269,000 of the accident account—state appropriation and $46,000 of the medical aid account—state appropriation are provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1875 (sick leave/immigration). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$85,000 of the accident account—state appropriation and $15,000 of the medical aid account—state appropriation are provided solely for implementation of Substitute House Bill No. 1879 (hospital worker breaks). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
The department of veterans affairs shall not initiate any services that will require expenditure of state general fund moneys unless expressly authorized in this act or other law. The department may seek, receive, and spend, under RCW 43.79.260 through 43.79.282, federal moneys that are not anticipated in this act, provided that accepting these federal funds does not necessitate additional state funding beyond amounts anticipated in this act. If the department receives unanticipated unrestricted federal moneys, those funds must be used for services authorized in this act or other legislation providing appropriation authority, and an equal amount of appropriated state moneys shall lapse. The office of financial management must notify legislative fiscal committees whenever state funds lapse under this subsection. "Unrestricted federal moneys" refers to block grants and other funds not mandated by federal law to be used for specifically defined projects or matched by state funds on a formula basis.
Each year, there is fluctuation in the revenue collected to support the operation of the state veteran homes. When the department has foreknowledge that revenue will decrease, such as from a loss of census or from the elimination of a program, the legislature expects the department to make reasonable efforts to reduce expenditures in a commensurate manner and to demonstrate that it has made such efforts. In response to any request by the department for general fund—state appropriation to backfill a loss of revenue, the legislature shall consider the department's efforts in reducing its expenditures in light of known or anticipated decreases to revenues.
HEADQUARTERS
FIELD SERVICES
The appropriations in this subsection are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
a. $1,020,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,020,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to contract for veteran service officers.
i. Of the amounts provided in this subsection (3)(a), $750,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $600,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to support one veteran service officer position in each of the following counties: Walla Walla, Clallam, Stevens, Asotin, and Skamania.
ii. Of the amounts provided in this subsection (3)(a), $270,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to support two veteran service officer positions in Island county.
The appropriations in this subsection are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
a. If the department receives additional unanticipated federal resources at any point during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, an equal amount of general fund—state must be placed in unallotted status so as not to exceed the total appropriation level specified in this subsection. The department may submit as part of the policy level budget submittal documentation required by RCW 43.88.030 a request to maintain the general fund—state resources that were unallotted as required by this subsection.
b. Appropriations have been adjusted in this section to reflect anticipated changes in state, federal, and local resources as a result of census changes. The department shall incorporate these adjustments in the governor's projected maintenance level budget required in RCW 43.88.030.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
The appropriations to the department of health in this act shall be expended for the programs and in the amounts specified in this act. Appropriations made in this act to the department of health shall initially be allotted as required by this act. Subsequent allotment modifications shall not include transfers of moneys between sections of this act except as expressly provided in this act, nor shall allotment modifications permit moneys that are provided solely for a specified purpose to be used for other than that purpose.
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The appropriations to the department of health in this act must be expended for the programs and in the amounts specified in this act, except as provided in (i) and (ii) of this subsection (2)(a):
After May 1, 2026, unless prohibited by this act, the department may transfer general fund—state appropriations for fiscal year 2026 among programs and subprograms after approval by the director of the office of financial management. However, the department may not transfer state appropriations that are provided solely for a specified purpose except as expressly provided in (b) of this subsection.
After May 1, 2027, unless prohibited by this act, the department may transfer general fund—state appropriations for fiscal year 2027 and appropriations for the 2025–2027 fiscal biennium among programs and subprograms after approval by the director of the office of financial management. However, the department may not transfer appropriations that are provided solely for a specified purpose except as expressly provided in (b) of this subsection.
To the extent that transfers under (a) of this subsection are insufficient to fund actual expenditures, the department may transfer appropriations that are provided solely for a specified purpose. The department may not transfer funds, and the director of the office of financial management may not approve the transfer, unless the transfer is consistent with the objective of conserving, to the maximum extent possible, the expenditure of state funds. The director of the office of financial management shall notify the appropriate fiscal committees of the legislature in writing seven days prior to approving any allotment modifications or transfers under this subsection. The written notification shall include a narrative explanation and justification of the changes, along with expenditures and allotments by budget unit and appropriation, both before and after any allotment modifications or transfers.
The department of health shall not initiate any services that will require expenditure of state general fund moneys unless expressly authorized in this act or other law. The department of health and the state board of health shall not implement any new or amended rules pertaining to primary and secondary school facilities until the start of the fiscal year following the next legislative session after the rules are adopted. The department may seek, receive, and spend, under RCW 43.79.260 through 43.79.282, federal moneys not anticipated in this act as long as the federal funding does not require expenditure of state moneys for the program in excess of amounts anticipated in this act. If the department receives unanticipated unrestricted federal moneys, those moneys shall be spent for services authorized in this act or in any other legislation that provides appropriation authority, and an equal amount of appropriated state moneys shall lapse. Upon the lapsing of any moneys under this subsection, the office of financial management shall notify the legislative fiscal committees. As used in this subsection, "unrestricted federal moneys" includes block grants and other funds that federal law does not require to be spent on specifically defined projects or matched on a formula basis by state funds.
In accordance with RCW 43.70.110 and 71.24.037, the department is authorized to adopt license and certification fees in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to support the costs of the regulatory program. The department's fee schedule shall have differential rates for providers with proof of accreditation from organizations that the department has determined to have substantially equivalent standards to those of the department, including but not limited to the joint commission on accreditation of health care organizations, the commission on accreditation of rehabilitation facilities, and the council on accreditation. To reflect the reduced costs associated with regulation of accredited programs, the department's fees for organizations with such proof of accreditation must reflect the lower costs of licensing for these programs than for other organizations which are not accredited.
Within the amounts appropriated in this act, and in accordance with RCW 70.41.100, the department shall set fees to include the full costs of the performance of inspections pursuant to RCW 70.41.080.
In accordance with RCW 43.70.110 and 71.24.037, the department is authorized to adopt fees for the review and approval of mental health and substance use disorder treatment programs in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 as necessary to support the costs of the regulatory program. The department's fee schedule must have differential rates for providers with proof of accreditation from organizations that the department has determined to have substantially equivalent standards to those of the department, including but not limited to the joint commission on accreditation of health care organizations, the commission on accreditation of rehabilitation facilities, and the council on accreditation. To reflect the reduced costs associated with regulation of accredited programs, the department's fees for organizations with such proof of accreditation must reflect the lower cost of licensing for these programs than for other organizations which are not accredited.
The health care authority, the health benefit exchange, the department of social and health services, the department of health, the department of corrections, and the department of children, youth, and families shall work together within existing resources to establish the health and human services enterprise coalition (the coalition). The coalition, led by the health care authority, must be a multi-organization collaborative that provides strategic direction and federal funding guidance for projects that have cross-organizational or enterprise impact, including information technology projects that affect organizations within the coalition. Washington technology solutions shall maintain a statewide perspective when collaborating with the coalition to ensure that projects are planned for in a manner that ensures the efficient use of state resources, supports the adoption of a cohesive technology and data architecture, and maximizes federal financial participation. The work of the coalition and any project identified as a coalition project is subject to the conditions, limitations, and review provided in section 701 of this act.
Within the amounts appropriated in this act, and in accordance with RCW 43.70.110 and 71.12.470, the department shall set fees to include the full costs of the performance of inspections pursuant to RCW 71.12.485.
The department must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH—ADMINISTRATION
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$1,164,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,164,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the child profile health promotion notification system.
$296,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $296,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to maintain the master person index as part of the health and human services coalition master person index initiative.
$127,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $127,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to coordinate work related to dementia, including but not limited to:
Coordinating dementia-related activities with the department of social and health services, the health care authority, and other state agencies as needed;
Implementing recommendations from the dementia action collaborative in the updated state Alzheimer's plan within the department; and
Other dementia-related activities as determined by the secretary.
$166,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $166,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for community compensation stipends for low-income individuals who participate in priority engagements across the department.
$130,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $130,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for staffing to support a new office of tribal policy at the department.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH—HEALTH SCIENCES
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$1,568,000 of the general fund—private/local appropriation is provided solely for the department to provide cystic fibrosis DNA testing and to engage with a courier service to transport specimens to the public health laboratory.
$85,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $85,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to pass-through to a nonprofit Washington-based organization with expertise in end-of-life care and in chapter 70.245 RCW (death with dignity act), to provide training, outreach, and education to medical professionals, hospice teams, and other Washingtonians, to support the provision of care under chapter 70.245 RCW.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH—ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$416,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $416,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to coordinate with local health jurisdictions to establish and maintain comprehensive group B programs to ensure safe drinking water. These funds shall be used for implementation costs, including continued development and adoption of rules, policies, and procedures; technical assistance; and training.
$157,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $157,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to test for lead in child care facilities to prevent child lead exposure and to research, identify, and connect facilities to financial resources available for remediation costs.
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$4,226,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely to support and administer a workplace health and safety program for workers who are affected by climate impacts, including but not limited to, extreme heat and cold, wildfire smoke, drought, and flooding. This program will focus on workplace health and safety for farmworkers, construction workers, and other workers who face the most risk from climate-related impacts. This amount shall be limited to supporting vulnerable populations in overburdened communities under the climate commitment act as defined in RCW 70A.65.010. Funding shall be provided for:
Pass through grants to community-based organizations, tribal governments, and tribal organizations to support workplace health and safety for workers who are burdened by the intersection of their work and climate impacts; and
Procurement and distribution of equipment and resources for workers who are burdened by the intersection of their work and climate impacts directly by the department of health, or through pass-through grants to community-based organizations, tribal governments, and tribal organizations. Equipment and resources may include but are not limited to: Personal protective equipment, other protective or safety clothing for cold and heat, air purifiers for the workplace or worker housing, protection from ticks and mosquitoes, and heating and cooling devices.
The department of health, in consultation with the environmental justice council, community groups, and the department of labor and industries, shall evaluate mechanisms to provide workers with financial assistance to cover lost wages or other financial hardships caused by extreme weather events and climate threats.
No more than five percent of this funding may be used to administer this grant program.
$882,000 of the safe drinking water account—state appropriation is provided solely for the drinking water technical services program.
$6,038,000 of the drinking water assistance account—federal appropriation is provided solely for the office of drinking water to provide technical assistance, direct engineering support, and construction management to small water systems.
$685,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $685,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to assist with access to safe drinking water for homes and businesses with individual wells or small water systems that are contaminated.
$41,000 of the model toxics control operating account—state appropriation is provided solely for the Puget Sound clean air agency to coordinate meetings with local health jurisdictions in King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Kitsap counties to better understand air quality issues, align messaging, and facilitate delivery of ready-to-go air quality and health interventions. The amount provided in this subsection may be used for agency staff time, meetings and events, outreach materials, and tangible air quality and health interventions.
$424,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to provide grants to school districts making updates to existing heating, venting, and air conditioning systems using small district modernization grants.
$845,000 of the model toxics control operating account—state appropriation is provided solely to implement actions provided in the nitrate water hazard mitigation plan to support safe drinking water in the lower Yakima valley. Implementation of this plan includes, but is not limited to, education and outreach, well testing, and provision of alternate water supplies. The department may contract with local governments, local health jurisdictions, and nonprofit organizations to administer the plan.
$362,000 of the model toxics control operating account—state appropriation is provided solely for continued implementation of chapter 156, Laws of 2021 (risk-based water standards), to create standards for developers seeking to reuse wastewater in buildings.
$6,812,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to implement the healthy environment for all act under chapter 70A.02 RCW, including additional staff and support for the environmental justice council and implementation of a community engagement plan.
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$3,380,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to administer capacity grants to tribes and tribal organizations and to overburdened communities and vulnerable populations to provide guidance and input:
To agencies and to the environmental justice council on implementation of the healthy environment for all act; and
To the department on updates to the environmental health disparities map.
At least 50 percent of the total amount distributed for capacity grants in this subsection must be reserved for grants to tribes and tribal organizations.
Funding provided in this subsection may be used for tribes and tribal organizations to hire staff or to contract with consultants to engage in updating the environmental health disparities map or on implementing the healthy environment for all act.
The department may use a reasonable amount of funding provided in this subsection to administer the grants.
$323,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for one staff to lead cross agency coordination for wildfire and extreme heat emergency management.
$950,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely to migrate, maintain, and continue community engagement to update the health disparities map and increase operating staff to complete environmental assessments.
$160,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $157,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1232 (private detention facilities). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH—HEALTH SYSTEMS QUALITY ASSURANCE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
Within amounts appropriated in this section, the Washington board of nursing must hire sufficient staff to process applications for nursing licenses so that the time required for processing does not exceed seven days.
$526,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $526,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the ongoing operations and maintenance of the prescription monitoring program maintained by the department.
$10,570,000 of the health professions account—state appropriation is provided solely for the regulation of health professions.
$1,576,000 of the medical test site licensure account—state appropriation is provided solely for the medical test site regulatory program for inspections and other regulatory activities.
$1,923,000 of the health professions account—state appropriation is provided solely for the Washington board of nursing for nursing licensure and other regulatory activities.
$127,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $127,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the midwifery licensure and regulatory program to supplement revenue from fees. The department shall charge no more than $525 annually for new or renewed licenses for the midwifery program.
$493,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $493,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for three full-time emergency medical technicians and other resources necessary for the Franklin county public hospital district #1 to provide health services as part of medical transport operations services, including services to the Coyote Ridge corrections center.
$1,259,000 of the health professional services account—state appropriation is provided solely for the Washington board of nursing to continue to implement virtual nursing assistant training and testing modalities, create an apprenticeship pathway into nursing for nursing assistants, implement rule changes to support a career path for nursing assistants, and collaborate with the workforce training and education coordinating board on a pilot project to transform the culture and practice in long term care settings. The goal of these activities is to expand the nursing workforce for long term care settings.
$506,000 of the health professions account—state appropriation is provided solely for ongoing maintenance of the HEALWA web portal to provide access to health information for health care providers.
$219,000 of the health professions account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of House Bill No. 1114 (respiratory care compact). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$155,000 of the health professions account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of House Bill No. 1190 (UW health sciences library). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$38,000 of the health professions account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Substitute House Bill No. 1546 (radiologic technologists). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$25,000 of the health professions account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Substitute House Bill No. 1720 (community care/Rx assistance). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$25,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for implementation of House Bill No. 1722 (secondary career education). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$25,000 of the health professions account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Substitute House Bill No. 1784 (certified medical assistants). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$25,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $13,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Substitute House Bill No. 1824 (accredited birthing centers). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$85,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $85,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1686 (health care entity registry). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$2,955,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,955,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the Washington board of nursing to manage a grant process to incentivize nurses to supervise nursing students in health care settings. The goal of the grant program is to create more clinical placements for nursing students to complete required clinical hours to earn their nursing degree and related licensure.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH—PREVENTION AND COMMUNITY HEALTH
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$1,914,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,914,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for:
Staffing by the department, the department of veterans affairs, and the department of corrections to expand statewide suicide prevention efforts, which efforts include suicide prevention efforts for military service members and veterans and incarcerated persons;
A suicide prevention public awareness campaign to provide education regarding the signs of suicide, interventions, and resources for support;
Staffing for call centers to support the increased volume of calls to suicide hotlines;
Training for first responders to identify and respond to individuals experiencing suicidal ideation;
Support for tribal suicide prevention efforts;
Strengthening behavioral health and suicide prevention efforts in the agricultural sector;
Support for the three priority areas of the governor's challenge regarding identifying suicide risk among service members and their families, increasing the awareness of resources available to service members and their families, and lethal means safety planning;
Training for community health workers to include culturally informed training for suicide prevention;
Support for the suicide prevention initiative housed in the University of Washington.
$2,955,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,955,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the fruit and vegetable incentives program.
$3,834,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $3,834,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to provide grants to support school-based health centers and behavioral health services.
$1,099,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,099,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to coordinate and lead a multi-agency approach to youth suicide prevention and intervention.
$1,690,000 of the opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation is provided solely for prevention, treatment, and recovery support services to remediate the impacts of the opioid epidemic. This funding must be used consistent with conditions of the opioid settlement agreements that direct how funds deposited into the opioid abatement settlement account created in RCW 43.79.483 must be used.
$7,684,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $7,068,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for programs and grants to maintain access to abortion care, including but not limited to staffing at the department and grants to providers of abortion care to fund abortion care, workforce retention and recruitment initiatives to ensure continuity of care, training, outreach, and security investments. Of these amounts, $617,000 for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for grants to providers of abortion care who participate in the department's sexual and reproductive health program for the purchase of state-acquired mifepristone.
$513,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $513,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the early hearing detection, diagnosis, and intervention program.
$972,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $972,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to expand the birth equity project with the goal of reducing prenatal and perinatal health disparities.
$2,435,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,435,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for tobacco, vapor product, and nicotine control, cessation, treatment, and prevention, and other substance use prevention and education, with an emphasis on community-based strategies. These strategies must include programs that consider the disparate impacts of nicotine, specifically flavored nicotine products, addiction on specific populations, including youth, and racial or other disparities.
$257,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $257,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to support health equity zones, as defined in RCW 43.70.595, in identification and implementation of targeted interventions to have a significant impact on health outcomes and health disparities.
$3,579,000 of the statewide 988 behavioral health crisis response line account—state appropriation is provided solely for behavioral crisis coordination.
$369,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely as pass-through funding to an organization that specializes in culturally relevant sports programs for indigenous children and adolescents, with the goal of keeping at-risk youth out of the juvenile justice system.
$2,662,000 of the opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation is provided solely to launch a tele-buprenorphine hotline that facilitates access to medications for opioid use disorder. This funding must be used consistent with conditions of the opioid settlement agreements that direct how funds deposited into the opioid abatement settlement account created in RCW 43.79.483 must be used.
$346,000 of the opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation is provided solely for perinatal opioid use disorder information and services. This funding must be used consistent with conditions of the opioid settlement agreements that direct how funds deposited into the opioid abatement settlement account created in RCW 43.79.483 must be used.
$266,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $266,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to operate the universal development screening system.
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$350,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 is provided solely for the department to establish a stipend program to defray the out-of-pocket expenses incurred by registered nurses completing the training necessary to become adult/adolescent or pediatric sexual assault nurse examiners.
Any individual nurse may receive one stipend, the total of which may not exceed $2,500.
For purposes of this subsection, "out-of-pocket expenses" include:
Fees, tuition, educational materials, or other charges imposed by the entity providing training;
Reasonable travel expenses, including air travel, rental car costs, mileage on a personal vehicle, lodging, and meals; and
Any other expenses deemed appropriate by the department.
$1,035,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,035,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the Washington poison center. This funding is provided in addition to funding pursuant to RCW 69.50.540.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH—STATE BOARD OF HEALTH
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: $25,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1946 (local board of health/tribes). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH—RESILIENCY AND HEALTH SECURITY
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: $5,285,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $5,285,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for operation of the statewide medical logistics center. Within these amounts, the department must coordinate with the department of social and health services to develop processes that will minimize the disposal and destruction of personal protective equipment and for interagency distribution of personal protective equipment.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH—HEALTH DATA AND PLANNING
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$3,732,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $3,732,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to maintain public health information technology infrastructure in a cloud-based environment.
$914,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $890,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to maintain the WA Health bed tracking and supply database.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
The health care authority, the health benefit exchange, the department of social and health services, the department of health, the department of corrections, and the department of children, youth, and families shall work together within existing resources to establish the health and human services enterprise coalition (the coalition). The coalition, led by the health care authority, must be a multiorganization collaborative that provides strategic direction and federal funding guidance for projects that have cross-organizational or enterprise impact, including information technology projects that affect organizations within the coalition. Washington technology solutions shall maintain a statewide perspective when collaborating with the coalition to ensure that the development of projects identified in this report are planned for in a manner that ensures the efficient use of state resources and maximizes federal financial participation. The work of the coalition and any project identified as a coalition project is subject to the conditions, limitations, and review provided in section 701 of this act.
The department must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
The appropriations in this subsection are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
a. The department must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
b. 500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the amend collaboration and training statewide program administration team.
The appropriations in this subsection are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
a. The department may contract for local jail beds statewide to the extent that it is at no net cost to the department. The department shall calculate and report the average cost per offender per day, inclusive of all services, on an annual basis for a facility that is representative of average medium or lower offender costs. The department shall not pay a rate greater than $85 per day per offender excluding the costs of department of corrections provided services, including evidence-based substance abuse programming, dedicated department of corrections classification staff on-site for individualized case management, transportation of offenders to and from department of corrections facilities, and gender responsive training for jail staff. The capacity provided at local correctional facilities must be for offenders whom the department of corrections defines as close medium or lower security offenders. Programming provided for offenders held in local jurisdictions is included in the rate, and details regarding the type and amount of programming, and any conditions regarding transferring offenders must be negotiated with the department as part of any contract. Local jurisdictions must provide health care to offenders that meets standards set by the department. The local jail must provide all medical care including unexpected emergent care. The department must utilize a screening process to ensure that offenders with existing extraordinary medical/mental health needs are not transferred to local jail facilities. If extraordinary medical conditions develop for an inmate while at a jail facility, the jail may transfer the offender back to the department, subject to terms of the negotiated agreement. Health care costs incurred prior to transfer are the responsibility of the jail.
b. $3,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $3,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department of corrections to provide wages and gratuities of no less than $1.00 per hour to incarcerated persons working in class III correctional industries.
c. Within existing resources, each agency that receives allocations from the Washington auto theft prevention authority account must produce a report detailing its expenditures from the account for fiscal years 2023, 2024, and 2025, including documentation of how expenditures were used in accordance with RCW 46.66.080. The report must include recommendations based on outcomes from prior years' expenditures for how funds from the account can be used to most effectively prevent auto theft. The report must be submitted to the office of financial management and the fiscal committees of the legislature by October 1, 2025.
d. Within the appropriated amounts in this subsection, the department of corrections must provide a minimum of one dedicated prison rape elimination act (PREA) compliance specialist at each institution.
e. The department must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
f. $2,871,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,871,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to operate body scanner programs to conduct security screenings for employees, contractors, visitors, volunteers, incarcerated individuals, and other persons entering the secure perimeters at the Washington corrections center for women and the Washington corrections center.
g. $60,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 5219 (partial confinement). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
The appropriations in this subsection are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
a. The department of corrections shall contract with local and tribal governments for jail capacity to house offenders who violate the terms of their community supervision. A contract rate increase may not exceed five percent each year. The department may negotiate to include medical care of offenders in the contract rate if medical payments conform to the department's offender health plan and pharmacy formulary, and all off-site medical expenses are preapproved by department utilization management staff. If medical care of offender is included in the contract rate, the contract rate may exceed five percent to include the cost of that service. The department shall pay the bed rate for the day of release.
b. The department shall engage in ongoing mitigation strategies to reduce the costs associated with community supervision violators, including improvements in data collection and reporting and alternatives to short-term confinement for low-level violators.
CORRECTIONAL INDUSTRIES
INTERAGENCY PAYMENTS
OFFENDER CHANGE
The appropriations in this subsection are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
a. The department of corrections shall use funds appropriated in this subsection (6) for programming for incarcerated individuals. The department shall develop and implement a written comprehensive plan for programming for incarcerated individuals that prioritizes programs which follow the risk-needs-responsivity model, are evidence-based, and have measurable outcomes. The department is authorized to discontinue ineffective programs and to repurpose underspent funds according to the priorities in the written plan.
b. The department of corrections shall collaborate with the state health care authority to explore ways to utilize federal medicaid funds as a match to fund residential substance use disorder treatment-based alternative beds under RCW 9.94A.664 under the drug offender sentencing alternative program and residential substance use disorder treatment beds that serve individuals on community custody.
c. Within existing resources, the department of corrections may provide reentry support items such as disposable cell phones, prepaid phone cards, hygiene kits, housing vouchers, and release medications associated with individuals resentenced or ordered released from confinement as a result of policies or court decisions including, but not limited to, the State v. Blake decision.
d. $122,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $122,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for work on reentry 2030, continued internal and cross agency reentry collaboration, and work on the state's medicaid 1115 transformation waiver impacts to the department.
e. $424,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $424,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to operate body scanner programs to conduct security screenings for employees, contractors, visitors, volunteers, incarcerated individuals, and other persons entering the secure perimeters at the Washington corrections center for women and the Washington corrections center.
The appropriations in this subsection are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
a. The state prison medical facilities may use funds appropriated in this subsection to purchase goods, supplies, and services through hospital or other group purchasing organizations when it is cost effective to do so.
b. $8,916,000 of the opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation is provided solely for opioid treatment for individuals in the department of corrections' custody on full confinement. This funding is provided:
i. Solely for medication for the treatment of opioid use disorder of incarcerated individuals; and
ii. To ensure each and every single individual transferring into the department of corrections' custody on full confinement is provided medications for opioid use disorder if they were on medications for opioid use disorder in jail or out of custody prior to their transfer to the department of corrections.
c. $1,612,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,612,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to operate body scanner programs to conduct security screenings for employees, contractors, visitors, volunteers, incarcerated individuals, and other persons entering the secure perimeters at the Washington corrections center for women and the Washington corrections center.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SERVICES FOR THE BLIND
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: $99,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $99,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for grants to federally recognized tribes of Washington to support culturally appropriate vocational rehabilitation services, independent living, youth supports, and adaptive technologies for tribal members who are blind, low-visioned, or deaf-blind.
FOR THE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY DEPARTMENT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
The department is directed to maximize the use of federal funds. The department must update its budget annually to align expenditures with anticipated changes in projected revenues.
$6,397,000 of the long-term services and supports trust account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of the long-term services and support trust program information technology project and is subject to the conditions, limitations, and review provided in section 701 of this act.
Within existing resources, the department must reassess its ongoing staffing and funding needs for the paid family medical leave program and submit documentation of the updated need to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature by October 1st of each fiscal year.
Within existing resources, the department shall report the following to the legislature and the governor by October 15th of each fiscal year:
An inventory of the department's programs, services, and activities, identifying federal, state, and other funding sources for each;
Federal grants received by the department, segregated by line of business or activity, for the most recent five fiscal years, and the applicable rules;
State funding available to the department, segregated by line of business or activity, for the most recent five fiscal years;
A history of staffing levels by line of business or activity, identifying sources of state or federal funding, for the most recent five fiscal years;
A projected spending plan for the employment services administrative account and the administrative contingency account. The spending plan must include forecasted revenues and estimated expenditures under various economic scenarios.
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$2,875,000 of the administrative contingency account—state appropriation is provided solely for career connected learning grants as provided in RCW 28C.30.050, including sector intermediary grants, technical assistance and support grants, and administrative expenses associated with grant administration.
Of the amount provided in (a) of this subsection, up to $921,000 may be used for the department to contract with the student achievement council to lead the career connected learning cross-agency work group and provide staffing support as required in RCW 28C.30.040.
The department must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
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$9,154,000 of the employment service administrative account—state appropriation is provided solely for the replacement of the WorkSource integrated technology platform. The replacement system must support the workforce administration statewide to ensure adoption of the United States department of labor's integrated service delivery model and program performance requirements for the state's workforce innovation and opportunity act and other federal grants. This subsection is subject to the conditions, limitations, and review provided in section 701 of this act.
$5,938,000 of the employment service administrative account—state appropriation is provided solely for the maintenance and operations of the WorkSource integrated technology project.
$12,416,000 of the employment services administrative account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of the economic services for all programs as defined in chapter 92, Laws of 2024. The department must collect quarterly data on the number of participants that participate in the economic security for all program, the costs associated with career, training, and other support services provided by category, including but not limited to, child care, housing, transportation, and car repair, and progress made towards self-sufficiency. The department must provide a report to the governor and the legislature by December 1, 2026, that includes an analysis of the program, a detailed summary of the quarterly data collected, and associated recommendations for program delivery.
$3,826,000 of the employment services administration account—state appropriation is provided solely for the continuation of the office of agricultural and seasonal workforce services.
$140,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $140,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for one full-time employee to provide casework on behalf of constituents who contact their legislators to escalate unresolved claims.
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$7,792,000 of the administrative contingency account—state appropriation and $14,470,000 of the employment service administrative account—state appropriation are provided solely to address a projected shortfall of federal revenue that supports the administration of the unemployment insurance program.
The department must submit a report no later than November 1st of each year in the fiscal biennium to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature outlining how the funding in (a) of this subsection is being utilized and recommendations for long-term solutions to address future decreases in federal funding.
$10,823,000 of the family and medical leave insurance account—state appropriation is provided solely to increase staffing for the paid family and medical leave program to process claims and respond to customer and employer inquiries in a timely manner.
$8,966,000 of the family and medical leave insurance account—state appropriation is provided solely for information technology staffing to complete system enhancements for any remaining statutorily required components of the paid family and medical leave program, including, but not limited to, the establishment and collection of overpayments, crossmatching eligibility with other programs, and elective coverage for tribes.
$5,074,000 of the long-term services and supports trust account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 120, Laws of 2024 (LTSS trust access).
$500,000 of the unemployment compensation administration account—federal appropriation is provided solely for the department to contract with a vendor to evaluate current unemployment insurance technology systems and to produce a comprehensive roadmap that addresses system challenges, makes recommendations for future enhancements, and identifies costs associated with the recommendations. If the department does not receive adequate funding form the United States department of labor to cover these costs, the department may use funding made available to the state through section 903 (d), (f), and (g) of the social security act (Reed act) in an amount not to exceed the amount provided in this subsection.
$1,000,000 of the employment services administrative account—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely to improve access to the unemployment insurance program to underserved communities by expanding the use of navigators within community-based organizations. At a minimum, $684,000 of the amount shall be used to contract with community-based organizations to raise awareness of the unemployment insurance program and help individuals navigate the application process.
Within existing resources, the department must submit a report to the legislature and the governor by September 12, 2026, that provides an analysis of unemployment insurance fraud, strategies deployed to address fraud including those that reduce the false-positive rate, percentage of fraudulent issues identified to claims filed and the average number of days to resolve, alternative approaches that the department could consider along with potential benefits, risks, and costs, and the necessary staffing levels to address fraudulent claims.
$11,156,000 of the employment services administrative account—state appropriation is provided solely to increase staffing for the unemployment insurance program to process claims and respond to customer inquiries in a timely manner and to maintain unemployment insurance ambassadors.
$5,428,000 of the family and medical leave insurance account—state appropriation is provided solely for the implementation of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1213 (paid family & medical leave). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES—GENERAL
The appropriations to the department of children, youth, and families in this act shall be expended for the programs and in the amounts specified in this act. Appropriations made in this act to the department of children, youth, and families shall initially be allotted as required by this act. The department shall seek approval from the office of financial management prior to transferring moneys between sections of this act except as expressly provided in this act. Subsequent allotment modifications shall not include transfers of moneys between sections of this act except as expressly provided in this act, nor shall allotment modifications permit moneys that are provided solely for a specified purpose to be used for other than that purpose.
The health care authority, the health benefit exchange, the department of social and health services, the department of health, the department of corrections, and the department of children, youth, and families shall work together within existing resources to establish the health and human services enterprise coalition (the coalition). The coalition, led by the health care authority, must be a multi-organization collaborative that provides strategic direction and federal funding guidance for projects that have cross-organizational or enterprise impact, including information technology projects that affect organizations within the coalition. Washington technology solutions shall maintain a statewide perspective when collaborating with the coalition to ensure that projects are planned for in a manner that ensures the efficient use of state resources, supports the adoption of a cohesive technology and data architecture, and maximizes federal financial participation.
Information technology projects or investments and proposed projects or investments impacting time capture, payroll and payment processes and systems, eligibility, case management, and authorization systems within the department are subject to technical oversight by Washington technology solutions.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES—CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES PROGRAM
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$579,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $579,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $110,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for a receiving care center east of the Cascade mountains.
$453,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $453,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the costs of hub home foster and kinship families that provide a foster care delivery model that includes a hub home. Use of the hub home model is intended to support foster parent retention, provide support to biological families, improve child outcomes, and encourage the least restrictive community placements for children in out-of-home care.
$1,620,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,620,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for services provided through children's advocacy centers.
In each fiscal year, the department shall provide a tracking report for social service specialists and corresponding social services support staff to the office of financial management, and the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the legislature. The report shall detail continued implementation of the targeted 1:18 caseload ratio standard for child and family welfare services caseload-carrying staff and targeted 1:8 caseload ratio standard for child protection services caseload carrying staff. To the extent to which the information is available, the report shall include the following information identified separately for social service specialists doing case management work, supervisory work, and administrative support staff, and identified separately by job duty or program, including but not limited to intake, child protective services investigations, child protective services family assessment response, and child and family welfare services:
Total full-time equivalent employee authority, allotments and expenditures by region, office, classification, and band, and job duty or program;
Vacancy rates by region, office, and classification and band; and
Average length of employment with the department, and when applicable, the date of exit for staff exiting employment with the department by region, office, classification and band, and job duty or program.
$94,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $94,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a contract with a child advocacy center in Spokane to provide continuum of care services for children who have experienced abuse or neglect and their families.
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$539,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $540,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, $656,000 of the general fund—private/local appropriation, and $252,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for a contract with an educational advocacy provider with expertise in foster care educational outreach. The amounts in this subsection are provided solely for contracted education coordinators to assist foster children in succeeding in K-12 and higher education systems and to assure a focus on education during the department's transition to performance-based contracts. Funding must be prioritized to regions with high numbers of foster care youth, regions where backlogs of youth that have formerly requested educational outreach services exist, or youth with high educational needs. The department is encouraged to use private matching funds to maintain educational advocacy services.
The department shall contract with the office of the superintendent of public instruction, which in turn shall contract with a nongovernmental entity or entities to provide educational advocacy services pursuant to RCW 28A.300.590.
For purposes of meeting the state's maintenance of effort for the state supplemental payment program, the department of children, youth, and families shall track and report to the department of social and health services the monthly state supplemental payment amounts attributable to foster care children who meet eligibility requirements specified in the state supplemental payment state plan. Such expenditures must equal at least $3,100,000 annually and may not be claimed toward any other federal maintenance of effort requirement. Annual state supplemental payment expenditure targets must continue to be established by the department of social and health services. Attributable amounts must be communicated by the department of children, youth, and families to the department of social and health services on a monthly basis.
$197,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $197,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to conduct biennial inspections and certifications of facilities, both overnight and day shelters, that serve those who are under 18 years old and are homeless.
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$8,981,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $8,981,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $1,188,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the department to operate emergent placement and enhanced emergent placement contracts.
The department shall not include the costs to operate emergent placement contracts in the calculations for family foster home maintenance payments and shall submit as part of the budget submittal documentation required by RCW 43.88.030 any costs associated with increases in the number of emergent placement contract beds after the effective date of this section that cannot be sustained within existing appropriations.
The department must provide semiannual reports to the governor and appropriate legislative committees that includes the number of in-state behavioral rehabilitation services providers and licensed beds, the number of out-of-state behavioral rehabilitation services placements, and a comparison of these numbers to the same metrics expressed as an average over the prior six months. The report shall identify separately beds with the enhanced behavioral rehabilitation services rate. To the extent the information is available, the report shall include the same information for emergency placement services beds and enhanced emergency placement services beds.
$250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementing the supportive visitation model that utilizes trained visit navigators to provide a structured and positive visitation experience for children and their parents.
$600,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $600,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for enhanced adoption placement services for legally free children in state custody, through a partnership with a national nonprofit organization with private matching funds. These funds must supplement, but not supplant, the work of the department to secure permanent adoptive homes for children with high needs.
The department of children, youth, and families shall make foster care maintenance payments to programs where children are placed with a parent in a residential program for substance abuse treatment. These maintenance payments are considered foster care maintenance payments for purposes of forecasting and budgeting at maintenance level as required by RCW 43.88.058.
If the department receives an allocation of federal funding through an unanticipated receipt, the department shall not expend more than what was approved or for another purpose than what was approved by the governor through the unanticipated receipt process pursuant to RCW 43.79.280.
$2,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to contract with one or more nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations to purchase and deliver concrete goods to low-income families.
$2,400,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,400,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of performance-based contracts for family support and related services pursuant to RCW 74.13B.020.
The department will only refer child welfare cases to the department of social and health services division of child support enforcement when the court has found a child to have been abandoned by their parent or guardian as defined in RCW 13.34.030.
The department shall collaborate with the department of social and health services to identify, place, and assist in the voluntary transition of adolescents aged 13 and older who have complex developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, or autism spectrum disorder, alongside potential mental health or substance use diagnoses, into a leased facility for specialized residential treatment at Lake Burien operated by the department of social and health services. The partnership is dedicated to transitioning individuals to community-based settings in a seamless and voluntary manner that emphasizes care in less restrictive community-based environments.
$9,376,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $8,709,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $512,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the phase-in of the settlement agreement under D.S. et al. v. Department of Children, Youth, and Families et al., United States district court for the western district of Washington, cause no. 2:21-cv-00113-BJR. The department must implement the provisions of the settlement agreement pursuant to the timeline and implementation plan provided for under the settlement agreement. This includes implementing provisions related to the emerging adulthood housing program, statewide hub home model, emergent facility-based receiving care resources, and exceptional placement costs. To comply with the settlement agreement, funding in this subsection is provided as follows:
$1,576,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,576,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the emerging adulthood housing program.
$245,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the statewide hub home model. The department shall develop and adapt the existing hub home model to serve youth as described in the settlement agreement.
$5,959,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $7,016,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for emergent facility-based receiving care resources.
$1,474,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $428,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for exceptional placement costs.
$122,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $117,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $84,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for continuous quality improvement.
$6,696,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $6,696,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $2,940,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for contracted visitation services for children in temporary out-of-home care. Funding is provided to reimburse providers for certain uncompensated services, which may include work associated with missed or canceled visits.
$375,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $375,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $112,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the department to develop, implement, and expand strategies to improve the capacity, reliability, and effectiveness of contracted visitation services for children in temporary out-of-home care and their parents and siblings. Strategies may include, but are not limited to, increasing mileage reimbursement for providers, offering transportation-only contract options, and mechanisms to reduce the level of parent-child supervision when doing so is in the best interest of the child. The department shall report to the office of financial management and the relevant fiscal and policy committees of the legislature regarding these strategies by September 1, 2025. The report shall include the number and percentage of parents requiring supervised visitation and the number and percentage of parents with unsupervised visitation, prior to reunification.
$2,351,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,351,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a grant to a nonprofit organization in Spokane that has experience administering a family-centered drug treatment and housing program for families experiencing substance use disorder. As a requirement for receiving this funding, the nonprofit organization must provide an annual report to the governor and the department that includes, but is not limited to, the following information: Number of children and families served each month, number of families that entered and exited the program each month, and a comprehensive budget for all costs incurred by the program.
$300,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $300,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Substitute House Bill No. 1509 (family reconciliation). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
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Within existing resources, the department shall provide:
Information and support to parents and caregivers on how to become the representative payee for a child or youth receiving social security benefits and maintain eligibility for those benefits when the department is the representative payee and the child is exiting the department's care; and
Information and support to youth turning 18 years old on how to become the payee for social security benefits and maintain eligibility for those benefits when the department is the representative payee, unless the youth requires a representative payee to manage the funds.
By November 1, 2025, the department shall submit a report to the legislature that includes, but is not limited to:
An updated implementation plan to discontinue the practice of using any benefits paid to or on behalf of a child or youth to reimburse itself for the cost of care and conserve benefits for the future needs of the child by the earliest date feasible;
A description of costs and recommendations for statutory changes necessary to conserve benefits in a manner in which the funds will not count against eligibility for federal or state means tested programs;
Data on the number of children or youth receiving social security and other public benefits, by age;
The average amount of federal benefits collected per child or youth in the 2025 state fiscal year; and
Recommendations for additional supports for families and youth to maintain benefits after reunification or exit from care.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES—JUVENILE REHABILITATION PROGRAM
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$2,841,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,841,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for grants to county juvenile courts for effective, community-based programs that are culturally relevant, research-informed, and focused on supporting positive youth development, not just reducing recidivism. Additional funding for this purpose is provided through an interagency agreement with the health care authority. County juvenile courts shall apply to the department of children, youth, and families for funding for program-specific participation and the department shall provide grants to the courts consistent with the per-participant treatment costs identified by the institute. The block grant oversight committee, in consultation with the Washington state institute for public policy, shall identify effective, community-based programs that are culturally relevant, research-informed, and focused on supporting positive youth development to receive funding.
$1,537,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,537,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for expansion of the juvenile justice treatments and therapies in the department of children, youth, and families. The juvenile rehabilitation evidence-based expansion committee, in consultation with the Washington state institute for public policy, will work with community expert partners to identify culturally relevant and research-informed programs for prevention and intervention services. These programs will include principles of positive youth development, healing centered engagement, or peer centered approaches that holistically benefit young people, or all three principles. The department may concentrate delivery of these treatments and therapies at a limited number of programs to deliver the treatments in a cost-effective manner.
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$6,698,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $6,698,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to implement evidence- and research-based programs through community juvenile accountability grants, administration of the grants, and evaluations of programs funded by the grants. In addition to funding provided in this subsection, funding to implement alcohol and substance abuse treatment programs for locally committed offenders is provided through an interagency agreement with the health care authority.
The department of children, youth, and families shall administer a block grant to county juvenile courts for the purpose of serving youth as defined in RCW 13.40.510(4)(a) in the county juvenile justice system. Funds dedicated to the block grant include: Consolidated juvenile service funds, community juvenile accountability act grants, chemical dependency/mental health disposition alternative, and suspended disposition alternative. The department of children, youth, and families shall follow the following formula and must prioritize evidence-based programs and disposition alternatives and take into account juvenile courts program-eligible youth in conjunction with the number of youth served in each approved evidence-based program or disposition alternative: (i) Thirty-seven and one-half percent for the at-risk population of youth ten to seventeen years old; (ii) fifteen percent for the assessment of low, moderate, and high-risk youth; (iii) twenty-five percent for evidence-based program participation; (iv) seventeen and one-half percent for minority populations; (v) three percent for the chemical dependency and mental health disposition alternative; and (vi) two percent for the suspended dispositional alternatives. Funding for the special sex offender disposition alternative shall not be included in the block grant, but allocated on the average daily population in juvenile courts. Funding for the evidence-based expansion grants shall be excluded from the block grant formula. Funds may be used for promising practices when approved by the department of children, youth, and families and juvenile courts, through the community juvenile accountability act committee, based on the criteria established in consultation with Washington state institute for public policy and the juvenile courts.
The department of children, youth, and families and the juvenile courts shall establish a block grant funding formula oversight committee with equal representation from the department of children, youth, and families and the juvenile courts. The purpose of this committee is to assess the ongoing implementation of the block grant funding formula, utilizing data-driven decision making and the most current available information. The committee will be co-chaired by the department of children, youth, and families and the juvenile courts, who will also have the ability to change members of the committee as needed to achieve its purpose. The committee may make changes to the formula categories in (b) of this subsection if it determines the changes will increase statewide service delivery or effectiveness of evidence-based program or disposition alternative resulting in increased cost/benefit savings to the state, including long-term cost/benefit savings. The committee must also consider these outcomes in determining when evidence-based expansion or special sex offender disposition alternative funds should be included in the block grant or left separate.
The juvenile courts and administrative office of the courts must collect and distribute information and provide access to the data systems to the department of children, youth, and families and the Washington state institute for public policy related to program and outcome data. The department of children, youth, and families and the juvenile courts must work collaboratively to develop program outcomes that reinforce the greatest cost/benefit to the state in the implementation of evidence-based practices and disposition alternatives.
$808,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $808,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for funding of the teamchild project.
$500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a grant program focused on criminal street gang prevention and intervention. The department of children, youth, and families may award grants under this subsection. The department of children, youth, and families shall give priority to applicants who have demonstrated the greatest problems with criminal street gangs. Applicants composed of, at a minimum, one or more local governmental entities and one or more nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations that have a documented history of creating and administering effective criminal street gang prevention and intervention programs may apply for funding under this subsection. Each entity receiving funds must report to the department of children, youth, and families on the number and types of youth served, the services provided, and the impact of those services on the youth and the community.
The juvenile rehabilitation institutions may use funding appropriated in this subsection to purchase goods, supplies, and services through hospital group purchasing organizations when it is cost-effective to do so.
$50,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $50,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for grants to county juvenile courts to establish alternative detention facilities similar to the proctor house model in Jefferson county, Washington, that will provide less restrictive confinement alternatives to youth in their local communities. County juvenile courts shall apply to the department of children, youth, and families for funding and each entity receiving funds must report to the department on the number and types of youth serviced, the services provided, and the impact of those services on the youth and the community.
$432,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $432,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to provide housing services to clients releasing from incarceration into the community.
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$878,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $879,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of chapter 206, Laws of 2021 (concerning juvenile rehabilitation community transition services).
Of the amounts provided in (a) of this subsection, $105,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $105,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for housing vouchers.
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$140,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $140,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of chapter 150, Laws of 2023 (sexual offenses by youth).
The department of children, youth, and families—juvenile rehabilitation shall develop and implement a grant program that allows defense attorneys and counties to apply for funding for sex offender evaluation and treatment programs. The department shall provide funding to counties for: (i) Process mapping, site assessment, and training for additional sex offender treatment modalities such as multisystemic therapy-problem sexual behavior or problematic sexual behavior-cognitive behavioral therapy; and (ii) for any evaluation and preadjudication treatment costs which are not covered by the court.
$505,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $505,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for contracted services for housing for youth exiting juvenile rehabilitation facilities.
$1,048,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,048,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a contract to provide opioid use disorder post-release education and intervention services.
$1,302,000 of the state opioid abatement settlement account—state appropriation is provided solely for medical personnel to provide medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) education and treatment.
Within existing resources, each agency that receives allocations from the Washington auto theft prevention authority account must produce a report detailing its expenditures from the account for fiscal years 2023, 2024, and 2025, including documentation of how expenditures were used in accordance with RCW 46.66.080. The report must include recommendations based on outcomes from prior years' expenditures for how funds from the account can be used to most effectively prevent auto theft. The report must be submitted to the office of financial management and the fiscal committees of the legislature by October 1, 2025.
Within existing resources, the department shall develop a proposal for future capacity growth. This proposal must evaluate the feasibility of using existing state-owned facilities, including the property and facilities of Mission Creek corrections center for women. The department must submit a report to the office of financial management and the appropriate committees of the legislature by September 15, 2025. The report must include:
Planned bed capacity to align with forecasted bed needs by risk classification that addresses both a short-term solution for immediate relief of overcrowding and a long-term plan to implement best practices;
Assessment of the impact of expanded use of the community transition services program, or other alternatives to total confinement, on bed capacity needs;
Cost estimates for all aspects of the bed capacity plan including a full assessment of necessary capital improvements and staffing needs for both custody and programming; and
Analysis of workforce availability for all locations included in the plan.
$1,418,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for maintenance of the facility, property, and assets at the facility formerly known as the Naselle youth camp in Naselle.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES—EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
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$93,555,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $144,469,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, $91,810,000 of the education legacy trust account—state appropriation, and $120,000,000 of the opportunity pathways account—state appropriation are provided solely for the early childhood education and assistance program. These amounts shall support at least 14,928 slots in fiscal year 2026 and fiscal year 2027. Of the total slots in each fiscal year, 100 slots must be reserved for foster children to receive school-year-round enrollment.
Funding provided in (a) of this subsection is sufficient to:
Provide a slot rate increase of five percent on full day slots beginning in fiscal year 2026 and an additional five percent on full day slots beginning in fiscal year 2027; and
Convert 250 part day slots to full day slots beginning in fiscal year 2027.
The department of children, youth, and families must develop a methodology to identify, at the school district level, the geographic locations of where early childhood education and assistance program slots are needed to meet the entitlement specified in RCW 43.216.556. This methodology must be linked to the caseload forecast produced by the caseload forecast council and must include estimates of the number of slots needed at each school district and the corresponding facility needs required to meet the entitlement in accordance with RCW 43.216.556. This methodology must be included as part of the budget submittal documentation required by RCW 43.88.030.
The department is the lead agency for and recipient of the federal child care and development fund grant. Amounts within this grant shall be used to fund child care licensing, quality initiatives, agency administration, and other costs associated with child care subsidies.
The department of children, youth, and families shall work in collaboration with the department of social and health services to determine the appropriate amount of state expenditures for the working connections child care program to claim towards the state's maintenance of effort for the temporary assistance for needy families program. The departments will also collaborate to track the average monthly child care subsidy caseload and expenditures by fund type, including child care development fund, general fund—state appropriation, and temporary assistance for needy families for the purpose of estimating the annual temporary assistance for needy families reimbursement from the department of social and health services to the department of children, youth, and families. Effective December 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, the department of children, youth, and families must report to the governor and the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the legislature the total state contribution for the working connections child care program claimed the previous fiscal year towards the state's maintenance of effort for the temporary assistance for needy families program and the total temporary assistance for needy families reimbursement from the department of social and health services for the previous fiscal year.
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Funding provided within this section is sufficient to increase subsidy base rates to the 85th percentile of market based on the 2024 market rate survey for child care centers beginning July 1, 2026.
$185,996,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $194,846,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to implement the 2025-2027 collective bargaining agreement covering family child care providers as provided in section 908 of this act. Of the amounts provided in this subsection (4)(b):
$5,342,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $5,784,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are for a 50 cent per hour per child rate increase for family, friends, and neighbor providers (FFNs) beginning July 1, 2025.
$2,785,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $3,343,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are for a health care contribution increase.
$81,367,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $84,918,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are for a cost of care rate enhancement.
$96,502,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $100,801,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided to increase subsidy base rates to the 85th percentile of market based on the 2024 market rate survey for licensed family homes beginning July 1, 2025.
Funding in this subsection must be expended with internal controls that provide child-level detail for all transactions.
On July 1st of each fiscal year, the department, in collaboration with the department of social and health services, must report to the governor and the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the legislature on the status of overpayments in the working connections child care program. The report must include the following information for the previous fiscal year:
A summary of the number of overpayments that occurred;
The reason for each overpayment;
The total cost of overpayments;
A comparison to overpayments that occurred in the past two preceding fiscal years; and
Any planned modifications to internal processes that will take place in the coming fiscal year to further reduce the occurrence of overpayments.
Within available amounts, the department in consultation with the office of financial management shall report enrollments and active caseload for the working connections child care program to the governor and the legislative fiscal committees and the legislative-executive WorkFirst poverty reduction oversight task force on an agreed upon schedule. The report shall also identify the number of cases participating in both temporary assistance for needy families and working connections child care. The department must also report on the number of children served through contracted slots.
Beginning July 1, 2026, funding provided within this section is sufficient for the department to fully comply with the child care development fund requirements, including regulations updated through the final rule for the provision of services to eligible families under the working connections child care program.
$13,166,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the working connections child care program under RCW 43.216.135.
$353,402,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation is reimbursed by the department of social and health services to the department of children, youth, and families for qualifying expenditures of the working connections child care program under RCW 43.216.135.
$1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the department of children, youth, and families to contract with a countywide nonprofit organization with early childhood expertise in Pierce county for a project to prevent child abuse and neglect using nationally recognized models.
The nonprofit organization must continue to implement a countywide resource and referral linkage system for families of children who are prenatal through age five.
The nonprofit organization must offer a voluntary brief newborn home visiting program. The program must meet the diverse needs of Pierce county residents and, therefore, it must be flexible, culturally appropriate, and culturally responsive.
$3,313,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $3,323,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $9,303,000 of the education legacy trust account—state appropriation are provided solely for the early childhood intervention prevention services (ECLIPSE) program. The department shall contract for ECLIPSE services to provide therapeutic child care and other specialized treatment services to abused, neglected, at-risk, and/or drug-affected children. The department shall pursue opportunities to leverage other funding to continue and expand ECLIPSE services. Priority for services shall be given to children referred from the department.
The department shall place a ten percent administrative overhead cap on any contract entered into with the University of Washington. In a bi-annual report to the governor and the legislature, the department shall report the total amount of funds spent on the quality rating and improvements system and the total amount of funds spent on degree incentives, scholarships, and tuition reimbursements.
$1,728,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,728,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for reducing barriers for low-income providers to participate in the early achievers program.
$4,000,000 of the education legacy trust account—state appropriation is provided solely for early intervention assessment and services.
$265,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $265,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a statewide family resource and referral linkage system, with coordinated access point of resource navigators who will connect families with children prenatal through age five with services, programs, and community resources through a facilitated referral and linkage process.
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The department must provide to the education research and data center, housed at the office of financial management, data on all state-funded early childhood programs. These programs include the early support for infants and toddlers, early childhood education and assistance program (ECEAP), and the working connections and seasonal subsidized childcare programs including license-exempt facilities or family, friend, and neighbor care. The data provided by the department to the education research data center must include information on children who participate in these programs, including their name and date of birth, and dates the child received services at a particular facility.
ECEAP early learning professionals must enter any new qualifications into the department's professional development registry each school year. By October of each fiscal year, the department must provide updated ECEAP early learning professional data to the education research data center.
The department must request federally funded head start programs to voluntarily provide data to the department and the education research data center that is equivalent to what is being provided for state-funded programs.
The education research and data center must provide an updated report on early childhood program participation and K-12 outcomes to the house of representatives appropriations committee and the senate ways and means committee using available data every March for the previous school year.
The department, in consultation with the department of social and health services, must withhold payment for services to early childhood programs that do not report on the name, date of birth, and the dates a child received services at a particular facility.
$100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to continue implementation of an infant and early childhood mental health consultation initiative to support tribal child care and early learning programs. Funding may be used to provide culturally congruent infant and early childhood mental health supports for tribal child care, the tribal early childhood education and assistance program, and tribal head start providers. The department must consult with federally recognized tribes which may include round tables through the Indian policy early learning committee.
$550,000 of the education legacy trust account—state appropriation is provided solely for continued expansion and support of family, friend, or neighbor caregivers with a focus on the provision of play and learn groups. The amounts provided in this subsection may be used for the department to:
Fund consistent staffing across the state's six geographic regions to support the needs of family, friend, or neighbor caregivers;
Contract with a statewide child care resource and referral program to sustain and expand the number of facilitated play groups to meet the needs of communities statewide;
Support existing infrastructure for organizations that have developed the three existing play and learn program models so they have capacity to provide training, technical assistance, evaluation, data collection, and other support needed for implementation; and
Provide direct implementation support to community-based organizations that offer play and learn groups.
Within existing resources, the department, in consultation with the office of tribal relations, must prioritize complex needs funds and equity grants to tribal early learning providers.
$270,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,750,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $1,480,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for infant and early childhood mental health consultation. Of the amounts provided in this subsection, $150,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation is for infant and early childhood mental health consultation services to support rural schools and child care programs in rural communities.
$150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to contract with a licensed child care center with an existing child care mental health pilot program in order to implement a holistic and trauma-informed approach that ensures early learning environments are psychologically safe, culturally affirming, and emotionally supportive. The center must be located in Spokane and have a pilot child care mental health program that serves preschool-aged children who face high adverse childhood experiences scores, mental and behavioral health disorders, and are at increased risk of suspension and expulsion due to systemic disparities.
$150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to contract with Washington communities for children to maintain a community-based early childhood network.
$7,409,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $7,843,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for changes to the special education multiplier as specified in either Substitute House Bill No. 1357 (special education funding) or Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5263 (special education funding). If neither bill is enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES—PROGRAM SUPPORT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$275,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $275,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a Washington state mentoring organization to continue its public-private partnerships providing technical assistance and training to mentoring programs that serve at-risk youth.
$25,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $29,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $47,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for the implementation of an agreement reached between the governor and the Washington federation of state employees for the language access providers under the provisions of chapter 41.56 RCW for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, as provided in section 908 of this act.
$100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a full-time employee to coordinate policies and programs to support pregnant and parenting individuals receiving chemical dependency or substance use disorder treatment.
$640,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $640,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for plaintiff legal fees for the settlement agreement under D.S. et al. v. Department of Children, Youth, and Families et al., United States district court for the western district of Washington, cause no. 2:21-cv-00113-BJR. The department must implement the provisions of the settlement agreement pursuant to the timeline and implementation plan provided for under the settlement agreement. This includes implementing provisions related to the emerging adulthood housing program, statewide hub home model, emergent facility-based receiving care resources, exceptional placement costs, and plaintiff legal fees.
$1,248,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,248,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the continuation of the emergency adolescent housing pilot program. The housing pilot will serve hard-to-place foster youth who are at least 16 years old with housing and intensive case management.
$7,295,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $9,251,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $16,547,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely to begin design, development, and implementation of the comprehensive child welfare information system. The funding in this section is subject to the conditions, limitations, and review requirements of section 701 of this act.
The department must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
$250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Substitute House Bill No. 1177 (child welfare housing assist.). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$455,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $455,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to grant to the northwest straits commission to provide funding, technical assistance, and/or coordination support equally to the seven Puget Sound marine resources committees.
$770,000 of the oil spill prevention account—state appropriation is provided solely for a contract with the University of Washington's sea grant program to continue an educational program targeted to small spills from commercial fishing vessels, ferries, cruise ships, ports, and marinas.
$102,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $102,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Executive Order No. 12-07, Washington's response to ocean acidification.
$24,000,000 of the model toxics control operating account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to provide grants to local governments for the purpose of supporting local solid waste and financial assistance programs.
$150,000 of the aquatic lands enhancement account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of the state marine management plan and ongoing costs of the Washington coastal marine advisory council to serve as a forum and provide recommendations on coastal management issues.
$2,000,000 of the model toxics control operating account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to convene a stakeholder group, including representatives from overburdened communities, to assist with developing a water quality implementation plan for polychlorinated biphenyls and to address other emerging contaminants in the Spokane river. The department must also consult with the Spokane tribe of Indians and other interested tribes when developing and implementing actions to address water quality in the Spokane river.
$4,002,000 of the natural climate solutions account—state appropriation is provided solely to address flood prevention in the Nooksack basin and Sumas prairie. Of this amount:
$2,000,000 is provided solely to expand and sustain Whatcom county's floodplain integrated planning (FLIP) team planning process, including supporting communication, community participation, coordination, technical studies and analysis, and development of local solutions.
$900,000 is provided solely for the department to support transboundary coordination, including facilitation and technical support to develop and evaluate alternatives for managing transboundary flooding in Whatcom county and British Columbia.
$1,102,000 is provided solely to support dedicated local and department capacity for floodplain planning and technical support. Of the amount in this subsection (7)(c), $738,000 is solely for a grant to Whatcom county. The remaining amount is for the department to provide ongoing staff technical assistance and support to flood prevention efforts in this area.
$24,536,000 of the climate investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for capacity grants to federally recognized tribes for: (a) Consultation on spending decisions on grants in accordance with RCW 70A.65.305; (b) consultation on clean energy siting projects; (c) activities supporting climate resilience and adaptation; (d) developing tribal clean energy projects; (e) applying for state or federal grant funding; (f) participation on a science advisory panel and other associated work on offshore wind; and (g) other related work. In order to meet the requirements of RCW 70A.65.230(1)(b), tribal applicants are encouraged to include a tribal resolution supporting their request with their grant application. Of this amount, $3,000,000 is reserved solely to ensure completion of grants awarded or amended between January 1, 2025, and June 30, 2025.
$1,375,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,375,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for preparation and filing of adjudications of state water rights in water resource inventory area 1 (Nooksack).
$2,468,000 of the climate investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for addressing air quality in overburdened communities highly impacted by air pollution under RCW 70A.65.020.
$2,256,000 of the model toxics control operating account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to provide technical assistance to landowners and local governments to promote voluntary compliance, implement best management practices, and support implementation of water quality clean-up plans in shellfish growing areas, agricultural areas, forestlands, and other types of land uses, including technical assistance focused on protection and restoration of critical riparian management areas important for salmon recovery.
$1,914,000 of the natural climate solutions account—state appropriation is provided solely for activities related to coastal hazards, including expanding the coastal monitoring and analysis program, operating a coastal hazard organizational resilience team, and operating a coastal hazards grant program to help local communities design projects and apply for funding opportunities. At least 25 percent of the funding in this subsection must be used for the benefit of tribes.
$276,000 of the model toxics control operating account—state appropriation is provided solely for a grant to San Juan county for the enhancement of ongoing oil spill response preparedness staff hiring, spill response equipment acquisition, and spill response training and operational expenses.
$750,000 of the model toxics control operating account—state appropriation is provided solely to:
Identify additional priority consumer products containing PFAS for potential regulatory action; and
Issue orders to manufacturers under RCW 70A.350.040 and 70A.350.030 to obtain ingredient information, including for chemical ingredients used to replace priority chemicals.
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$816,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided to the department of ecology to report on the state's authority relevant to the potential siting and permitting of floating offshore wind energy projects in federal waters off Washington's Pacific Ocean coast. In coordination with the departments of fish and wildlife, natural resources, and parks, the energy facility site evaluation council, and the utilities and transportation commission, the department shall:
Study and report on how and when state laws, regulations, and enforceable policies apply during a federal process for floating offshore wind energy projects, including the siting of associated onshore and nearshore transmission infrastructure;
Identify the state's regulatory decisions in the federal process for which a state agency would be required to undergo consultation with federally recognized tribes and solicit public comment; and
Evaluate and recommend whether additional regulatory actions are needed to improve the state's readiness for a federal leasing process, including but not limited to:
(A) Modification and/or addition to the state's enforceable policies under the federal coastal zone management act in 16 U.S.C Sec. 1456 and articulated in the state's marine spatial plan adopted under chapter 43.372 RCW; and
(B) Designation of a geographic location description under 16 U.S.C. Sec. 1465.
b. In developing the report, the department shall consult with federally recognized tribes and seek input from interested and affected parties, including the Washington coastal marine advisory council established in RCW 43.143.050. The department, in coordination with other state agencies, shall also host a minimum of two scenario planning exercises where agencies test run how their authority would be applied in the event of a federal leasing for offshore wind projects. The department shall incorporate the lessons it learns from these exercises into the report.
c. The department shall submit a report summarizing its findings and recommendations to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by November 1, 2026.
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$731,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided to convene a tribal-state science advisory panel to guide the advancement of our scientific understanding of potential ecological impacts of floating offshore wind projects. Considering current research, the advisory panel should develop a prioritized science agenda to increase understanding of how floating offshore wind projects sited off of Washington's coast could impact Washington's marine and coastal environment and resources, with an emphasis on potential impacts to treaty-protected tribal resources. The advisory panel should also consider and advance understanding of how offshore projects could be designed and sited to avoid or minimize identified impacts and maximize co-use with other ocean uses. The department shall invite representatives from coastal tribes, inter-tribal organizations, and relevant state agencies to participate on the advisory panel. In coordination with the advisory panel, the department shall:
Identify and catalog the potentially significant ecological impacts that floating offshore wind projects sited off of Washington's coastline may have on Washington's marine and coastal environment, including consideration of potential impacts to upwelling and the California current ecosystem;
Contract with a third-party science organization to conduct a literature review of scientific studies on the identified potentially significant ecological impacts and summarize impacts that are not substantiated by literature, impacts for which the literature find successful avoidance or mitigation measures, and impacts needing additional study;
After considering the findings from the literature review, develop a prioritized scientific agenda to increase understanding of how offshore wind could impact Washington's marine and coastal environment and resources, with an emphasis on potential impacts to treaty-protected tribal resources; and
Coordinate with other states to identify and leverage joint opportunities for advancing research.
In conducting its work, the department and advisory panel must seek input from scientific experts and may seek input from federal agencies, coastal stakeholders including fishing representatives, and representatives from the offshore wind industry.
By November 1, 2026, the department shall submit a report to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature summarizing its findings and the prioritized scientific agenda.
$4,428,000 of the water quality permit account—state appropriation, $2,212,000 of the model toxics control operating account—state appropriation, and $1,864,000 of the hazardous waste assistance account—state appropriation are provided solely for the department to address and mitigate 6PPD. The department may provide funding from this subsection to the University of Washington and Washington State University for the purposes of this subsection. Of these amounts:
$1,094,000 of the model toxics control operating account—state appropriation is provided solely to conduct monitoring and analyze water and sediment for 6PPD.
$1,864,000 of the hazardous waste assistance account—state appropriation and $1,118,000 of the model toxics control operating account—state appropriation is provided solely to find safer alternatives to 6PPD in consumer products.
$4,428,000 of the water quality permit account—state appropriation is provided solely to identify effective best management practices to treat 6PPD in stormwater.
$1,317,000 of the natural climate solutions account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to assist local governments in building climate resilience by addressing emerging implementation challenges and updating guidance for local jurisdictions, including integration of updated climate policies through amendments to local shoreline master programs.
$331,000 of the natural climate solutions account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to coordinate implementation of the state's climate resilience strategy developed pursuant to chapter 70A.05 RCW. The department shall coordinate resilience activities among state agencies identified in the strategy, gather data from state agencies to support tracking and progress reporting, and conduct outreach and engagement. The department may also facilitate the establishment of the recommended durable governance structure and support implementation of key resilience activities, as resources allow.
$542,000 of the aquatic lands enhancement account—state appropriation is provided solely to support research to enhance understanding of European green crab behavior and dispersal in Washington's waters and inform the state's response to this invasive pest. The department shall hold technical assistance workshops for natural resource managers to implement larval identification monitoring programs.
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$3,908,000 of the model toxics control operating account—state appropriation and $100,000 of the water quality permit account—state appropriation are provided solely to:
Investigate and monitor the sources and impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment;
Identify and reduce the risks posed by PFAS used in industry, manufacturing, and businesses through outreach activities and technical assistance to those that have or currently use PFAS;
Support water quality source control and treatment of PFAS at municipal wastewater facilities and cleanup sites. The department will use the amount identified in this subsection from the water quality permit account to complete a study of state waste discharge permittees to inform how the state should best manage these discharges; and
Increase cleanup capacity at PFAS contaminated sites.
When engaging in work benefiting specific communities, the department shall prioritize investments to benefit vulnerable populations in overburdened communities as defined in RCW 70A.02.010 with a goal of investing at least 40 percent of funds to this purpose.
$400,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to develop a report that analyzes equity and accessibility considerations for environmental incident reporting and resolution, and to provide recommendations for changes and improvements. The department will consult with relevant government entities that manage environmental incident reporting for incidents that pollute and damage land, air, and water, such as the department of health, the office of the attorney general, regional air agencies, and relevant state and local agencies. The department will consult with Washington state community based and non-governmental organizations representing overburdened communities. The department may contract with a third party to prepare the report.
The report must include: (i) An overview of the existing environmental incident reporting systems in Washington state and a description of business objectives; (ii) challenges, barriers, and accessibility concerns with the current state environmental incident reporting systems; (iii) evaluation of possible service gaps in incident reporting in overburdened communities; and (iv) options and recommendations for improving environmental incident reporting, including improvements to reporting access, process transparency, and equitable service to overburdened communities and vulnerable populations.
By October 1, 2026, the department must submit its final report and recommendations to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature.
$639,000 of the model toxics control operating account—state appropriation, $255,000 of the climate investment account—state appropriation, $128,000 of the water quality permit account—state appropriation, and $128,000 of the waste reduction, recycling, and litter control account—state appropriation are provided solely for the department to continue implementation of environmental justice requirements in the HEAL act, state and federal environmental justice and equity mandates, and embed expertise within specific environmental programs.
The department must report the department's expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
$500,000 of the climate investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1912 (agricultural fuel/CCA exemption). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$2,816,000 of the climate investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1975 (climate commitment act). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$1,115,000 of the clean fuels program account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1409 (clean fuels program). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$456,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1462 (hydrofluorocarbons). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$379,000 of the waste reduction, recycling, and litter control account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1607 (recycling & waste reduction). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$212,000 of the model toxics control operating account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Substitute House Bill No. 1670 (sewage-containing spills). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$493,000 of the model toxics control operating account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1154 (solid waste handling). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$152,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $119,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1819 (transmission capacity). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$261,000 of the model toxics control operating account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1497 (waste material management). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, when determining the placement of air quality monitoring for the benefit of overburdened communities as required in RCW 70A.65.020(1)(b), the department must prioritize:
Placing air monitoring stations in locations that are physically within overburdened communities;
Engaging with local and tribal governments and community organizations; and
Funding and supporting, to the extent feasible, evidence-supported community-based air monitoring for PM 2.5 pollutants in overburdened communities.
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$100,000 of the model toxics control operating account— state appropriation is provided solely for the department to contract with property owners adjacent to the site designated by the department as cleanup site identification number 16913 for access to the owners' property in order for the department to perform remediation work. Such contracts may include reimbursement for access to the owners' property that occurred between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2027.
Such contracts shall be for the fair market rental value of any space used, made inaccessible, or otherwise made unavailable to rent commercially as a result of the remediation work carried out by the department. The fair market value determination shall be based on market conditions prior to the point at which the department began its remediation activities and shall be based on comparable properties. The department shall provide the owner of any such property with a written statement of, and summary of the basis for, its assessment of the fair market rental value.
FOR THE WASHINGTON POLLUTION LIABILITY INSURANCE PROGRAM
FOR THE STATE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$129,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $129,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a grant for the operation of the Northwest weather and avalanche center.
The commission must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
$500,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for cultural resource vulnerability assessments.
FOR THE RECREATION AND CONSERVATION OFFICE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$37,000 of the firearms range account—state appropriation is provided solely to the recreation and conservation funding board for administration of the firearms range grant program as described in RCW 79A.25.210.
$5,025,000 of the recreation resources account—state appropriation is provided solely to the recreation and conservation funding board for administrative and coordinating costs of the recreation and conservation office and the board as described in RCW 79A.25.080(1).
$1,557,000 of the NOVA program account—state appropriation is provided solely to the recreation and conservation funding board for administration of the nonhighway and off-road vehicle activities program as described in chapter 46.09 RCW.
$1,704,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,704,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for operational and administrative support of lead entities and salmon recovery regions.
$100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a grant to a nonprofit organization with a mission for salmon and steelhead restoration to install and store near-term solutions to prevent steelhead mortality at the Hood canal bridge.
The office must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND LAND USE HEARINGS OFFICE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$379,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $379,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $100,000 of the climate investment account—state appropriation are provided solely for the agency to hire staff to respond to increased caseloads, including appeals as a result of the climate commitment act, chapter 316, Laws of 2021.
The office must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
$37,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 is provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1409 (clean fuels program). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
FOR THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$4,000,000 of the natural climate solutions account—state appropriation is provided solely to the commission to work with conservation districts to implement priority forest health and community wildfire resilience projects.
$1,000,000 of the natural climate solutions account—state appropriation is provided solely to connect scientists, practitioners, and researchers and coordinate efforts to monitor and quantify benefits of best management practices on agricultural lands, and better understand values and motivations of landowners to implement voluntary incentive programs.
$10,684,000 of the public works assistance account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of the voluntary stewardship program. This amount may not be used to fund agency indirect and administrative expenses.
The commission must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
$1,000,000 of the natural climate solutions account—state appropriation are provided solely to increase native tree and shrub availability for riparian restoration projects under the governor's salmon strategy.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$1,777,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,777,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to grant to the northwest Indian fisheries commission for hatchery operations that are prioritized to increase prey abundance for southern resident orcas, including $200,000 per fiscal year for tagging and marking costs, and the remainder to grant to tribes in the following amounts per fiscal year: $150,000 for the Quinault Indian Nation, $199,000 for the Tulalip Tribes, $268,000 for the Quileute Tribe, $186,000 for the Puyallup Tribe, $122,000 for the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe, $25,000 for the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, $207,000 for the Squaxin Island Tribe, $142,000 for the Skokomish Indian Tribe, and $278,000 for the Lummi Nation.
$330,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $330,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to provide to the Yakama Nation for hatchery operations that are prioritized to increase prey abundance for southern resident orcas.
$175,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $175,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to grant to public utility districts for additional hatchery production that is prioritized to increase prey abundance for southern resident orcas.
$467,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $467,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to pay for emergency fire suppression costs. These amounts may not be used to fund agency indirect and administrative expenses.
$400,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $400,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a state match to support the Puget Sound nearshore partnership between the department and the United States army corps of engineers.
$6,082,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $6,082,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to implement eradication and control measures on European green crabs through coordination and grants with partner organizations. The department must provide annual progress reports on the success and challenges of the measures to the appropriate committees of the legislature by September 15th of each fiscal year.
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$390,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $390,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to develop conflict mitigation strategies for wolf recovery and staff resources statewide for response to wolf-livestock conflicts. The department shall not hire contract range riders in northeast Washington unless there is a gap in coverage from entities funded through the northeast Washington wolf-livestock management grant program as provided in RCW 16.76.020. The department must focus on facilitating coordination with other entities providing conflict deterrence, including range riding, and technical assistance to livestock producers in order to minimize wolf-livestock issues. The department is discouraged from the use of firearms from helicopters for removing wolves.
Of the amounts provided in (a) of this subsection, $200,000 shall be used to implement a conflict mitigation pilot program in Southeast Washington in partnership with projects guarding the respective interests of predators and humans.
$639,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $639,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to provide additional capacity to the attorney general's office to prosecute environmental crimes. The department must provide an annual report by December 1st of each year, to the appropriate committees of the legislature, on the progress made in prosecuting environmental crimes.
$560,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $560,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for expanded management of pinniped populations on the lower Columbia river and its tributaries with the goal of increasing chinook salmon abundance and prey availability for southern resident orcas.
$6,042,000 of the model toxics control operating account—state appropriation is provided solely to continue and increase the capacity to analyze salmon contaminants of emerging concern (CEC), including substances such as 6PPD-quinone, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in already collected tissue samples. This research will accelerate recovery and protection by identifying the location and sources of CEC exposure.
$130,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $130,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for an external facilitator to seek solutions through a collaborative process using the department's wolf advisory group.
$285,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $285,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to manage electronic tracked crab fishery gear to avoid whale entanglements during their migration in accordance with the endangered species act incidental take permit.
$1,200,000 of the natural climate solutions account—state appropriation is provided solely to reduce severe wildfire risk and increase forest resiliency through fuels reduction, thinning, fuel break creation, and prescribed burning on agency lands. The amounts provided in this subsection may not be used to fund agency indirect and administrative expenses.
$15,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $15,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the protection, recovery, and restoration of biodiversity, the recovery of threatened and endangered species, and a review of the department of fish and wildlife. Examples include habitat protection and restoration, technical assistance for growth management act planning, fish passage improvements, conservation education, scientific research for species and ecosystem protection, and similar activities. Funding in this subsection may include pass-throughs to public, nonprofit, academic, or tribal entities for the purposes of this subsection.
The department must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
$1,175,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,175,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to continue to restore shrubsteppe habitat and associated wildlife on public lands as well as private lands by landowners who are willing to participate. The restoration effort must be coordinated with other natural resource agencies and interested stakeholders.
$3,750,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $3,750,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $1,200,000 of the limited fish and wildlife account—state appropriation are provided solely to continue to address the maintenance backlog associated with providing recreation on lands managed by the department. Allowable uses include, but are not limited to, maintenance, repair, or replacement of trails, toilet facilities, roads, parking lots, campgrounds, picnic sites, water access areas, signs, kiosks, and gates. The department is encouraged to partner with nonprofit organizations in the maintenance of public lands.
$250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to increase the work of regional fisheries enhancement groups.
$1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for habitat recovery and restoration work on agency owned and managed lands damaged from wildfires.
$1,866,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $584,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, $1,219,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation, $513,000 of the general fund—private/local appropriation, $5,000 of the ORV and nonhighway vehicle account—state appropriation, $104,000 of the aquatic lands enhancement account—state appropriation, $22,000 of the warm water game fish account—state appropriation, $5,000 of the eastern Washington pheasant enhancement account—state appropriation, $271,000 of the limited fish and wildlife account—state appropriation, $21,000 of the special wildlife account—state appropriation, $9,000 of the oil spill prevention account—state appropriation, $56,000 of the model toxics control operating account—state appropriation, and $634,000 of the fish, wildlife, and conservation account—state appropriation, are provided solely to procure a human resource management system. The agency will evaluate and prioritize management systems that have the capability to track and manage volunteer safety training requirements. A letter must be sent to the director of the office of financial management explaining the rationale if the agency selects a technical solution that is not able to support management of volunteer training requirements. The project is subject to the conditions, limitations, and review requirements of section 701 of this act.
$1,810,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,810,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $3,262,000 of the general fund—private/local appropriation are provided solely for monitoring and response efforts for invasive quagga mussels. Possible activities include coordination with tribal, federal, regional, state, and local entities, watercraft inspections and decontamination, equipment and training, monitoring of potential residential and commercial pathways, and public outreach.
$1,150,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation and $530,000 of the natural climate solutions account—state appropriation are provided solely for increasing management planning capacity for habitat connectivity and to achieve meaningful greenhouse gas emissions reduction through energy efficiency projects.
$900,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $489,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to implement response efforts to chronic wasting disease in accordance with the chronic wasting disease management plan.
FOR THE PUGET SOUND PARTNERSHIP
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
By October 15, 2026, the Puget Sound partnership shall provide the governor and appropriate legislative fiscal committees a single, prioritized list of state agency 2027-2029 capital and operating budget requests related to Puget Sound recovery and restoration.
$350,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $350,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the partnership to implement shipping noise reduction initiatives and monitoring programs in the Puget Sound, in coordination with Canadian and United States authorities. The partnership must contract with Washington maritime blue in order to establish and administer the quiet sound program to better understand and reduce the cumulative effects of acoustic and physical disturbance from large commercial vessels on southern resident orcas throughout their range in Washington state. Washington maritime blue will support a quiet sound leadership committee and work groups that include relevant federal and state agencies, ports, industry, research institutions, and nongovernmental organizations and consult early and often with relevant federally recognized tribes.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$2,823,000 of the natural climate solutions account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to carry out the forest practices adaptive management program pursuant to RCW 76.09.370 and the May 24, 2012, settlement agreement entered into by the department and the department of ecology. Scientific research must be carried out according to the master project schedule and work plan of cooperative monitoring, evaluation, and research priorities adopted by the forest practices board.
$1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the small forest landowner office, in order to restore staffing capacity reduced during the great recession and to support small forest landowners, including assistance related to forest and fish act regulations.
$1,583,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,515,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for deposit into the agricultural college trust management account and are provided solely to manage approximately 70,700 acres of Washington State University's agricultural college trust lands.
$85,320,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $85,320,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $16,050,000 of the disaster response account—state appropriation are provided solely for emergency response, including fire suppression. The department shall provide a monthly report to the office of financial management and the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the legislature with an update of fire suppression costs incurred and the number and type of wildfires suppressed.
$9,317,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $9,317,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $396,000 of the disaster response account—state appropriation are provided solely for indirect and administrative expenses related to fire suppression.
$5,500,000 of the forest and fish support account—state appropriation is provided solely for outcome-based performance contracts with tribes to participate in the implementation of the forest practices program. Contracts awarded may only contain indirect costs set at or below the rate in the contracting tribe's indirect cost agreement with the federal government. Of the amount provided in this subsection, $500,000 is contingent upon receipts under RCW 82.04.261 exceeding $8,000,000 per biennium. If receipts under RCW 82.04.261 are more than $8,000,000 but less than $8,500,000 for the biennium, an amount equivalent to the difference between actual receipts and $8,500,000 shall lapse.
Consistent with the recommendations of the Wildfire Suppression Funding and Costs (18-02) report of the joint legislative audit and review committee, the department shall submit a report to the governor and legislature by December 1, 2025, and December 1, 2026, describing the previous fire season. At a minimum, the report shall provide information for each wildfire in the state, including its location, impact by type of land ownership, the extent it involved timber or range lands, cause, size, costs, and cost-share with federal agencies and nonstate partners. The report must also be posted on the agency's website.
$4,206,000 of the aquatic land enhancement account—state appropriation is provided solely for the removal of creosote pilings and debris from the marine environment and to continue monitoring zooplankton and eelgrass beds on state-owned aquatic lands managed by the department. Actions will address recommendations to recover the southern resident orca population and to monitor ocean acidification as well as help implement the Puget Sound action agenda.
$286,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $286,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for compensation to the trust beneficiaries and department for lost revenue from leases to amateur radio operators who use space on the department managed radio towers for their equipment. The department is authorized to lease sites at the rate of up to $100 per year, per site, per lessee. The legislature makes this appropriation to fulfill the remaining costs of the leases at market rate per RCW 79.13.510.
$1,350,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,350,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for increased law enforcement capacity on agency managed lands, to develop a statewide recreation plan, and to jointly create a statewide data management system with the Washington department of fish and wildlife and the state parks and recreation commission to make informed management decisions that meet conservation goals for public lands. The agencies will also collaborate with tribal governments to ensure cultural resources and cultural practices are considered and incorporated into agency management plans.
$7,066,000 of the natural climate solutions account—state appropriation is provided solely for investment in urban forestry to support reduction of negative environmental conditions such as heat, flooding, and pollution and helping communities become greener, cleaner, healthier, and more resilient.
$1,830,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to make investments in education and training to bolster a statewide natural resources workforce to support the health and resilience of Washington's forests. Of this amount, $400,000 is provided solely to provide wildland fire management training to tribal communities and members.
The department must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
$500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the department to coordinate with the Olympic natural resources center to study emerging ecosystem threats such as Swiss needlecast disease, fully implement the T3 watershed experiments on state trust lands, continue field trials for long-term ecosystem productivity, and engage stakeholders through learning-based collaboration.
$3,750,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $3,750,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to continue to address the maintenance backlog associated with providing recreation on lands managed by the department. Allowable uses include, but are not limited to, maintenance, repair, or replacement of trails, toilet facilities, roads, parking lots, campgrounds, picnic sites, water access areas, signs, kiosks, and gates. The department is encouraged to partner with nonprofit organizations in the maintenance of public lands.
$2,543,000 of the resource management cost account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to implement eradication and control measures on European green crabs on state-owned aquatic lands and adjacent lands as appropriate. The department must report to and coordinate with the department of fish and wildlife to support the department of fish and wildlife's quarterly progress reports to the legislature.
The department must enter into an interagency agreement with the department of fish and wildlife to complete biological survey work necessary to implement the wildstock geoduck commercial fishery. The department must compensate the department of fish and wildlife for direct costs, but not for agency overhead or indirect costs.
$254,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $186,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1563 (prescribed fire claims). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$4,342,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $4,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for local food system infrastructure and market access grants.
$2,380,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,381,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementing a Popillia japonica monitoring and eradication program in central Washington.
$46,625,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $46,625,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementing the emergency food assistance program as defined in RCW 43.23.290.
$912,000 of the northeast Washington wolf-livestock management nonappropriated account—state appropriation is provided solely for the department to conduct the following:
Offer grants for the northeast Washington wolf-livestock management program as provided in RCW 16.76.020. Funds from the grant program must be used only for the deployment of nonlethal deterrence, specifically with the goal to reduce the likelihood of cattle being injured or killed by wolves by deploying proactive, preventative methods that have a high probability of producing effective results. Grant proposals will be assessed partially on this intent. Grantees who use funds for range riders or herd monitoring must deploy this tool in a manner so that targeted areas with cattle are visited daily or near daily. Grantees must collaborate with other grantees of the program and other entities providing prevention efforts resulting in coordinated wolf-livestock conflict deterrence efforts, both temporally and spatially, therefore providing well timed and placed preventative coverage on the landscape. Additionally, range riders must document their activities with GPS track logs and provide written description of their efforts to the department of fish and wildlife on a monthly basis. The department shall incorporate the requirements of this subsection into contract language with the grantees.
Within the amounts provided in this subsection, the department may provide up to $100,000 each fiscal year to the sheriffs offices of Ferry and Stevens counties for providing a local wildlife specialist to aid the department of fish and wildlife in the management of wolves in northeast Washington.
$424,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $425,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of chapter 135, Laws of 2022, which requires the department to establish and maintain cannabis testing lab quality standards by rule.
$1,490,000 of the model toxics control operating account—state appropriation is provided solely to increase capacity and support work to reduce nitrate pollution in groundwater from irrigated agriculture in the lower Yakima valley.
$462,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $462,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $700,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely to match federal funding for eradication treatments and follow-up monitoring of invasive moths.
$200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to continue the early detection program for the spotted lanternfly and the associated invasive Ailanthus altissima, known colloquially as tree-of-heaven, survey and control programs.
The department must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
$170,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $170,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to continue a shellfish coordinator position.
$318,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $317,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for compliance-based laboratory analysis of pesticides in cannabis.
$277,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $79,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to ensure compliance with the federal food and drug administration's food safety modernization act as the agency adjusts fee schedules to accommodate the increased inspection workload.
$1,786,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely to support planning and development of statewide livestock composting infrastructure to protect human health and reduce greenhouse gas emission.
$300,000 of the model toxics control operating account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Substitute House Bill No. 1309 (burrowing shrimp). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$118,000 of the model toxics control operating account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Substitute House Bill No. 1294 (pesticide application committee). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the department to collaborate with local organizations and community leaders to provide agricultural and economic support, training, and services to those historically marginalized and underrepresented in agriculture and ranching across the state. Potential areas of focus include sustainable agricultural practices, engagement in agricultural activities for youth exposed to poverty and violence, growth of culturally relevant crops, and family strengthening.
FOR THE ENERGY FACILITY SITE EVALUATION COUNCIL
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$1,068,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely to support agency operations and to hire additional environmental siting and compliance positions needed to support an anticipated workload increase from new clean energy projects.
$1,034,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for preapplication development and clean energy manufacturing review, reimbursement to tribes for costs associated with clean energy project application reviews, and contracted services for green hydrogen and clean energy manufacturing programs.
The council must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$150,000 of the concealed pistol license renewal notification account—state appropriation is provided solely to implement chapter 74, Laws of 2017 (concealed pistol license).
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$3,000,000 of the climate investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for payments to support farm fuel users and transporters who have purchased fuel for agricultural purposes that is exempt from the requirements of the climate commitment act, as described in RCW 70A.65.080(7)(e). The payment structure outlined in (b) of this subsection is intended to:
Benefit farming and transportation operations, prioritizing noncorporate farms;
Enable ease of use and accessibility for recipients; and
Promote speed and efficiency in administering the payments.
The department must use a tiered system of payments based on the annual number of gallons of agricultural fuel consumed, as determined by the farm fuel user or transporter in a signed attestation. The department shall use the following payment tiers:
$600 to recipients with annual agricultural fuel use of less than 1,000 gallons;
$2,300 to recipients with annual agricultural fuel use greater than or equal to 1,000 gallons and less than 4,000 gallons;
$3,400 to recipients with annual agricultural fuel use greater than or equal to 4,000 gallons and less than 10,000 gallons; and
$4,500 to recipients with annual agricultural fuel use greater than or equal to 10,000 gallons.
Recipients of payments under this subsection may submit receipts and other documentation as part of their attestation showing that they were overcharged for fuel costs due to the impact of chapter 70A.65 RCW.
The department may use no more than five percent of the amounts provided for this specific purpose on administration.
The department must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
$146,000 of the business and professions account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of House Bill No. 1300 (professional accounts). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$2,440,000 of the business and professions account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Substitute House Bill No. 1023 (cosmetology compact). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$400,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the certified real estate appraiser licensure and regulatory program to supplement revenue from fees. The department shall adjust the annual fees for new or renewed licenses for certified real estate appraisers to no more than 33 percent over the fees in effect as of October 1, 2024. The department shall establish the adjusted fees no later than October 14, 2025.
FOR THE WASHINGTON STATE PATROL
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$7,500,000 of the disaster response account—state appropriation is provided solely for Washington state fire service resource mobilization costs incurred in response to an emergency or disaster authorized under RCW 43.43.960 through 43.43.964. The state patrol shall submit a report quarterly to the office of financial management and the legislative fiscal committees detailing information on current and planned expenditures from this account. This work shall be done in coordination with the military department.
$500,000 of the disaster response account—state appropriation, is provided solely for implementation of Substitute House Bill No. 1271 (state fire service deploy.). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$1,000,000 of the fire service training account—state appropriation is provided solely for the firefighter apprenticeship training program.
Any funds provided to the missing and exploited children task force shall ensure operations are adherent to federally established internet crimes against children standards.
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$150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the Washington state patrol to provide assistance to the forensic investigation council for the following:
Compliance with chapter 42.56 RCW (public records act), chapter 42.30 RCW (open public meetings act), records management requirements, general administrative support, and payment processing;
In coordination with Washington technology solutions, the creation and maintenance of a website for the forensic investigation council; and
In coordination with Washington technology solutions, state email addresses for the forensic investigation council.
To provide this assistance, the Washington state patrol may assist directly or may enter into interagency agreements as it deems appropriate.
$467,000 of the fingerprint identification account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1163 (firearm purchasing). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$329,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $242,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1440 (civil forfeiture proceedings). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
BASE OPERATIONS AND EXPENSES OF THE OFFICE
$26,388,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $25,870,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the operation and expenses of the office of the superintendent of public instruction.
By October 31st of each year, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall produce an annual status report on implementation of the budget provisos in this section and section 515 of this act. The status report of each proviso shall include, but not be limited to, the following information: Purpose and objective, number of state staff funded by the proviso, number of contractors, status of proviso implementation, number of beneficiaries by year, list of beneficiaries, a comparison of budgeted funding and actual expenditures, other sources and amounts of funding, and proviso outcomes and achievements.
Districts shall annually report to the office of the superintendent of public instruction on: (A) The annual number of graduating high school seniors within the district earning the Washington state seal of biliteracy provided in RCW 28A.300.575; and (B) the number of high school students earning competency-based high school credits for world languages by demonstrating proficiency in a language other than English. The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall provide a summary report to the office of the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1st of each year.
The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall perform ongoing program reviews of alternative learning experience programs, dropout reengagement programs, and other high risk programs. Findings from the program reviews will be used to support and prioritize the office of the superintendent of public instruction outreach and education efforts that assist school districts in implementing the programs in accordance with statute and legislative intent, as well as to support financial and performance audit work conducted by the office of the state auditor.
$826,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $804,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the implementation of chapter 240, Laws of 2010, including staffing the office of equity and civil rights.
$61,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $61,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the ongoing work of the education opportunity gap oversight and accountability committee.
$286,000 of the Washington opportunity pathways account—state appropriation is provided solely for activities related to public schools other than common schools authorized under chapter 28A.710 RCW.
$385,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $385,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the office of native education to increase services to tribes, including but not limited to, providing assistance to tribes and school districts to implement Since Time Immemorial, applying to become tribal compact schools, convening the Washington state native American education advisory committee, and extending professional learning opportunities to provide instruction in tribal history, culture, and government. The professional development must be done in collaboration with school district administrators and school directors. Funding in this subsection is sufficient for the office, the Washington state school directors' association government-to-government task force, and the association of educational service districts to collaborate with the tribal leaders congress on education to develop a tribal consultation training and schedule.
Districts shall report to the office the results of each collective bargaining agreement for certificated staff within their district using a uniform template as required by the superintendent, within thirty days of finalizing contracts. The data must include but is not limited to: Minimum and maximum base salaries, supplemental salary information, and average percent increase for all certificated instructional staff. Within existing resources by December 1st of each year, the office shall produce a report for the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee summarizing the district level collective bargaining agreement data.
$440,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $436,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for providing proactive and solutions-oriented regional and local technical and financial assistance to districts.
$3,205,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,205,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the financial education public-private partnership and for the implementation of chapter 238, Laws of 2022 (student financial literacy) which provides grants to school districts for integrating financial literacy education into professional development for certificated staff. Of the amounts provided within this subsection, up to $1,205,000 of the general fund—state appropriation in each fiscal year may be used for the operational expenses of the financial education public private partnership.
DATA SYSTEMS
$1,802,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,802,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementing a comprehensive data system to include financial, student, and educator data, including development and maintenance of the comprehensive education data and research system (CEDARS).
$281,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $281,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for K-20 telecommunications network technical support in the K-12 sector to prevent system failures and avoid interruptions in school utilization of the data processing and video-conferencing capabilities of the network. These funds may be used to purchase engineering and advanced technical support for the network.
$450,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $450,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the superintendent of public instruction to develop and implement a statewide accountability system to address absenteeism and to improve student graduation rates. The system must use data to engage schools and districts in identifying successful strategies and systems that are based on federal and state accountability measures. Funding may also support the effort to provide assistance about successful strategies and systems to districts and schools that are underperforming in the targeted student subgroups.
WORK GROUPS
$68,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $68,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of chapter 128, Laws of 2023 (regional apprenticeship prgs).
$200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the office of the superintendent of public instruction to meet statutory obligations related to the provision of medically and scientifically accurate, age-appropriate, and inclusive sexual health education as authorized by chapter 206, Laws of 1988 (AIDS omnibus act) and chapter 265, Laws of 2007 (healthy youth act).
$200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of chapter 386, Laws of 2019 (social emotional learning).
$107,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $107,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the office to support the children and youth behavioral health work group created in chapter 130, Laws of 2020 (child. mental health wk. grp).
$125,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $51,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1414 (CTE careers work group). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
STATEWIDE PROGRAMS
$2,836,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,836,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the Washington kindergarten inventory of developing skills. State funding shall support statewide administration and district implementation of the inventory under RCW 28A.655.080.
$703,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $703,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of chapter 72, Laws of 2016 (educational opportunity gap).
$950,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $950,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the Washington reading corps. The superintendent shall allocate reading corps members to schools identified for comprehensive or targeted support and school districts that are implementing comprehensive, proven, research-based reading programs. Two or more schools may combine their Washington reading corps programs.
$260,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $260,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for chapter 102, Laws of 2014 (biliteracy seal) and chapter 202, Laws of 2024 (dual and tribal language edu.). Of the amounts provided in this subsection, $250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the office to provide students with access to methods for students to demonstrate proficiency in less commonly taught or assessed languages.
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$50,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $50,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for school bullying and harassment prevention activities.
$570,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $570,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the office of the superintendent of public instruction to provide statewide support and coordination for the regional network of behavioral health, school safety, and threat assessment established in chapter 333, Laws of 2019 (school safety and well-being).
$196,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $196,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the school safety center within the office of the superintendent of public instruction. The school safety center may use funding provided within this subsection to provide school districts with behavioral health telehealth resources. The amounts provided within this subsection may be supplemented by private funding to support behavioral health telehealth resources for school districts.
$162,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $162,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for youth suicide prevention activities.
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$530,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $530,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, $637,000 of the dedicated cannabis account—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, and $658,000 of the dedicated cannabis account—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for dropout prevention, intervention, and reengagement programs, dropout prevention programs that provide student mentoring, and the building bridges statewide program. The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall convene staff representatives from high schools to meet and share best practices for dropout prevention. Of these amounts, the entire dedicated cannabis account—state appropriation is provided solely for the building bridges statewide program and for grants to districts for life skills training for children and youth in K-12.
$293,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $293,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the office of the superintendent of public instruction to support district implementation of comprehensive guidance and planning programs in support of high-quality high school and beyond plans consistent with RCW 28A.230.090.
$269,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $142,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of chapter 353, Laws of 2020 (innovative learning pilot).
$200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the office of the superintendent of public instruction to provide statewide coordination towards multicultural, culturally responsive, and anti-racist education to support academically, socially, and culturally literate learners. The office must engage community members and key interested parties to:
Develop a clear definition and framework for African American studies to guide instruction in grades seven through twelve;
Develop a plan for aligning African American studies across all content areas; and
Identify professional development opportunities for educators and administrators to build capacity in creating high-quality learning environments centered in belonging and racial equity, anti-racist approaches, and asset-based methodologies that pull from all students' cultural funds of knowledge.
$1,157,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,157,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of chapter 164, Laws of 2021 (institutional ed./release).
$553,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $553,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the office of the superintendent of public instruction to develop and implement a mathematics pathways pilot to modernize algebra II. The office should use research and engage stakeholders to develop a revised and expanded course.
$3,348,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $3,348,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the language access technical assistance program established in chapter 107, Laws of 2022 (language access in schools).
$300,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $300,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the superintendent to establish a media literacy and digital citizenship ambassador program to promote the integration of media literacy and digital citizenship instruction.
$75,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $75,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the office to contract with a nongovernmental agency to coordinate and serve as a fiscal agent and to cover direct costs of the project education impact work group to achieve educational parity for students experiencing foster care and/or homelessness, consistent with chapter 233, Laws of 2020. The office must contract with a nongovernmental agency with experience coordinating administrative and fiscal support for project education impact.
$100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1296 (public education system). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$8,400,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $8,400,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for either Substitute House Bill No. 1357 (special education funding) or Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5263 (special education funding). If neither bill is enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse. Of the amounts provided in this subsection:
$6,400,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $8,400,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are for 20 pilot schools to establish school-wide centers of excellence for inclusionary practices; and
$2,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are for six demonstration sites to support inclusive teaching practices and student behavior management practices and 16 pilot sites committed to adopting best practices.
CAREER CONNECTED LEARNING
$1,048,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,048,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for career connected learning activities as provided in RCW 28C.30.020.
FOR THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$1,954,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,929,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $351,000 of the Washington opportunity pathways account—state appropriation are provided solely for the operation and expenses of the state board of education.
$23,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $23,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the state board of education to be a member in the education commission of the states.
FOR THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR STANDARDS BOARD
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
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$2,478,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,424,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are for the operation and expenses of the Washington professional educator standards board including implementation of chapter 172, Laws of 2017 (educator prep. data/PESB).
Within the amounts provided in this subsection (1), the professional educator standards board must initiate the development of standards for two specialty endorsements, one in elementary ethnic studies and one in secondary ethnic studies. The professional educator standards board must consult with teacher education faculty and ethnic studies faculty to confirm the endorsements reflect the appropriate content necessary for the discipline at developmentally appropriate levels. The ethnic studies specialty endorsements must be available to all certificated teachers who hold a valid teaching license and who demonstrate content and pedagogical knowledge in ethnic studies.
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$600,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $600,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for grants to improve preservice teacher training and funding of alternate routes to certification programs administered by the professional educator standards board.
Within the amounts provided in this subsection (2), up to $496,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and up to $496,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for grants to public or private colleges of education in Washington state to develop models and share best practices for increasing the classroom teaching experience of preservice training programs.
$1,001,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $997,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the recruiting Washington teachers program with priority given to programs that support bilingual teachers, teachers from populations that are underrepresented, and English language learners. Of the amounts provided in this subsection (3), $500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation and expansion of the bilingual educator initiative pilot project established under RCW 28A.180.120.
$13,035,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $13,035,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of chapter 237, Laws of 2017 (paraeducators). Of the amounts provided in this subsection: $12,250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $12,373,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for grants to districts to provide two days of training per school year in the paraeducator certificate program to all paraeducators. Funds in this subsection are provided solely for reimbursement to school districts that provide paraeducators with two days of training in the paraeducator certificate program in each of the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. Funding provided in this subsection is sufficient for new paraeducators to receive four days of training in the paraeducator certificate program during their first year. School districts receiving grants under this subsection must prioritize funding toward compensation for paraeducators who complete the required hours of instruction per school year. Of the amounts provided within this subsection, up to $750,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for each fiscal year may be used to further develop, update, and maintain the paraeducator training program and professional learning materials, increase paraeducator access across the full spectrum of training curriculum, and remove barriers for paraeducators who are unable to afford the cost of assessments.
$106,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $88,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1285 (financial education). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
$28,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1651 (teacher residency & apprent.). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR GENERAL APPORTIONMENT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
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Each general fund fiscal year appropriation includes such funds as are necessary to complete the school year ending in the fiscal year and for prior fiscal year adjustments.
For the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years, the superintendent shall allocate general apportionment funding to school districts as provided in the funding formulas and salary allocations in sections 504 and 505 of this act, excluding (c) of this subsection.
From July 1, 2025, to August 31, 2025, the superintendent shall allocate general apportionment funding to school districts programs as provided in sections 504 and 505, chapter 376, Laws of 2024, as amended.
The enrollment of any district shall be the annual average number of full-time equivalent students and part-time students as provided in RCW 28A.150.350, enrolled on the fourth day of school in September and on the first school day of each month October through June, including students who are in attendance pursuant to RCW 28A.335.160 and 28A.225.250 who do not reside within the servicing school district. Any school district concluding its basic education program in May must report the enrollment of the last school day held in May in lieu of a June enrollment.
Funding provided in part V of this act is sufficient to provide each full-time equivalent student with the minimum hours of instruction required under RCW 28A.150.220.
The superintendent shall adopt rules requiring school districts to report full-time equivalent student enrollment as provided in RCW 28A.655.210.
CERTIFICATED INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF ALLOCATIONS
Allocations for certificated instructional staff salaries for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years are determined using formula-generated staff units calculated pursuant to this subsection.
a. Certificated instructional staff units, as defined in RCW 28A.150.410, shall be allocated to reflect the minimum class size allocations, requirements, and school prototypes assumptions as provided in RCW 28A.150.260. The superintendent shall make allocations to school districts based on the district's annual average full-time equivalent student enrollment in each grade.
b. Additional certificated instructional staff units provided in this subsection (2) that exceed the minimum requirements in RCW 28A.150.260 are enhancements outside the program of basic education, except as otherwise provided in this section.
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i. The superintendent shall base allocations for each level of prototypical school, including those at which more than 50 percent of the students were eligible for free and reduced-price meals in the prior school year, on the following regular education average class size of full-time equivalent students per teacher, except as provided in (c)(ii) of this subsection:
General education class size:
Grade
RCW 28A.150.260
2025-26
School Year
2026-27
School Year
Grade K
17.00
17.00
Grade 1
17.00
17.00
Grade 2
17.00
17.00
Grade 3
17.00
17.00
Grade 4
27.00
27.00
Grades 5-6
27.00
27.00
Grades 7-8
28.53
28.53
Grades 9-12
28.74
28.74
The superintendent shall base allocations for: Laboratory science average class size as provided in RCW 28A.150.260; career and technical education (CTE) class size of 23.0; and skill center program class size of 19. Certificated instructional staff units provided for skills centers that exceed the minimum requirements of RCW 28A.150.260 achieve class size reductions under RCW 28A.400.007 and are part of the state's program of basic education.
ii. Pursuant to RCW 28A.150.260(4)(a), the assumed teacher planning period, expressed as a percentage of a teacher work day, is 13.42 percent in grades K-6, and 16.67 percent in grades 7-12.
iii. Advanced placement and international baccalaureate courses are funded at the same class size assumptions as general education schools in the same grade.
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i. Funding for teacher librarians, school nurses, social workers, school psychologists, and guidance counselors is allocated based on the school prototypes as provided in RCW 28A.150.260, and is considered certificated instructional staff.
ii. Students in approved career and technical education and skill center programs generate certificated instructional staff units to provide for the services of teacher librarians, school nurses, social workers, school psychologists, and guidance counselors at the following combined rate per 1000 student full-time equivalent enrollment:
2025-26
School Year
2026-27
School Year
Career and Technical Education
3.91
3.91
Skill Center
4.25
4.25
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF ALLOCATIONS
Prototypical School Building:
Elementary School
1.253
Middle School
1.353
High School
1.880
b. Students in approved career and technical education and skill center programs generate certificated school building-level administrator staff units at per student rates that are a multiple of the general education rate in (a) of this subsection by the following factors:
Career and Technical Education students1.025
Skill Center students1.198
Allocations for classified staff units providing school building-level and district-wide support services for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years are determined using the formula-generated staff units provided in RCW 28A.150.260 and pursuant to this subsection, and adjusted based on each district's annual average full-time equivalent student enrollment in each grade.
In addition to classified and administrative staff units allocated in subsections (3) and (4) of this section, classified and administrative staff units are provided for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years for the central office administrative costs of operating a school district, at the following rates:
a. The total central office staff units provided in this subsection (5) are calculated by first multiplying the total number of eligible certificated instructional, certificated administrative, and classified staff units providing school-based or district-wide support services, as identified in RCW 28A.150.260(6)(b) and the increased allocations provided pursuant to subsections (2) and (4) of this section, by 5.3 percent.
b. Of the central office staff units calculated in (a) of this subsection, 74.53 percent are allocated as classified staff units, as generated in subsection (4) of this section, and 25.48 percent shall be allocated as administrative staff units, as generated in subsection (3) of this section.
c. Staff units generated as enhancements outside the program of basic education to the minimum requirements of RCW 28A.150.260, and staff units generated by skill center and career-technical students, are excluded from the total central office staff units calculation in (a) of this subsection.
d. For students in approved career-technical and skill center programs, central office classified units are allocated at the same staff unit per student rate as those generated for general education students of the same grade in this subsection (5), and central office administrative staff units are allocated at staff unit per student rates that exceed the general education rate established for students in the same grade in this subsection (5) by 12.46 percent in the 2025-26 school year and 12.46 percent in the 2026-27 school year for career and technical education students, and 17.79 percent in the 2025-26 school year and 17.79 percent in the 2026-27 school year for skill center students.
Fringe benefit allocations shall be calculated at a rate of 16.33 percent in the 2025-26 school year and 16.33 percent in the 2026-27 school year for certificated salary allocations provided under subsections (2), (3), and (5) of this section, and a rate of 19.73 percent in the 2025-26 school year and 18.73 percent in the 2026-27 school year for classified salary allocations provided under subsections (4) and (5) of this section.
Insurance benefit allocations shall be calculated at the rates specified in section 506 of this act, based on the number of benefit units determined as follows: Except for nonrepresented employees of educational service districts, the number of calculated benefit units determined below. Calculated benefit units are staff units multiplied by the benefit allocation factors established in the collective bargaining agreement referenced in section 911 of this act. These factors are intended to adjust allocations so that, for the purpose of distributing insurance benefits, full-time equivalent employees may be calculated on the basis of 630 hours of work per year, with no individual employee counted as more than one full-time equivalent. The number of benefit units is determined as follows:
a. The number of certificated staff units determined in subsections (2), (3), and (5) of this section multiplied by 1.02; and
b. The number of classified staff units determined in subsections (4) and (5) of this section multiplied by 1.43.
Funding is allocated per annual average full-time equivalent student for the materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC) incurred by school districts, consistent with the requirements of RCW 28A.150.260.
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i. MSOC funding for general education students are allocated at the following per student rates:
MSOC RATES/STUDENT FTE
MSOC Component
2025-26
School Year
2026-27
School Year
Technology
$187.86
$192.56
Utilities and Insurance
$451.58
$462.87
Curriculum and Textbooks
$172.63
$176.95
Other Supplies
$342.72
$351.29
Library Materials
$23.78
$24.37
Instructional Professional Development for Certificated
and Classified Staff
$30.38
$31.14
Facilities Maintenance
$216.44
$221.85
Security and Central Office
$153.62
$157.46
TOTAL MSOC/STUDENT FTE
$1,579.01
$1,618.49
ii. For the 2025-26 school year and 2026-27 school year, as part of the budget development, hearing, and review process required by chapter 28A.505 RCW, each school district must disclose: (A) The amount of state funding to be received by the district under (a) and (d) of this subsection (8); (B) the amount the district proposes to spend for materials, supplies, and operating costs; (C) the difference between these two amounts; and (D) if (a)(ii)(A) of this subsection (8) exceeds (a)(ii)(B) of this subsection (8), any proposed use of this difference and how this use will improve student achievement.
b. Students in approved skill center programs generate per student FTE MSOC allocations of $1,810.11 for the 2025-26 school year and $1,855.36 for the 2026-27 school year.
c. Students in approved exploratory and preparatory career and technical education programs generate per student FTE MSOC allocations of $1,810.11 for the 2025-26 school year and $1,855.36 for the 2026-27 school year.
d. Students in grades 9-12 generate per student FTE MSOC allocations in addition to the allocations provided in (a) through (c) of this subsection at the following rate:
MSOC Component
2025-26
School Year
2026-27
School Year
Technology
$46.22
$47.37
Curriculum and Textbooks
$50.44
$51.70
Other Supplies
$98.73
$101.20
Library Materials
$6.35
$6.51
Instructional Professional Development for Certified
and Classified Staff
$8.41
$8.62
TOTAL GRADE 9-12 BASIC EDUCATION MSOC/STUDENT FTE
$210.15
$215.40
For the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years, funding for substitute costs for classroom teachers is based on four (4) funded substitute days per classroom teacher unit generated under subsection (2) of this section, at a daily substitute rate of $151.86.
ALTERNATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE PROGRAM FUNDING
Amounts provided in this section from July 1, 2025, to August 31, 2025, are adjusted to reflect provisions of chapter 376, Laws of 2024, as amended (allocation of funding for students enrolled in alternative learning experiences).
The superintendent of public instruction shall require all districts receiving general apportionment funding for alternative learning experience (ALE) programs as defined in WAC 392-121-182 to provide separate financial accounting of expenditures for the ALE programs offered in district or with a provider, including but not limited to private companies and multidistrict cooperatives, as well as accurate, monthly headcount and FTE enrollment claimed for basic education, including separate counts of resident and nonresident students.
DROPOUT REENGAGEMENT PROGRAM
The superintendent shall adopt rules to require students claimed for general apportionment funding based on enrollment in dropout reengagement programs authorized under RCW 28A.175.100 through 28A.175.115 to meet requirements for at least weekly minimum instructional contact, academic counseling, career counseling, or case management contact. Districts must also provide separate financial accounting of expenditures for the programs offered by the district or under contract with a provider, as well as accurate monthly headcount and full-time equivalent enrollment claimed for basic education, including separate enrollment counts of resident and nonresident students.
For small school districts and remote and necessary school plants within any district which have been judged to be remote and necessary by the superintendent of public instruction, additional staff units are provided to ensure a minimum level of staffing support. Additional administrative and certificated instructional staff units provided to districts in this subsection shall be reduced by the general education staff units, excluding career and technical education and skills center enhancement units, otherwise provided in subsections (2) through (5) of this section on a per district basis.
a. For districts enrolling not more than twenty-five average annual full-time equivalent students in grades K-8, and for small school plants within any school district which have been judged to be remote and necessary by the superintendent of public instruction and enroll not more than twenty-five average annual full-time equivalent students in grades K-8:
i. For those enrolling no students in grades 7 and 8, 1.76 certificated instructional staff units and 0.24 certificated administrative staff units for enrollment of not more than five students, plus one-twentieth of a certificated instructional staff unit for each additional student enrolled; and
ii. For those enrolling students in grades 7 or 8, 1.68 certificated instructional staff units and 0.32 certificated administrative staff units for enrollment of not more than five students, plus one-tenth of a certificated instructional staff unit for each additional student enrolled;
b. For specified enrollments in districts enrolling more than twenty-five but not more than one hundred average annual full-time equivalent students in grades K-8, and for small school plants within any school district which enroll more than twenty-five average annual full-time equivalent students in grades K-8 and have been judged to be remote and necessary by the superintendent of public instruction:
i. For enrollment of up to sixty annual average full-time equivalent students in grades K-6, 2.76 certificated instructional staff units and 0.24 certificated administrative staff units; and
ii. For enrollment of up to twenty annual average full-time equivalent students in grades 7 and 8, 0.92 certificated instructional staff units and 0.08 certificated administrative staff units;
c. For districts operating no more than two high schools with enrollments of less than three hundred average annual full-time equivalent students, for enrollment in grades 9-12 in each such school, other than alternative schools, except as noted in this subsection:
i. For remote and necessary schools enrolling students in any grades 9-12 but no more than twenty-five average annual full-time equivalent students in grades K-12, four and one-half certificated instructional staff units and one-quarter of a certificated administrative staff unit;
ii. For all other small high schools under this subsection, nine certificated instructional staff units and one-half of a certificated administrative staff unit for the first sixty average annual full-time equivalent students, and additional staff units based on a ratio of 0.8732 certificated instructional staff units and 0.1268 certificated administrative staff units per each additional forty-three and one-half average annual full-time equivalent students;
iii. Districts receiving staff units under this subsection shall add students enrolled in a district alternative high school and any grades nine through twelve alternative learning experience programs with the small high school enrollment for calculations under this subsection;
d. For each nonhigh school district having an enrollment of more than seventy annual average full-time equivalent students and less than one hundred eighty students, operating a grades K-8 program or a grades 1-8 program, an additional one-half of a certificated instructional staff unit;
e. For each nonhigh school district having an enrollment of more than fifty annual average full-time equivalent students and less than one hundred eighty students, operating a grades K-6 program or a grades 1-6 program, an additional one-half of a certificated instructional staff unit;
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i. For enrollments generating certificated staff unit allocations under (a) through (e) of this subsection, one classified staff unit for each 2.94 certificated staff units allocated under such subsections;
ii. For each nonhigh school district with an enrollment of more than fifty annual average full-time equivalent students and less than one hundred eighty students, an additional one-half of a classified staff unit; and
g. School districts receiving additional staff units to support small student enrollments and remote and necessary plants under this subsection (12) shall generate additional MSOC allocations consistent with the nonemployee related costs (NERC) allocation formula in place for the 2010-11 school year as provided section 502, chapter 37, Laws of 2010 1st sp. sess. (2010 supplemental budget), adjusted annually for inflation.
Any school district board of directors may petition the superintendent of public instruction by submission of a resolution adopted in a public meeting to reduce or delay any portion of its basic education allocation for any school year. The superintendent of public instruction shall approve such reduction or delay if it does not impair the district's financial condition. Any delay shall not be for more than two school years. Any reduction or delay shall have no impact on levy authority pursuant to RCW 84.52.0531 and local effort assistance pursuant to chapter 28A.500 RCW.
The superintendent may distribute funding for the following programs outside the basic education formula during fiscal years 2026 and 2027 as follows:
$650,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $650,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for fire protection for school districts located in a fire protection district as now or hereafter established pursuant to chapter 52.04 RCW.
$436,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $436,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for programs providing skills training for secondary students who are enrolled in extended day school-to-work programs, as approved by the superintendent of public instruction. The funds shall be allocated at a rate not to exceed $500 per full-time equivalent student enrolled in those programs.
Funding in this section is sufficient to fund a maximum of 1.6 FTE enrollment for skills center students pursuant to chapter 463, Laws of 2007.
Funding in this section is sufficient to fund a maximum of 1.2 FTE enrollment for career launch students pursuant to RCW 28A.700.130. Expenditures for this purpose must come first from the appropriations provided in section 501(5) of this act; funding for career launch enrollment exceeding those appropriations is provided in this section. The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall provide a summary report to the office of the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by January 1, 2026. The report must include the total FTE enrollment for career launch students, the FTE enrollment for career launch students that exceeded the appropriations provided in section 501(5) of this act, and the amount expended from this section for those students.
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Students participating in running start programs may be funded up to a combined maximum enrollment of 1.4 FTE including school district and institution of higher education enrollment consistent with the running start course requirements provided in chapter 202, Laws of 2015 (dual credit education opportunities). In calculating the combined 1.4 FTE, the office of the superintendent of public instruction:
Must adopt rules to fund the participating student's enrollment in running start courses provided by the institution of higher education during the summer academic term; and
May average the participating student's September through June enrollment to account for differences in the start and end dates for courses provided by the high school and the institution of higher education.
In consultation with the state board for community and technical colleges, the participating institutions of higher education, the student achievement council, and the education data center, must annually track and report to the fiscal committees of the legislature on the combined FTE experience of students participating in the running start program, including course load analyses at both the high school and community and technical college system.
If two or more school districts consolidate and each district was receiving additional basic education formula staff units pursuant to subsection (12) of this section, the following apply:
For three school years following consolidation, the number of basic education formula staff units shall not be less than the number of basic education formula staff units received by the districts in the school year prior to the consolidation; and
For the fourth through eighth school years following consolidation, the difference between the basic education formula staff units received by the districts for the school year prior to consolidation and the basic education formula staff units after consolidation pursuant to subsection (12) of this section shall be reduced in increments of twenty percent per year.
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Indirect cost charges by a school district to approved career and technical education middle and secondary programs shall not exceed the lesser of five percent or the cap established in federal law of the combined basic education and career and technical education program enhancement allocations of state funds. Middle and secondary career and technical education programs are considered separate programs for funding and financial reporting purposes under this section.
Career and technical education program full-time equivalent enrollment shall be reported on the same monthly basis as the enrollment for students eligible for basic support, and payments shall be adjusted for reported career and technical education program enrollments on the same monthly basis as those adjustments for enrollment for students eligible for basic support.
$20,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the superintendent of public instruction for contingency funds to eligible school districts in the form of advances of their general apportionment allocations. A school district approved for an emergency advance payment under WAC 392-121-438 is eligible for allocations under this subsection. Advances provided under this subsection may be repaid by a reduction in the school district's apportionment payments on or before June 30th of the school year following the distribution of the allocation. Funding under this subsection must be prioritized to school districts with the greatest need as determined by the superintendent's analysis of school districts' financial health. Emergency advance payments made by the superintendent above the amounts provided under this subsection must be repaid according to WAC 392-121-443.
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—BASIC EDUCATION EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION
Statewide Minimum Salary Allocation
Staff Type
2025-26
School Year
2026-27
School Year
Certificated Instructional
$80,164
$82,248
Certificated Administrative
$118,994
$122,088
Classified
$57,507
$59,002
For the purposes of this section, "LEAP Document 3" means the school district regionalization factors for certificated instructional, certificated administrative, and classified staff, as developed by the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee on March 3, 2024, at 11:16 hours.
Incremental fringe benefit factors are applied to salary adjustments at a rate of 15.7 percent for school year 2025-26 and 15.7 percent for school year 2026-27 for certificated instructional and certificated administrative staff and 16.38 percent for school year 2025-26 and 15.38 percent for the 2026-27 school year for classified staff.
The salary allocations established in this section are for allocation purposes only except as provided in this subsection, and do not entitle an individual staff position to a particular paid salary except as provided in RCW 28A.400.200, as amended by chapter 13, Laws of 2017 3rd sp. sess. (fully funding the program of basic education).
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR SCHOOL EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION ADJUSTMENTS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
The salary increases provided in this section are 2.5 percent for the 2025-26 school year, and 2.6 percent for the 2026-27 school year, the annual inflationary adjustments pursuant to RCW 28A.400.205.
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In addition to salary allocations, the appropriations in this section include funding for professional learning as defined in RCW 28A.415.430, 28A.415.432, and 28A.415.434. Funding for this purpose is calculated as the equivalent of three days of salary and benefits for each of the funded full-time equivalent certificated instructional staff units. Nothing in this section entitles an individual certificated instructional staff to any particular number of professional learning days.
Of the funding provided for professional learning in this section, the equivalent of one day of salary and benefits for each of the funded full-time equivalent certificated instructional staff units in the 2025-26 school year must be used to train school district staff on cultural competency, diversity, equity, or inclusion, as required in chapter 197, Laws of 2021.
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The appropriations in this section include associated incremental fringe benefit allocations at 15.7 percent for the 2025-26 school year and 15.7 percent for the 2026-27 school year for certificated instructional and certificated administrative staff and 16.38 percent for the 2025-26 school year and 15.38 percent for the 2026-27 school year for classified staff.
The appropriations in this section include the increased or decreased portion of salaries and incremental fringe benefits for all relevant state-funded school programs in part V of this act. Changes for general apportionment (basic education) are based on the salary allocations and methodology in sections 504 and 505 of this act. Changes for special education result from changes in each district's basic education allocation per student. Changes for educational service districts and institutional education programs are determined by the superintendent of public instruction using the methodology for general apportionment salaries and benefits in sections 504 and 505 of this act. Changes for pupil transportation are determined by the superintendent of public instruction pursuant to RCW 28A.160.192, and impact compensation factors in sections 504, 505, and 506 of this act.
The appropriations in this section include no salary adjustments for substitute teachers.
The appropriations in this section are sufficient to fund the collective bargaining agreement referenced in part IX of this act and reflect the incremental change in cost of allocating rates as follows: For the 2025-26 school year, $1,306 per month and for the 2026-27 school year, $1,336 per month.
The rates specified in this section are subject to revision each year by the legislature.
$2,023,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $4,164,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for changes to the special education multiplier as specified in either Substitute House Bill No. 1357 (special education funding) or Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5263 (special education funding). If neither bill is enacted by June 30, 2025, these amounts shall lapse.
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR PUPIL TRANSPORTATION
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
Each general fund fiscal year appropriation includes such funds as are necessary to complete the school year ending in the fiscal year and for prior fiscal year adjustments.
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For the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years, the superintendent shall allocate funding to school district programs for the transportation of eligible students as provided in RCW 28A.160.192. Funding in this section constitutes full implementation of RCW 28A.160.192, which enhancement is within the program of basic education. Students are considered eligible only if meeting the definitions provided in RCW 28A.160.160.
From July 1, 2025, to August 31, 2025, the superintendent shall allocate funding to school districts programs for the transportation of students as provided in section 507, chapter 376, Laws of 2024, as amended.
Within amounts appropriated in this section, up to $10,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and up to $10,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are for a transportation alternate funding grant program based on the alternate funding process established in RCW 28A.160.191. The superintendent of public instruction must include a review of school district efficiency rating, key performance indicators and local school district characteristics such as unique geographic constraints in the grant award process.
A maximum of $939,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and a maximum of $939,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 may be expended for regional transportation coordinators and related activities. The transportation coordinators shall ensure that data submitted by school districts for state transportation funding shall, to the greatest extent practical, reflect the actual transportation activity of each district.
Subject to available funds under this section, school districts may provide student transportation for summer skills center programs.
The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall provide reimbursement funding to a school district for school bus purchases only after the superintendent of public instruction determines that the school bus was purchased from the list established pursuant to RCW 28A.160.195(2) or a comparable competitive bid process based on the lowest price quote based on similar bus categories to those used to establish the list pursuant to RCW 28A.160.195.
The superintendent of public instruction shall base depreciation payments for school district buses on the presales tax five-year average of lowest bids in the appropriate category of bus. In the final year on the depreciation schedule, the depreciation payment shall be based on the lowest bid in the appropriate bus category for that school year.
The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall annually disburse payments for bus depreciation in August.
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—SCHOOL FOOD SERVICES
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$11,667,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $11,667,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for state matching money for federal child nutrition programs, and may support the meals for kids program through the following allowable uses:
Elimination of breakfast copays for eligible public school students and lunch copays for eligible public school students in grades pre-kindergarten through twelfth grades who are eligible for reduced-price lunch as required in chapter 74, Laws of 2021 (reduced-price lunch copays);
Assistance to school districts and authorized public and private nonprofit organizations for supporting summer food service programs, and initiating new summer food service programs in low-income areas;
Reimbursements to school districts for school breakfasts served to students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch, pursuant to chapter 287, Laws of 2005; and
Assistance to school districts in initiating and expanding school breakfast programs.
The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall report annually to the fiscal committees of the legislature on annual expenditures in subsection (1)(a) through (c) of this section.
The superintendent of public instruction shall provide the department of health with the following data, where available, for all nutrition assistance programs that are funded by the United States department of agriculture and administered by the office of the superintendent of public instruction. The superintendent must provide the report for the preceding federal fiscal year by February 1, 2026, and February 1, 2027. The report must provide:
The number of people in Washington who are eligible for the program;
The number of people in Washington who participated in the program;
The average annual participation rate in the program;
Participation rates by geographic distribution; and
The annual federal funding of the program in Washington.
$83,617,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $83,617,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for reimbursements to school districts for schools and groups of schools required to participate in the federal community eligibility program under section 1, chapter 7, Laws of 2022 (schools/comm. eligibility) for meals not reimbursed at the federal free meal rate.
$24,634,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $24,634,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of chapter 379, Laws of 2023 (free school meals).
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
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Funding for special education programs is provided on an excess cost basis, pursuant to RCW 28A.150.390. School districts shall ensure that special education students as a class receive their full share of the general apportionment allocation accruing through sections 504 and 506 of this act. To the extent a school district cannot provide an appropriate education for special education students under chapter 28A.155 RCW through the general apportionment allocation, it shall provide services through the special education excess cost allocation funded in this section.
Funding provided within this section is sufficient for districts to provide school principals and lead special education teachers annual professional development on the best-practices for special education instruction and strategies for implementation. Districts shall annually provide a summary of professional development activities to the office of the superintendent of public instruction.
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The superintendent of public instruction shall ensure that:
Special education students are basic education students first;
As a class, special education students are entitled to the full basic education allocation; and
Special education students are basic education students for the entire school day.
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The superintendent of public instruction shall continue to implement the full cost method of excess cost accounting, as designed by the committee and recommended by the superintendent, pursuant to section 501(1)(k), chapter 372, Laws of 2006, except as provided in (b)(ii) of this subsection.
The superintendent of public instruction shall implement any changes to excess cost accounting methods required under chapter 417, Laws of 2023 (special education funding).
Each fiscal year appropriation includes such funds as are necessary to complete the school year ending in the fiscal year and for prior fiscal year adjustments.
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For the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years, the superintendent shall allocate funding to school district programs for special education students as provided in RCW 28A.150.390, except that the calculation of the base allocation also includes allocations provided under section 504 (2) and (4) of this act and RCW 28A.150.415, which enhancement is within the program of basic education.
From July 1, 2025, to August 31, 2025, the superintendent shall allocate funding to school district programs for special education students as provided in section 509, chapter 376, Laws of 2024, as amended.
The following applies throughout this section: The definitions for enrollment and enrollment percent are as specified in RCW 28A.150.390(3). Each district's general fund—state funded special education enrollment shall be the lesser of the district's actual enrollment percent or 16 percent.
At the request of any interdistrict cooperative of at least 15 districts in which all excess cost services for special education students of the districts are provided by the cooperative, the maximum enrollment percent shall be calculated in accordance with RCW 28A.150.390(3) (c) and (d), and shall be calculated in the aggregate rather than individual district units. For purposes of this subsection, the average basic education allocation per full-time equivalent student shall be calculated in the aggregate rather than individual district units.
$205,458,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $205,458,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $29,574,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for safety net awards for districts with demonstrated needs for special education funding beyond the amounts provided in subsection (4) of this section. If the federal safety net awards based on the federal eligibility threshold exceed the federal appropriation in this subsection (7) in any fiscal year, the superintendent shall expend all available federal discretionary funds necessary to meet this need. At the conclusion of each school year, the superintendent shall recover safety net funds that were distributed prospectively but for which districts were not subsequently eligible.
For the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years, safety net funds shall be awarded by the state safety net oversight committee as provided in section 109(1) chapter 548, Laws of 2009 (education).
The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall make award determinations for state safety net funding in August of each school year, except that the superintendent of public instruction shall make award determinations for state safety net funding in July of each school year for the Washington state school for the blind and for the center for childhood deafness and hearing loss. Determinations on school district eligibility for state safety net awards shall be based on analysis of actual expenditure data from the current school year.
A maximum of $1,250,000 may be expended from the general fund—state appropriations to fund teachers and aides at Seattle children's hospital. This amount is in lieu of money provided through the home and hospital allocation and the special education program.
The superintendent shall maintain the percentage of federal flow-through to school districts at 85 percent. In addition to other purposes, school districts may use increased federal funds for high-cost students, for purchasing regional special education services from educational service districts, and for staff development activities particularly relating to inclusion issues.
A school district may carry over from one year to the next year up to 10 percent of the general fund—state funds allocated under this program; however, carryover funds shall be expended in the special education program.
$87,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $87,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $214,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for a special education family liaison position within the office of the superintendent of public instruction.
$660,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for litigation costs for N.D. v. Reykdal, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.
$76,886,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $87,565,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for changes to the special education multiplier and quarterly safety net payments as specified in either Substitute House Bill No. 1357 (special education funding) or Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5263 (special education funding). If neither bill is enacted by June 30, 2025, these amounts shall lapse.
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICE DISTRICTS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
The educational service districts shall continue to furnish financial services required by the superintendent of public instruction and RCW 28A.310.190 (3) and (4).
Funding within this section is provided for regional professional development related to mathematics and science curriculum and instructional strategies aligned with common core state standards and next generation science standards. Funding shall be distributed among the educational service districts in the same proportion as distributions in the 2007-2009 biennium. Each educational service district shall use this funding solely for salary and benefits for a certificated instructional staff with expertise in the appropriate subject matter and in professional development delivery, and for travel, materials, and other expenditures related to providing regional professional development support.
Funding in this section is provided for regional professional development related to English language arts curriculum and instructional strategies aligned with common core state standards. Each educational service district shall use this funding solely for salary and benefits for certificated instructional staff with expertise in the appropriate subject matter and in professional development delivery, and for travel, materials, and other expenditures related to providing regional professional development support.
Funding in this section is provided for regional technical support for the K-20 telecommunications network to prevent system failures and avoid interruptions in school utilization of the data processing and video-conferencing capabilities of the network. These funds may be used to purchase engineering and advanced technical support for the network.
Funding in this section is provided for a corps of nurses located at the educational service districts, to be dispatched in coordination with the office of the superintendent of public instruction, to provide direct care to students, health education, and training for school staff. In fiscal years 2026 and 2027, allocations for the corps of nurses is sufficient to provide one day per week of nursing services for all second-class school districts.
Funding in this section is provided for staff and support at the nine educational service districts to provide a network of support for school districts to develop and implement comprehensive suicide prevention and behavioral health supports for students.
Funding in this section is provided for staff and support at the nine educational service districts to provide assistance to school districts with comprehensive safe schools planning, conducting needs assessments, school safety and security trainings, coordinating appropriate crisis and emergency response and recovery, and developing threat assessment and crisis intervention teams. In fiscal years 2026 and 2027, allocations for staff and support for regional safety centers are increased to 3 full-time equivalent certificated instructional staff for each regional safety center.
Funding in this section is provided for regional English language arts coordinators to provide professional development of teachers and principals around the new early screening for dyslexia requirements.
The educational service districts, at the request of the state board of education pursuant to RCW 28A.310.010 and 28A.305.130, may receive and screen applications for school accreditation, conduct school accreditation site visits pursuant to state board of education rules, and submit to the state board of education post-site visit recommendations for school accreditation. The educational service districts may assess a cooperative service fee to recover actual plus reasonable indirect costs for the purposes of this subsection.
$2,169,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,169,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for each educational service district to provide technology consultation, procurement, and training required under chapter 301, Laws of 2021 (schools/computers & devices).
$2,179,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,229,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of chapter 87, Laws of 2022 (ed. service district funding).
$2,700,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the cost of employing one full-time equivalent employee at each of the nine education service districts to support the expansion of career connected learning.
$500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for educational service districts to provide students attending school in rural areas with access to a mental health professional using telemedicine. Funding must be prioritized to districts where mental health services are inadequate or nonexistent due to geographic constraints. Funding may be used for schools or school districts for technology upgrades to provide secure access for students, for contracted services, or to pay applicable copays or fees for telemedicine visits if not covered by a student's public or private insurance.
$4,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $4,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to continue behavioral health regional services grants to support school districts with the least access to behavioral health services.
$643,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $643,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for educational service districts 121 and 101 to coordinate with local mental health agencies and local school districts to arrange for in-school placements of social worker associates licensed under RCW 18.225.145 and masters in social work candidates enrolled in an accredited university program who commit to working as school social workers, and to coordinate clinical supervision for approved supervisors that meet the requirements as defined in rule by the department of health to provide the necessary supervision to the social worker associates and masters in social work candidates.
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR LOCAL EFFORT ASSISTANCE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: $49,053,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $167,816,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of changes to the local effort assistance formula as specified in House Bill No. 2049 (K-12 education funding). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR INSTITUTIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
Each general fund—state fiscal year appropriation includes such funds as are necessary to complete the school year ending in the fiscal year and for prior fiscal year adjustments.
State funding provided under this section is based on salaries and other expenditures for a 220-day school year. The superintendent of public instruction shall monitor school district expenditure plans for institutional education programs to ensure that districts plan for a full-time summer program.
State funding for each institutional education program shall be based on the institution's annual average full-time equivalent student enrollment. Staffing ratios for each category of institution shall remain the same as those funded in the 1995-97 biennium.
The funded staffing ratios for education programs for juveniles age 18 or less in department of corrections facilities shall be the same as those provided in the 1997-99 biennium.
$710,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $710,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to maintain at least one certificated instructional staff and related support services at an institution whenever the K-12 enrollment is not sufficient to support one full-time equivalent certificated instructional staff to furnish the educational program. The following types of institutions are included: Residential programs under the department of social and health services for developmentally disabled juveniles, programs for juveniles under the department of corrections, programs for juveniles under the juvenile rehabilitation administration, and programs for juveniles operated by city and county jails.
Within the amounts provided in this section, funding is provided to increase the capacity of institutional education programs to differentiate instruction to meet students' unique educational needs, including students with individualized educational plans. Those needs may include but are not limited to one-on-one instruction, enhanced access to counseling for social emotional needs of the student, and services to identify the proper level of instruction at the time of student entry into the facility. Allocations of amounts for this purpose in a school year must be based on 45 percent of full-time enrollment in institutional education receiving a differentiated instruction amount per pupil equal to the total statewide allocation generated by the distribution formula under RCW 28A.150.260 (4)(a), (5), (6), and (8) and the allocation under RCW 28A.150.415, per the statewide full-time equivalent enrollment in common schools.
$200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to support two student records coordinators to manage the transmission of academic records for each of the long-term juvenile institutions. One coordinator is provided for each of the following: The Issaquah school district for the Echo Glen children's center and for the Chehalis school district for Green Hill academic school.
Ten percent of the funds allocated for the institution may be carried over from one year to the next.
$588,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $897,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for one educational advocate to each institution with enrollments above 40 full-time equivalent students in addition to any educational advocates supported by federal funding. Educational advocates will provide the following supports to students enrolled in or just released from institutional education programs:
Advocacy for institutional education students to eliminate barriers to educational access and success;
Consultation with juvenile rehabilitation staff to develop educational plans for and with participating youth;
Monitoring educational progress of participating students;
Providing participating students with school and local resources that may assist in educational access and success upon release from institutional education facilities; and
Coaching students and caregivers to advocate for educational needs to be addressed at the school district upon return to the community.
Within the amounts provided in this section, funding is provided to increase materials, supplies, and operating costs by $85 per pupil for technology supports for institutional education programs. This funding is in addition to general education materials, supplies, and operating costs provided to institutional education programs, which exclude formula costs supported by the institutional facilities.
$400,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $400,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to support instruction in cohorts of students grouped by similar age and academic levels.
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR PROGRAMS FOR HIGHLY CAPABLE STUDENTS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
Each general fund fiscal year appropriation includes such funds as are necessary to complete the school year ending in the fiscal year and for prior fiscal year adjustments.
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For the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years, the superintendent shall allocate funding to school district programs for highly capable students as provided in RCW 28A.150.260(10)(c) except that allocations must be based on 5.0 percent of each school district's full-time equivalent enrollment. In calculating the allocations, the superintendent shall assume the following: (i) Additional instruction of 2.1590 hours per week per funded highly capable program student; (ii) fifteen highly capable program students per teacher; (iii) 36 instructional weeks per year; (iv) 900 instructional hours per teacher; and (v) the compensation rates as provided in sections 505 and 506 of this act.
From July 1, 2025, to August 31, 2025, the superintendent shall allocate funding to school districts programs for highly capable students as provided in section 513, chapter 376, Laws of 2024, as amended.
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR MISCELLANEOUS—EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—EDUCATION REFORM PROGRAMS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
ACCOUNTABILITY
$26,975,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $26,975,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, $1,350,000 of the education legacy trust account—state appropriation, and $15,868,000 of the general fund—federal appropriation are provided solely for development and implementation of the Washington state assessment system.
$14,352,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $14,352,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of chapter 159, Laws of 2013 (K-12 education - failing schools).
EDUCATOR CONTINUUM
$71,833,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $74,707,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the following bonuses for teachers who hold valid, unexpired certification from the national board for professional teaching standards and who are teaching in a Washington public school, subject to the following conditions and limitations:
For national board certified teachers, a bonus of $6,514 per teacher in the 2025-26 school year and a bonus of $6,677 per teacher in the 2026-27 school year;
An additional $5,000 annual bonus shall be paid to national board certified teachers who teach in either: (A) High schools where at least 50 percent of student headcount enrollment is eligible for federal free or reduced-price lunch, (B) middle schools where at least 60 percent of student headcount enrollment is eligible for federal free or reduced-price lunch, or (C) elementary schools where at least 70 percent of student headcount enrollment is eligible for federal free or reduced-price lunch;
The superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules to ensure that national board certified teachers meet the qualifications for bonuses under (b) of this subsection for less than one full school year receive bonuses in a prorated manner. All bonuses in this subsection will be paid in July of each school year. Bonuses in this subsection shall be reduced by a factor of 40 percent for first year NBPTS certified teachers, to reflect the portion of the instructional school year they are certified; and
During the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years, and within available funds, certificated instructional staff who have met the eligibility requirements and have applied for certification from the national board for professional teaching standards may receive a conditional loan of two thousand dollars or the amount set by the office of the superintendent of public instruction to contribute toward the current assessment fee, not including the initial up-front candidacy payment. The fee shall be an advance on the first annual bonus under RCW 28A.405.415. The conditional loan is provided in addition to compensation received under a district's salary allocation and shall not be included in calculations of a district's average salary and associated salary limitation under RCW 28A.400.200. Recipients who fail to receive certification after fully exhausting all years of candidacy as set by the national board for professional teaching standards are required to repay the conditional loan. The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules to define the terms for initial grant of the assessment fee and repayment, including applicable fees. To the extent necessary, the superintendent may use revenues from the repayment of conditional loan scholarships to ensure payment of all national board bonus payments required by this section in each school year.
$3,418,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $3,418,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of a new performance-based evaluation for certificated educators and other activities as provided in chapter 235, Laws of 2010 (education reform) and chapter 35, Laws of 2012 (certificated employee evaluations).
$477,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $477,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the leadership internship program for superintendents, principals, and program administrators.
$810,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $810,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the development of a leadership academy for school principals and administrators. The superintendent of public instruction shall contract with an independent organization to operate a state-of-the-art education leadership academy that will be accessible throughout the state. Semiannually the independent organization shall report on amounts committed by foundations and others to support the development and implementation of this program. Leadership academy partners shall include the state level organizations for school administrators and principals, the superintendent of public instruction, the professional educator standards board, and others as the independent organization shall identify.
$11,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $11,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a beginning educator support program (BEST). The program shall prioritize first year educators in the mentoring program. School districts and/or regional consortia may apply for grant funding. The program provided by a district and/or regional consortia shall include: A paid orientation; assignment of a qualified mentor; development of a professional growth plan for each beginning educator aligned with professional certification; release time for mentors and new educators to work together; and educator observation time with accomplished peers. Funding may be used to provide statewide professional development opportunities for mentors and beginning educators. Of the amounts provided in this subsection, $1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to support first year educators in the mentoring program.
$4,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $4,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the provision of training for teachers, principals, and principal evaluators in the performance-based teacher principal evaluation program.
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR TRANSITIONAL BILINGUAL PROGRAMS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
Each general fund fiscal year appropriation includes such funds as are necessary to complete the school year ending in the fiscal year and for prior fiscal year adjustments.
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For the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years, the superintendent shall allocate funding to school districts for transitional bilingual programs under RCW 28A.180.010 through 28A.180.080, including programs for exited students, as provided in RCW 28A.150.260(10)(b) and the provisions of this section. In calculating the allocations, the superintendent shall assume the following averages: (i) Additional instruction of 4.7780 hours per week per transitional bilingual program student in grades kindergarten through six and 6.7780 hours per week per transitional bilingual program student in grades seven through twelve in school years 2025-26 and 2026-27; (ii) additional instruction of 3.0000 hours per week in school years 2025-26 and 2026-27 for the head count number of students who have exited the transitional bilingual instruction program within the previous two years based on their performance on the English proficiency assessment; (iii) fifteen transitional bilingual program students per teacher; (iv) 36 instructional weeks per year; (v) 900 instructional hours per teacher; and (vi) the compensation rates as provided in sections 505 and 506 of this act. Pursuant to RCW 28A.180.040(1)(g), the instructional hours specified in (a)(ii) of this subsection (2) are within the program of basic education.
From July 1, 2025, to August 31, 2025, the superintendent shall allocate funding to school districts for transitional bilingual instruction programs as provided in section 516, chapter 376, Laws of 2024, as amended.
The superintendent may withhold allocations to school districts in subsection (2) of this section solely for the central provision of assessments as provided in RCW 28A.180.090 (1) and (2) up to the following amounts: 1.37 percent for school year 2025-26 and 1.35 percent for school year 2026-27.
The general fund—federal appropriation in this section is for migrant education under Title I Part C and English language acquisition, and language enhancement grants under Title III of the elementary and secondary education act.
$35,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $35,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to track current and former transitional bilingual program students.
$1,916,000 of the general fund—state appropriation in fiscal year 2026 and $1,916,000 of the general fund—state appropriation in fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the central provision of assessments as provided in RCW 28A.180.090, and is in addition to the withholding amounts specified in subsection (3) of this section.
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR THE LEARNING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
The general fund—state appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
The appropriations include such funds as are necessary to complete the school year ending in the fiscal year and for prior fiscal year adjustments.
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For the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years, the superintendent shall allocate funding to school districts for learning assistance programs as provided in RCW 28A.150.260(10)(a). In calculating the allocations, the superintendent shall assume the following averages: (A) Additional instruction of 2.3975 hours per week per funded learning assistance program student for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years; (B) additional instruction of 1.1 hours per week per funded learning assistance program student for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years in qualifying high-poverty school building; (C) 15 learning assistance program students per teacher; (D) 36 instructional weeks per year; (E) 900 instructional hours per teacher; and (F) the compensation rates as provided in sections 505 and 506 of this act.
From July 1, 2025, to August 31, 2025, the superintendent shall allocate funding to school districts for learning assistance programs as provided in section 517, chapter 376, Laws of 2024, as amended.
A school district's funded students for the learning assistance program shall be the sum of the district's full-time equivalent enrollment in grades K-12 multiplied by the district's percentage of October headcount enrollment in grades K-12 eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in the school year period defined under RCW 28A.150.260(10)(a). A school year's October headcount enrollment for free and reduced-price lunch shall be as reported in the comprehensive education data and research system.
Allocations made pursuant to subsection (1) of this section shall be adjusted to reflect ineligible applications identified through the annual income verification process required by the national school lunch program, as recommended in the report of the state auditor on the learning assistance program dated February, 2010.
The general fund—federal appropriation in this section is provided for Title I Part A allocations of the every student succeeds act of 2016.
A school district may carry over from one year to the next up to 10 percent of the general fund—state funds allocated under this program; however, carryover funds shall be expended for the learning assistance program.
Within existing resources, during the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years, school districts are authorized to use funds allocated for the learning assistance program to also provide assistance to high school students who have not passed the state assessment in science.
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—PER PUPIL ALLOCATIONS
Statewide Average Allocations
Per Annual Average Full-Time Equivalent Student
Basic Education Program
2025-26
School Year
2026-27
School Year
General Apportionment
$11,025
$11,286
Pupil Transportation
$835
$853
Special Education Programs
$13,909
$14,121
Institutional Education Programs
$27,762
$28,375
Programs for Highly Capable Students
$685
$702
Transitional Bilingual Programs
$1,690
$1,732
Learning Assistance Program
$1,078
$1,105
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
Amounts distributed to districts by the superintendent through part V of this act are for allocation purposes only, unless specified by part V of this act, and do not entitle a particular district, district employee, or student to a specific service, beyond what has been expressly provided in statute. Part V of this act restates the requirements of various sections of Title 28A RCW. If any conflict exists, the provisions of Title 28A RCW control unless this act explicitly states that it is providing an enhancement. Any amounts provided in part V of this act in excess of the amounts required by Title 28A RCW provided in statute, are not within the program of basic education unless clearly stated by this act.
When adopting new or revised rules or policies relating to the administration of allocations in part V of this act that result in fiscal impact, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall seek legislative approval through the budget request process.
Appropriations made in this act to the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall initially be allotted as required by this act. Subsequent allotment modifications shall not include transfers of moneys between sections of this act.
Appropriations in sections 504 and 506 of this act for insurance benefits under chapter 41.05 RCW are provided solely for the superintendent to allocate to districts for employee health benefits as provided in section 911 of this act. The superintendent may not allocate, and districts may not expend, these amounts for any other purpose beyond those authorized in section 911 of this act.
As required by RCW 28A.710.110, the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall transmit the charter school authorizer oversight fee for the charter school commission to the charter school oversight account.
The appropriations to the office of the superintendent of public instruction in this act shall be expended for the programs and amounts specified in this act.
FOR THE OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
The superintendent shall distribute funding appropriated in this section to charter schools under chapter 28A.710 RCW. Within amounts provided in this section the superintendent may distribute funding for safety net awards for charter schools with demonstrated needs for special education funding beyond the amounts provided under chapter 28A.710 RCW.
$872,000 of the opportunity pathways account—state appropriation is provided solely for changes to the special education multiplier as specified in either Substitute House Bill No. 1357 (special education funding) or Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5263 (special education funding). If neither bill is enacted by June 30, 2025, these amounts shall lapse.
$7,715,000 of the opportunity pathways account—state appropriation is provided solely for enrichment payments to charter schools.
FOR THE OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR THE WASHINGTON STATE CHARTER SCHOOL COMMISSION
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The entire Washington opportunity pathways account—state appropriation in this section is provided to the superintendent of public instruction solely for the operations of the Washington state charter school commission under chapter 28A.710 RCW.
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR TRANSITION TO KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Funding in this section is sufficient for implementation of House Bill No. 2012 (transition to kindergarten).
FOR THE OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR GRANTS AND PASS THROUGH FUNDING
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the office of the superintendent of public instruction to conduct summer open doors pilots with up to 12 dropout reengagement programs to support summer programming. To select pilot participants, the office must prioritize schools and programs that work with postresident youth as defined in RCW 28A.190.005. Amounts provided in this subsection must be used to support programming during the summer months and are in addition to funding generated by enrollment under state funding formulas.
$200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the Kip Tokuda memorial Washington civil liberties public education program. The superintendent of public instruction shall award grants consistent with RCW 28A.300.410.
$501,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the office of the superintendent of public instruction to contract with a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit community-based organization physically located in Washington state that has at least 18 years of experience collaborating with the office and school districts statewide to integrate the state learning standards in English language arts, mathematics, and science with FieldSTEM outdoor field studies and project-based and work-based learning opportunities aligned with the environmental, natural resource, and agricultural sectors. The office may require the recipient of these funds to report the impacts of the recipient's efforts in alignment with the measures of the Washington school improvement framework.
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$1,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for dual language grants to grow capacity for high quality dual language learning. Grant funding may be used for new and existing dual language programs, heritage language programs for immigrant and refugee students, and indigenous language programs for native students. Of the amounts provided in this subsection, $300,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for tribal language grants.
Each grant recipient must convene an advisory board to guide the development and continuous improvement of its dual language program, including but not limited to: Determining which schools and languages will be prioritized; conducting outreach to the community; and addressing enrollment considerations and the hiring of staff. At least half the members of the board must be parents of English learner students or current or former English learner students. The other members of the board must represent teachers, students, school leaders, governing board members, youth, and community-based organizations that support English learners.
$1,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for a statewide information technology academy program. This public-private partnership will provide educational software, as well as information technology certification and software training opportunities for students and staff in public schools.
$1,200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for implementation of chapter 157, Laws of 2016 (homeless students).
$500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the office of the superintendent of public instruction to create and administer a grant program for districts to reduce associated student body fees or participation fees for students who are eligible to participate in the federal free and reduced-price meals program. The office must distribute grants for the 2025-26 school year to school districts by August 10, 2025.
Grant awards must be prioritized in the following order:
High schools implementing the United States department of agriculture community eligibility provision;
High schools with the highest percentage of students in grades nine through twelve eligible to participate in the federal free and reduced-price meals program; and
High schools located in school districts enrolling 5,000 or fewer students.
High schools that do not comply with the data collection and reporting requirements in RCW 28A.320.540 are not eligible for grant funding.
The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall award grants that are the lesser of the cost of the high school's associated student body card multiplied by the number of students eligible for the free or reduced-price meals program that purchased a student body card in either 2023-24 or 2024-25 school year, whichever is higher, or $10,000.
The office may award additional funding if:
The appropriations provided are greater than the total amount of funding requested at the end of the application cycle; and
The applicant shows a demonstrated need for additional support.
$1,399,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for school districts to support youth who are truant under chapter 28A.225 RCW or at risk of becoming truant, and for costs associated with filing or serving petitions under RCW 28A.225.030.
$200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the office to contract with a nonprofit organization to develop and provide a Latino youth-on-youth gang violence prevention program for students and may offer a parent coaching program. The program must target Latino students ages 11 through 17 who are either involved in or at risk of becoming involved in a gang or in gang activities, and parents of the students. The nonprofit organization must have at least 15 years of experience serving Latino communities and promoting advocacy and must provide kindergarten through 12th grade social emotional learning, mental health wraparound services, and parent engagement programs in Washington.
$500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for a grant to the pacific science center to increase hands-on learning opportunities for Title I K-5 students statewide by increasing access to science on wheels and virtual field trips.
$500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for the office of the superintendent of public instruction to contract with a nonprofit organization that supports Washington teachers in implementing lessons on the Holocaust for the expansion of comprehensive Holocaust and genocide education.
$1,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for grants to school districts for ninth grade success. Within the amounts in this subsection, funding is provided for the office to contract with an evaluator to conduct a yearly evaluation of the program's success.
$125,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $125,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the West Sound STEM network and South Kitsap school district to increase on-the-ground STEM activities within high-demand sectors for students in school and after school.
The appropriations in sections 605 through 611 of this act are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
"Institutions" means the institutions of higher education receiving appropriations under sections 605 through 611 of this act.
In addition to waivers granted under the authority of RCW 28B.15.910, the governing boards and the state board may waive all or a portion of operating fees for any student. State general fund appropriations shall not be provided to replace tuition and fee revenue foregone as a result of waivers granted under this subsection.
Teacher preparation programs shall meet the requirements of RCW 28B.10.710 to incorporate information on the culture, history, and government of American Indian people in this state by integrating the curriculum developed and made available free of charge by the office of the superintendent of public instruction into existing programs or courses and may modify that curriculum in order to incorporate elements that have a regionally specific focus.
Institutions must include the phone number of a campus, local, state, or national suicide, crisis, or counseling hotline on the back of newly issued student and faculty identification cards.
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The student achievement council and institutions as defined in RCW 28B.92.030 and eligible for state financial aid programs under chapters 28B.92 and 28B.118 RCW shall ensure that data needed to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of state financial aid programs are promptly transmitted to the education data center so that it is available and easily accessible. The data to be reported must include but not be limited to:
The number of Washington college grant and college bound recipients;
Persistence and completion rates of Washington college grant recipients and college bound recipients, disaggregated by institution of higher education;
Washington college grant recipient grade point averages; and
Washington college grant and college bound scholarship program costs.
The student achievement council shall submit student unit record data for state financial aid program applicants and recipients to the education data center.
Within the amounts appropriated in this act, each institution of higher education shall seek to:
Maintain and to the extent possible increase enrollment opportunities at campuses, focusing on resident undergraduates;
Maintain and to the extent possible increase enrollment opportunities at university centers and other partnership programs that enable students to earn baccalaureate degrees on community college campuses; and
Eliminate and consolidate programs of study for which there is limited student or employer demand, or that are not areas of core academic strength for the institution, particularly when such programs duplicate offerings by other in-state institutions.
For purposes of monitoring and reporting statewide enrollment, the University of Washington and Washington State University shall notify the office of financial management of the number of full-time student equivalent enrollments for each of their campuses.
Each institution of higher education shall maintain at least the level of institutional financial aid expended in the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium.
PUBLIC BACCALAUREATE INSTITUTIONS
The state universities, the regional universities, and The Evergreen State College must accept the transfer of college-level courses taken by students under RCW 28A.600.290 or 28A.600.300 if a student seeking a transfer of the college-level courses has been admitted to the state university, the regional university, or The Evergreen State College, and if the college-level courses are recognized as transferrable by the admitting institution of higher education.
Institutions of higher education receiving appropriations in this act are subject to the following terms and conditions:
The legislature, the office of financial management, and other state agencies need consistent and accurate personnel data from institutions of higher education for policy planning purposes. Institutions of higher education shall report personnel data to the office of financial management for inclusion in the agency's data warehouse. Uniform reporting procedures shall be established by the office of financial management's office of the state human resources director for use by the reporting institutions, including provisions for common job classifications and common definitions of full-time equivalent staff. Annual contract amounts, number of contract months, and funding sources shall be consistently reported for employees under contract.
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For employees under the jurisdiction of chapter 41.56 or 41.80 RCW, salary increases will be in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement. However, an increase shall not be provided to any classified employee whose salary is above the approved salary range maximum for the class to which the employee's position is allocated.
For each institution of higher education receiving appropriations in this act:
The only allowable salary increases are those associated with normally occurring promotions and increases related to faculty and staff retention and as provided in part IX of this act.
Institutions may provide salary increases from sources other than general fund appropriations and tuition revenues to instructional and research faculty, exempt professional staff, teaching and research assistants, as classified by the office of financial management, and all other nonclassified staff, but not including employees under chapter 41.80 RCW. It is the intent of the legislature that salary increases provided under this subsection (2)(b)(ii) not increase state general fund support or impact tuition expenditures by an institution unless the legislature so determines.
Funding for salary increases provided under (b)(ii) of this subsection and RCW 41.76.035 and 28B.52.035 on or after July 1, 2019, must be excluded from the general fund and tuition salary base when calculating state funding for future general wage or other salary increases on or after July 1, 2019. In order to facilitate this funding policy, each institution shall report to the office of financial management on the details of locally authorized salary increases granted under (b)(ii) of this subsection and RCW 41.76.035 and 28B.52.035 with its biennial budget submittal. At a minimum, the report must include the total cost of locally authorized increases by fiscal year, a description of the locally authorized provision, and the long-term source of funds that is anticipated to cover the cost.
Appropriations in sections 605 through 611 of this act are sufficient to implement 2025-2027 collective bargaining agreements at institutions of higher education negotiated under chapter 41.80 RCW and as set forth in part IX of this act.
FOR THE STATE BOARD FOR COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$33,261,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $33,261,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely as special funds for training and related support services, including financial aid, as specified in RCW 28C.04.390. Funding is provided to support at least 7,170 full-time equivalent students in fiscal year 2026 and at least 7,170 full-time equivalent students in fiscal year 2027.
$5,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $5,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $5,450,000 of the education legacy trust account—state appropriation are provided solely for administration and customized training contracts through the job skills program. The state board shall make an annual report by January 1st of each year to the governor and to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the legislature under RCW 43.01.036 regarding implementation of this section, listing the scope of grant awards, the distribution of funds by educational sector and region of the state, and the results of the partnerships supported by these funds.
$425,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $425,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for Seattle Central College's allied health programs.
$5,250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $5,250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the student achievement initiative.
$1,610,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,610,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $904,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation are provided solely for the mathematics, engineering, and science achievement program.
$1,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for operating a fabrication composite wing incumbent worker training program to be housed at the Washington aerospace training and research center.
$100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the aerospace center of excellence currently hosted by Everett community college to:
Increase statewide communications and outreach between industry sectors, industry organizations, businesses, K-12 schools, colleges, and universities;
Enhance information technology to increase business and student accessibility and use of the center's web site; and
Act as the information entry point for prospective students and job seekers regarding education, training, and employment in the industry.
$24,601,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $24,601,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the implementation of the college affordability program as set forth in RCW 28B.15.066.
Community and technical colleges are not required to send mass mailings of course catalogs to residents of their districts. Community and technical colleges shall consider lower cost alternatives, such as mailing postcards or brochures that direct individuals to online information and other ways of acquiring print catalogs.
The state board for community and technical colleges shall not use funds appropriated in this section to support intercollegiate athletics programs.
$157,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $157,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the Wenatchee Valley college wildfire prevention program.
$150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the Puget Sound welcome back center at Highline College to continue a grant program for internationally trained individuals seeking employment in the behavioral health field in Washington state.
$750,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $750,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for enrollments in the integrated basic education and skills training program. Funding will support approximately 120 full-time equivalent enrollments annually.
$216,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $216,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the opportunity center for employment and education at North Seattle College.
$500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for Highline College to implement the Federal Way higher education initiative in partnership with the city of Federal Way and the University of Washington Tacoma campus.
$350,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $350,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for Peninsula College to maintain the annual cohorts of the specified programs as follows:
Medical assisting, 40 students;
Nursing assistant, 60 students; and
Registered nursing, 32 students.
$338,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $338,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the Washington state labor education and research center at South Seattle College.
$150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the aerospace and advanced manufacturing center of excellence hosted by Everett Community College to continue a semiconductor and electronics manufacturing branch in Vancouver.
$1,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $75,847,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation are provided solely for statewide implementation of guided pathways at each of the state's community and technical colleges or similar programs designed to improve student success, including, but not limited to, academic program redesign, student advising, and other student supports.
$15,220,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for college operating costs, including compensation and central services, in recognition that these costs exceed estimated increases in undergraduate operating fee revenue as a result of RCW 28B.15.067.
$15,220,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for employee compensation, academic program enhancements, student support services, and other institutional priorities that maintain a quality academic experience for Washington students.
$20,400,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 and $20,400,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation are provided solely to continue to fund nurse educator salaries.
$40,000,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided to continue to fund high-demand program faculty salaries, including but not limited to nurse educators, other health-related professions, information technology, computer science, and trades.
$2,000,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the state board for community and technical colleges to maintain high-demand enrollments, as provided under RCW 28C.30.020. These programs include, but are not limited to, allied health, computer and information science, manufacturing, and other fields identified by the state board for community and technical colleges.
$1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $8,000,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation are provided solely for the emergency assistance grant program in RCW 28B.50.295.
$1,119,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,119,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $2,526,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation are provided solely for implementation of diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism provisions in chapter 28B.10 RCW.
$20,473,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of equity and access provisions in chapter 28B.50 RCW.
$3,200,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for costs associated with grants awarded in fiscal year 2023 for nursing programs to purchase or upgrade simulation laboratory equipment.
$4,668,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely to support cybersecurity academic enrollments of 500 FTE students.
$408,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for a center for excellence in cybersecurity.
$1,648,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,648,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for legal services related to litigation by employees within the community and technical college system challenging the denial of retirement and sick leave benefits. The cases include Wolf v. State and SBCTC, Rush v. State and SBCTC (retirement), and Rush v. State and SBCTC (sick leave).
$4,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $4,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the opportunity grant program to provide health care workforce grants for students.
$2,720,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,720,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for each community and technical college to contract with a community-based organization to assist with financial aid access and support in communities.
$7,456,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for programming to accommodate refugees and immigrants who have arrived in Washington state on or after July 1, 2021, including those from Afghanistan and Ukraine.
$2,160,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $2,160,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $4,800,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation are provided solely for nursing education.
$200,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the Bellingham Technical College maritime apprenticeship program.
$2,200,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the Skagit Valley College dental therapy education program.
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$854,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the Seattle Central College for partnership with the Seattle maritime academy. Seattle Central College must enter into a memorandum of agreement with Washington state ferries. Funding may not be expended until Seattle Central College certifies to the office of financial management that a memorandum of agreement with Washington state ferries has been executed. The memorandum of agreement must address:
The shared use of training and other facilities and implementation of joint training opportunities where practicable;
Development of a joint recruitment plan aimed at increasing enrollment of women and people of color, with specific strategies to recruit existing community and technical college students, maritime skills center students, high school students from maritime programs, foster care graduates, and former juvenile rehabilitation and adult incarcerated individuals; and
Development of a training program and recruitment plan and a five-year operational plan.
The joint training program and recruitment plan and the five-year operational plan must be submitted to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the legislature by December 1, 2025.
$331,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $331,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $110,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation are provided solely for implementation of state registered apprenticeship provisions in chapter 28B.124 RCW.
$4,276,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 421, Laws of 2023 (postsecondary student needs).
$7,436,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 339, Laws of 2023 (student homelessness pilot).
$7,278,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 314, Laws of 2023 (college in high school fees).
$1,024,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 126, Laws of 2023 (nurse supply).
$1,602,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for community college staff to recruit, advise, and support early achievers scholars completing their early childhood qualifications. The state board shall prioritize colleges with longer wait lists for early achievers scholars. The state board for community and technical colleges shall collaborate with the department of children, youth, and families to submit a report, pursuant to RCW 43.01.036, by September 30, 2025, to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature on early achievers grant participation data, including data on enrollment and waitlists for the grant program.
$408,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for Olympic College health care pathways.
$2,280,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the bachelor of science computer science programs.
$408,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the continuation of a hospitality center of excellence hosted at Columbia basin college.
$150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for Edmonds College to provide support to students who are military veterans, focusing on counseling services, financial assistance, and reentry services.
$308,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $308,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Second Substitute House Bill No. 1273 (dual credit program access). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amounts provided in this subsection shall lapse.
FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$51,061,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $51,061,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the implementation of the college affordability program as set forth in RCW 28B.15.066.
$200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for one head archivist for the labor archives of Washington and reserved solely for labor archives activities, staffing, supplies, and equipment. The head archivist will determine budget priorities and oversee expenditures on the budget. Budget funds will be reserved solely for the labor archives and shall not be used to supplant or supplement other activities of the University of Washington libraries unrelated to the collections and activities of the labor archives. The university and the head archivist shall work in collaboration with the friends of the labor archives community advisory board.
$10,000,000 of the education legacy trust account—state appropriation is provided solely for the family medicine residency network at the university to maintain and expand the number of residency slots available in Washington.
The university must continue work with the education research and data center to demonstrate progress in computer science and engineering enrollments. By September 1st of each year, the university shall provide a report including but not limited to the cost per student, student completion rates, and the number of low-income students enrolled in each program, any process changes or best-practices implemented by the university, and how many students are enrolled in computer science and engineering programs above the prior academic year.
$14,000,000 of the education legacy trust account—state appropriation is provided solely for the expansion of degrees in the department of computer science and engineering at the Seattle campus.
$3,062,000 of the economic development strategic reserve account—state appropriation is provided solely to support the joint center for aerospace innovation technology.
The University of Washington shall not use funds appropriated in this section to support intercollegiate athletics programs.
$7,345,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $7,345,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the continued operations and expansion of the Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho medical school program.
$2,625,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,625,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the institute for stem cell and regenerative medicine. Funds appropriated in this subsection must be dedicated to research utilizing pluripotent stem cells and related research methods.
$500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided to support youth and young adults experiencing homelessness in the university district of Seattle. Funding is provided for the university to work with community service providers and university colleges and departments to plan for and implement a comprehensive one-stop center with navigation services for homeless youth; the university may contract with the department of commerce to expand services that serve homeless youth in the university district.
$1,800,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,800,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $1,200,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation are provided solely for the adult psychiatry residency program at the University of Washington to offer additional residency positions that are approved by the accreditation council for graduate medical education.
$1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the psychiatry integrated care training program.
$640,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $640,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $426,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation are provided solely for child and adolescent psychiatry residency positions that are approved by the accreditation council for graduate medical education, as provided in RCW 28B.20.445.
$1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the School of Dentistry to support its role as a major oral health provider to individuals covered by medicaid and the uninsured.
$200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the pre-law pipeline and social justice program at the University of Washington-Tacoma.
$226,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $226,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the university's neurology department to implement a telemedicine program to disseminate dementia care best practices to primary care practitioners using the project ECHO model. The program shall provide a virtual connection for providers and content experts and include didactics, case conferences, and an emphasis on practice transformation and systems-level issues that affect care delivery. The initial users of this program shall include referral sources in health care systems and clinics, such as the university's neighborhood clinics and Virginia Mason Memorial in Yakima with a goal of adding 15 to 20 providers from smaller clinics and practices per year.
$102,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $102,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the university's center for international trade in forest products.
$650,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $650,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the Latino center for health.
$500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a firearm policy research program. The program will:
Support investigations of firearm death and injury risk factors;
Evaluate the effectiveness of state firearm laws and policies;
Assess the consequences of firearm violence; and
Develop strategies to reduce the toll of firearm violence to citizens of the state.
$400,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $400,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the climate impacts group in the college of the environment.
$300,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $300,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the college of education to collaborate with teacher preparation programs and the office of the superintendent of public instruction to develop open access climate science educational curriculum for use in teacher preparation programs.
$300,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $300,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the Harry Bridges center for labor studies. The center shall work in collaboration with the state board for community and technical colleges.
$8,000,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for employee compensation, academic program enhancements, student support services, and other institutional priorities that maintain a quality academic experience for Washington students.
$8,000,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely to maintain degree production in the college of engineering at the Seattle campus.
$2,724,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely to maintain the Washington state academic redshirt program on the Seattle campus and establish a program on the Bothell campus.
$2,700,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely to maintain degree capacity and undergraduate enrollments in engineering, mathematics, and science programs to support the biomedical innovation partnership zone at the Bothell campus.
$3,268,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely to maintain bachelor of science programs in mechanical and civil engineering to support increased student and local employer demand for graduates in these fields at the Tacoma campus.
$150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $700,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation are provided solely for Washington mathematics, engineering, science achievement programs to provide enrichment opportunities in mathematics, engineering, science, and technology to students who are traditionally underrepresented in these programs. Of the amounts provided in this subsection, $500,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is for Washington State University to implement expansion of MESA activities at the Everett campus to facilitate increased attendance and degree completion by students who are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degrees.
$75,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $75,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a community care coordinator for transitional-age youth for the doorway project in partnership with the Seattle campus.
$15,400,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the expansion of the Paul G. Allen school of computer science and engineering in order to award an additional 200 degrees per year focusing on traditionally underrepresented students. A report on the program graduation rates, waitlist for entry into the program, time to degree completion, and degrees awarded must be submitted to the appropriate committees of the legislature, pursuant to RCW 43.01.036, by June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027.
To ensure transparency and accountability, in the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium the University of Washington shall comply with any and all financial and accountability audits by the Washington state auditor including any and all audits of university services offered to the general public, including those offered through any public-private partnership, business venture, affiliation, or joint venture with a public or private entity, except the government of the United States. The university shall comply with all state auditor requests for the university's financial and business information including the university's governance and financial participation in these public-private partnerships, business ventures, affiliations, or joint ventures with a public or private entity. In any instance in which the university declines to produce the information to the state auditor, the university will provide the state auditor a brief summary of the documents withheld and a citation of the legal or contractual provision that prevents disclosure. The summaries must be compiled into a report by the state auditor and provided on a quarterly basis to the legislature.
$280,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $280,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the Burke museum of natural history and culture to make education programs offered by the museum accessible to more students across Washington, especially students in underserved schools and locations. The funding shall be used for:
Increasing the number of students who participate in Burke education programs at reduced or no cost, including virtual programs;
Providing bus reimbursement for students visiting the museum on field trips and to support travel to bring museum programs across the state;
Staff who will form partnerships with school districts to serve statewide communities more efficiently and equitably, including through the Burkemobile program; and
Support of tribal consultation work, including expanding Native programming, and digitization of Native collections.
$410,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $410,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the university's center for human rights. The appropriation must be used to supplement, not supplant, other funding sources for the center for human rights.
$143,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $143,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to the University of Washington for the establishment and operation of the state forensic anthropologist. The university shall work in conjunction with and provide the full funding directly to the King county medical examiner's office to support the statewide work of the state forensic anthropologist.
$64,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $64,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for one full-time mental health counselor licensed under chapter 18.225 RCW who has experience and training specifically related to working with active members of the military or military veterans.
$505,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $505,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for pharmacy behavioral health. The University of Washington school of pharmacy/medicine pharmacy services shall retain two residency training positions and one behavioral health faculty to implement a residency program focused on behavioral health.
$1,242,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,242,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $742,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation are provided solely for an increase in the number of nursing slots and graduates in the already established accelerated bachelor of science in nursing program. Of the amounts provided in this subsection, $273,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $273,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the Tacoma school of nursing and healthcare leadership.
$100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the memory and brain wellness center to support the statewide expansion of the dementia friends program.
$250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to maintain a data repository to assist the state and all political subdivisions with evaluating whether and to what extent existing laws and practices with respect to voting and elections are consistent with public policy, implementing best practices in voting and elections, and to investigate potential infringements upon the right to vote.
The operation of the database shall be the responsibility of the director of the database, who shall be employed by the University of Washington with training and experience in demography, statistical analysis, and electoral systems. The director shall appoint necessary staff to implement and maintain the database.
The database shall maintain in electronic format at least the following data and records, where available, for at least the previous 12-year period:
Estimates of the total population, voting age population, and citizen voting age population by race, ethnicity, and language-minority groups, broken down to the election district and precinct level on a year-by-year basis for every political subdivision in the state, based on data from the United States census bureau, American community survey, or data of comparable quality collected by a public office;
Election results at the precinct level for every statewide election and every election in every political subdivision;
Regularly updated voter registration lists, voter history files, voting center locations, ballot drop box locations, and student engagement hub locations for every election in every political subdivision;
Contemporaneous maps, descriptions of boundaries, and shapefiles for election districts and precincts;
The following records for every election in every political subdivision:
(A) Records of all voters issued a ballot and all voters who returned a ballot; and
(B) Records of all ballots with missing and mismatched signatures, including the date on which the voter was contacted or the notice was mailed, as well as the date on which the voter submitted updated information;
vi. Apportionment plans for every election in every political subdivision; and
vii. Any other data that the director deems advisable.
c. Upon the certification of election results and the completion of the voter history file after each general election, the secretary of state shall transmit copies of the following to the director of the database:
i. Election results at the precinct level, including information about rejected and cured ballots;
ii. Voter history files;
iii. Shapefiles for election districts; and
iv. Lists of voting centers, ballot drop boxes, and student engagement hubs.
d. The director and staff shall update election data in the database as soon as it is available from the office of the secretary of state, following certification of each election as required by RCW 29A.60.190 or 29A.60.250.
e. Except for any data, information, or estimates that identify individual voters, the data, information, and estimates maintained by the database shall be posted online and made available to the public at no cost.
f. The database shall prepare any estimates made pursuant to this section by applying scientifically rigorous and validated methodologies.
g. The database shall publish on its website and transmit to the state for dissemination to county auditors and the secretary of state a list of political subdivisions required, pursuant to section 203 of the federal voting rights act, 52 U.S.C. Sec. 10503, to provide assistance to members of language-minority groups and each language in which those political subdivisions are required to provide assistance. Each county auditor shall transmit the list described in this subsection to all political subdivisions within their jurisdiction.
h. The database will complete regular analysis of ballot rejections and cures, identifying population subgroups with higher than average ballot rejection rates. An annual report of ballot rejections will be posted online and made available to the public at no cost. Database staff may work with the secretary of state and county auditors to examine new practices and solutions for reducing ballot rejections and increasing ballot cure rates.
i. Staff at the database may provide nonpartisan technical assistance to political subdivisions, scholars, and the general public seeking to use the resources of the database.
$122,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $122,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for sexual assault nurse examiner training.
$5,010,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the expansion of the University of Washington school of dentistry regional initiatives in dental education (RIDE) program.
Within existing resources, the institution must resume a mentoring, organization, and social support for autism inclusion on campus program. The program must focus on academic coaching, peer-mentoring, support for social interactions, and career preparation.
$1,000,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the center for indigenous health to increase the number of American Indian and Alaska Native physicians practicing in the state of Washington.
$3,400,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for increasing enrollments in computing and engineering programs at the Tacoma campus.
$520,000 of the natural climate solutions account—state appropriation is provided solely for the biological response to ocean acidification to advance high-priority biological experiments to better understand the relationship between marine organisms and ocean acidification.
$300,000 of the natural climate solutions account—state appropriation is provided solely for monitoring assistance at the Washington ocean acidification center.
$104,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $104,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the continued implementation of chapter 191, Laws of 2022 (veterans & military suicide).
$800,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the development and implementation of a program to support pathways from prison to the university's Tacoma campus. The university shall collaborate with formerly incarcerated women, Tacoma Community College, the freedom education project Puget Sound, the women's village, the state board for community and technical colleges, and the department of corrections, in development and implementation of the pathways program.
$910,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the Allen school scholars program.
$158,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $158,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $798,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation are provided solely for continued implementation of diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism professional development for faculty and staff, student training, and campus climate assessments in chapter 28B.10 RCW.
The institution must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
$586,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 421, Laws of 2023 (postsecondary student needs).
$669,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $669,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of chapter 426, Laws of 2023 (diversity in clinical trials).
$2,862,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 314, Laws of 2023 (college in high school fees).
$730,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 364, Laws of 2023 (psilocybin).
$288,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 232, Laws of 2023 (alternative jet fuel).
$526,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for two grant writers to support the ongoing need for tribal and overburdened communities to access state and federal funding opportunities that advance environmental justice through the thriving communities technical assistance program.
$10,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely to support behavioral health care and training at the University of Washington medical center. A report detailing how these funds and any federal funds are expended for the medical center shall be submitted to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature, pursuant to RCW 43.01.036, by June 30, 2026.
$615,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $615,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for legal services related to the behavioral health teaching facility.
$448,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $448,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to develop and implement the Washington reproductive access alliance. The alliance shall provide a service coordination website and phone line, administrative support and coordination of the alliance, patient care coordination, and social support for patient travel.
$350,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $350,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1622 (collective bargaining/AI use).
$650,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for continued implementation of chapter 453, Laws of 2023 (E2SSB 5440).
FOR WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$90,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $90,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a rural economic development and outreach coordinator.
The university must continue work with the education research and data center to demonstrate progress in computer science and engineering enrollments. By September 1st of each year, the university shall provide a report including but not limited to the cost per student, student completion rates, and the number of low-income students enrolled in each program, any process changes or best-practices implemented by the university, and how many students are enrolled in computer science and engineering programs above the prior academic year.
$500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for state match requirements related to the federal aviation administration grant.
Washington State University shall not use funds appropriated in this section to support intercollegiate athletic programs.
$7,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $7,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, and $22,800,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation are provided solely for the continued development and operations of a medical school program in Spokane.
$135,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $135,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a honey bee biology research position.
$36,296,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $36,296,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the implementation of the college affordability program as set forth in RCW 28B.15.066.
$580,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $580,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the development of an organic agriculture systems degree program located at the university center in Everett.
$630,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $630,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the continuation of an electrical engineering program located in Bremerton. At full implementation, the university is expected to increase degree production by 25 new bachelor's degrees per year. The university must identify these students separately when providing data to the education research data center as required in subsection (2) of this section.
$1,370,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,370,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the creation of software engineering and data analytic programs at the university center in Everett. At full implementation, the university is expected to enroll 50 students per academic year. The university must identify these students separately when providing data to the education research data center as required in subsection (2) of this section.
General fund—state appropriations in this section are reduced to reflect a reduction in state-supported tuition waivers for graduate students. When reducing tuition waivers, the university will not change its practices and procedures for providing eligible veterans with tuition waivers.
$1,154,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,154,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for RCW 82.16.120 and 82.16.165 (renewable energy, tax incentives).
$376,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $376,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for RCW 28B.30.357 (children's mental health).
$585,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $585,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for RCW 77.12.272 (elk hoof disease).
$2,076,000 of the model toxics control operating account—state appropriation is provided solely for the university's soil health initiative and its network of long-term agroecological research and extension (LTARE) sites. The network must include a Mount Vernon REC site.
$42,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $42,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for one full-time mental health counselor licensed under chapter 18.225 RCW who has experience and training specifically related to working with active members of the military or military veterans.
$33,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $33,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 is provided solely for compensation funding for Western Washington University employees that work on the Washington State University Everett campus.
$327,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $327,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 is provided solely for pharmacy behavioral health. Washington State University college of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences shall retain two residency training positions and one behavioral health faculty to implement a residency program focused on behavioral health.
$608,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $608,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 is provided solely for the Washington state academy of sciences to provide support for core operations and to accomplish its mission of providing science in the service of Washington, pursuant to its memorandum of understanding with the university.
$188,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $188,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for stormwater research to study the long-term efficacy of green stormwater infrastructure that incorporates compost to remove pollutants.
$500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the joint center for deployment and research in earth abundant materials.
$7,722,000 of the climate commitment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the institute for northwest energy futures.
$568,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $568,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of chapter 212, Laws of 2022 (community solar projects).
$300,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $300,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for base funding for the William D. Ruckleshaus Center.
The institution must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
$3,910,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for increasing nursing salaries at the institution.
$4,112,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity operations.
$2,521,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for a bachelor of science in public health degree at the Pullman, Spokane, and Vancouver campuses.
$1,596,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for a bachelor's and master's degree in social work at the Tri-Cities campus.
$1,529,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the development and operations of a journalism fellowship program focused on civic affairs.
$496,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 421, Laws of 2023 (postsecondary student needs).
$190,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $190,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for continued funding of the statewide broadband coordinator within the Washington State University extension program. This funding will support the salary and benefits of this position.
$706,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the complex social interactions lab.
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$1,100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the native American scholarship to continue for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. Of the amounts in this subsection, no more than $100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $100,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 may be spent on administration, support services for students, outreach regarding the program, and technical support for application.
"Eligible student" means a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe located within Washington who files a free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) and enrolls in an undergraduate degree program. Eligible students need to maintain satisfactory academic progress during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to remain eligible for the scholarship. The institution shall determine award priorities based on tribal consultation. Awards must be distributed to students no later than May of each fiscal year.
The institution must submit a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature, pursuant to RCW 43.01.036, by June 30, 2027. The report must include: The number of eligible students; the number of students who receive a scholarship; how recipients were determined; and how many members of federally recognized Indian tribes in Washington received scholarships versus members of federally recognized Indian tribes from other states.
$250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $250,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1622 (collective bargaining/AI use).
$180,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for implementation of Engrossed House Bill No. 1705 (large animal veterinarians).
FOR EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
At least $200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and at least $200,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 must be expended on the Northwest autism center.
The university must continue work with the education research and data center to demonstrate progress in computer science and engineering enrollments. By September 1st of each year, the university shall provide a report including but not limited to the cost per student, student completion rates, and the number of low-income students enrolled in each program, any process changes or best-practices implemented by the university, and how many students are enrolled in computer science and engineering programs above the prior academic year.
Eastern Washington University shall not use funds appropriated in this section to support intercollegiate athletics programs.
$13,038,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $13,038,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the implementation of the college affordability program as set forth in RCW 28B.15.066.
Within amounts appropriated in this section, the university is encouraged to increase the number of tenure-track positions created and hired.
$2,274,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for institution operating costs, including compensation and central services, in recognition that these costs exceed estimated increases in undergraduate operating fee revenue as a result of RCW 28B.15.067.
$2,636,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely to maintain a computer engineering degree program in the college of science, technology, engineering, and math.
$45,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $45,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for one full-time mental health counselor licensed under chapter 18.225 RCW who has experience and training specifically related to working with active members of the military or military veterans.
$300,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for a center for inclusive excellence for faculty and staff.
$268,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for a professional masters of science cyber operations degree option.
$2,144,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the operation of a bachelor of science in cybersecurity degree option through the computer science program.
$4,598,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely to expand faculty and staff to create a cohort of 80 students in the bachelor of nursing program.
$2,108,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the operation of a coordinated care network that will help to maximize the collaboration of various student support services to create wraparound care for students to address obstacles to degree completion. The amount provided in this subsection must be used to supplement, not supplant, other funding sources for the program.
$110,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $110,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a summer bridge program.
$1,040,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the establishment and operating support of a university mathematics, engineering, and science achievement program.
$158,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 421, Laws of 2023 (postsecondary student needs).
$5,142,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 314, Laws of 2023 (college in high school fees).
$1,378,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementing a new master's degree program in dental therapy.
FOR CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
The university must continue work with the education research and data center to demonstrate progress in engineering enrollments. By September 1st of each year, the university shall provide a report including but not limited to the cost per student, student completion rates, and the number of low-income students enrolled in each program, any process changes or best-practices implemented by the university, and how many students are enrolled in engineering programs above the prior academic year.
Central Washington University shall not use funds appropriated in this section to support intercollegiate athletics programs.
$14,696,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $14,696,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the implementation of the college affordability program as set forth in RCW 28B.15.066.
Within amounts appropriated in this section, the university is encouraged to increase the number of tenure-track positions created and hired.
$2,236,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for institution operating costs, including compensation and central services, in recognition that these costs exceed estimated increases in undergraduate operating fee revenue as a result of RCW 28B.15.067.
$1,050,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely to increase the number of certified K-12 teachers.
$736,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely to maintain mental health counseling positions.
$240,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $240,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for two counselor positions to increase access to mental health counseling for traditionally underrepresented students.
$52,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $52,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for one full-time mental health outreach and service coordination position who has knowledge of issues relevant to veterans.
$240,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for expanding cybersecurity capacity by adding additional faculty resources in the department of computer science.
$586,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for a peer mentoring program. The amount provided in this subsection must be used to supplement, not supplant, other funding sources for the program.
$286,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the operation of an extended orientation program to help promote retention of underserved students. The amount provided in this subsection must be used to supplement, not supplant, other funding sources for the program.
$12,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $12,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the cost of the criminal justice training center's use of office and classroom space at the Lynnwood campus.
$1,396,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for student success. Students will receive discipline specific tutoring programs, peer assisted learning sessions, and academic success coaching.
$1,418,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for grow your own teacher residency programs in high need areas of elementary, bilingual, special education, and English language learners.
$1,074,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for dual language expansion programs in Yakima and Des Moines.
$168,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 421, Laws of 2023 (postsecondary student needs).
$7,938,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 314, Laws of 2023 (college in high school fees).
$766,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for student basic needs. This funding will support two financial aid coaching specialists, support a coordinator for the food pantry, support a director and advocate to assist students who have experienced sexual violence, and help with prevention initiatives.
$421,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $421,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for civil rights and risk mitigation staffing.
$692,000 of the accident account—state appropriation is provided solely to increase enrollment in the occupational safety and health programs.
FOR THE EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$4,470,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $4,470,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the implementation of the college affordability program as set forth in RCW 28B.15.066.
Funding provided in this section is sufficient for The Evergreen State College to continue operations of the Longhouse Center and the Northwest Indian applied research institute.
Within amounts appropriated in this section, the college is encouraged to increase the number of tenure-track positions created and hired.
$2,393,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,134,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the Washington state institute for public policy to initiate, sponsor, conduct, and publish research that is directly useful to policymakers and manage reviews and evaluations of technical and scientific topics as they relate to major long-term issues facing the state. Within the amounts provided in this subsection (4):
$1,685,000 of the amounts in fiscal year 2026 and $1,685,000 of the amounts in fiscal year 2027 are provided for administration and core operations.
$546,000 of the amounts in fiscal year 2026 and $449,000 of the amounts in fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for ongoing and continuing studies on the Washington state institute for public policy's work plan.
$82,000 of the amounts in fiscal year 2026 are provided solely for implementation of Substitute House Bill No. 1606 (journal access/state employ).
$80,000 of the amounts in fiscal year 2026 are provided solely for a review of the funding mechanisms and policies adopted by other states to support the implementation of small modular reactors. The review shall be submitted to the legislature, pursuant to RCW 43.01.036, by December 31, 2025.
Notwithstanding other provisions in this subsection, the board of directors for the Washington state institute for public policy may adjust due dates for projects included on the institute's 2025-27 work plan as necessary to efficiently manage workload.
$213,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $213,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for additional faculty to support Native American and indigenous programs.
$85,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $85,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to the native pathways program for an assistant director.
$110,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $110,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a tribal liaison position.
$39,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $39,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for one full-time mental health counselor licensed under chapter 18.225 RCW who has experience and training specifically related to working with active members of the military or military veterans.
$137,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $137,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for student mental health and wellness. The amount provided in this subsection must be used to supplement, not supplant, other funding sources for the program.
$600,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $600,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to develop and expand current corrections education programs offered in department of corrections facilities. The college shall appoint a project implementation team, collaborate with stakeholders to plan student success programs and curriculum which lead to transferable credit, associate and bachelor's degrees, and other workforce credentials, and train faculty and staff on working with incarcerated populations.
$2,636,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for institution operating costs, including compensation and central services, in recognition that these costs exceed estimated increases in undergraduate operating fee revenue as a result of RCW 28B.15.067.
$670,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely to maintain enrollment capacity in psychology programs.
$600,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely to increase student success by maintaining support for a student precollege immersion program and the Evergreen first-year experience.
$988,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for student enrollment and retention support. Funding is provided for hiring a student advisor and underserved student specialist to provide student support and administrative support for the native pathways program.
$142,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 421, Laws of 2023 (postsecondary student needs).
$162,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the Shelton promise pilot program.
$42,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $42,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for implementation of chapter 272, Laws of 2024 (incarcerated student grants).
$25,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $25,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for captioning, sign language interpreters, and other accessibility tools and services.
FOR WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
The university must continue work with the education research and data center to demonstrate progress in computer science and engineering enrollments. By September 1st of each year, the university shall provide a report including but not limited to the cost per student, student completion rates, and the number of low-income students enrolled in each program, any process changes or best-practices implemented by the university, and how many students are enrolled in computer science and engineering programs above the prior academic year.
Western Washington University shall not use funds appropriated in this section to support intercollegiate athletics programs.
$20,283,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $20,283,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the implementation of the college affordability program as set forth in RCW 28B.15.066.
$700,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $700,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the creation and implementation of an early childhood education degree program at the western on the peninsulas campus. The university must collaborate with Olympic college. At full implementation, the university is expected to grant approximately 75 bachelor's degrees in early childhood education per year at the western on the peninsulas campus.
$1,306,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,306,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the university to develop a new program in marine, coastal, and watershed sciences.
$886,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $886,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the university to reduce tuition rates for four-year degree programs offered in partnership with Olympic college—Bremerton, Olympic college—Poulsbo, and Peninsula college—Port Angeles that are currently above state-funded resident undergraduate tuition rates.
$150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to recruit and retain high quality and diverse graduate students.
$548,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $548,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for critical support services to ensure traditionally underrepresented students receive the same opportunities for academic success as their peers.
$48,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $48,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for one full-time mental health counselor licensed under chapter 18.225 RCW who has experience and training specifically related to working with active members of the military or military veterans.
$530,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $530,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the operation of two bilingual educator programs in the south King county region, including a bilingual elementary education degree program and a secondary education degree program. At full implementation, each cohort shall support up to 25 students per year.
$361,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $361,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for a master of science program in nursing.
$433,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $433,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the registered nurse to bachelors in nursing program.
Within amounts appropriated in this section, the university is encouraged to increase the number of tenure-track positions created and hired.
$2,256,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for institution operating costs, including compensation and central services, in recognition that these costs exceed estimated increases in undergraduate operating fee revenue as a result of RCW 28B.15.067.
$3,426,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely to maintain access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degrees.
$908,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely to establish an academic curriculum in ethnic studies.
$400,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for upgrading cyber range equipment and software.
$2,520,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for student support services that include resources for outreach and financial aid support, retention initiatives including targeted support for underserved student populations, mental health support, and initiatives aimed at addressing learning disruption due to the global pandemic. The amount provided in this subsection must be used to supplement, not supplant, other funding sources for student support services.
$3,632,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the western on the peninsulas expansion. This includes new two plus two degrees programs such as industrial engineering, data science, and sociology.
$1,552,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for expanded remedial math and additional English 101 courses, as well as first year seminars, and disability accommodation counselors.
$100,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for mental health first aid training for faculty.
$150,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the small business development center to increase technical assistance to black, indigenous, and other people of color small business owners in Whatcom county.
$1,010,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided to implement a master of social work program at western on the peninsulas.
$2,412,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for expansion of bilingual educators education.
$1,000,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided for additional student support and outreach at western on the peninsulas.
$580,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely to convert the human services program at western on the peninsulas from self-sustaining to state-supported to reduce tuition rates for students in the program.
$158,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 421, Laws of 2023 (postsecondary student needs).
$2,612,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely to administer a teacher residency program focused on special education instruction. Amounts provided in this subsection are sufficient to support one cohort of 17 residents per school year, and must be prioritized to communities that are anticipated to be most positively impacted by teacher residents who fill teacher vacancies upon completing the teacher residency program and who remain in the communities in which they are mentored. The teacher residency program must meet the following requirements:
Residents receive compensation equivalent to first year paraeducators, as defined in RCW 28A.413.010;
Each resident is assigned a preservice mentor;
Preservice mentors receive a stipend of $2,500 per year;
Residents receive at least 900 hours of preservice clinical practice over the course of the school year;
At least half of the residency hours specified in (d) of this subsection are in a coteaching setting with the resident's preservice mentor and the other half of the residency hours are in a coteaching setting with another teacher;
Residents may not be assigned the lead or primary responsibility for student learning;
Coursework taught during the residency is codesigned by the teacher preparation program and the school district, state-tribal education compact school, or consortium, tightly integrated with residents' preservice clinical practice, and focused on developing culturally responsive teachers; and
The program must prepare residents to meet or exceed the knowledge, skills, performance, and competency standards described in RCW 28A.410.270(1).
$890,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely to continue the expansion of the undergraduate electrical and computer engineering program.
$36,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 314, Laws of 2023 (college in high school fees).
$150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $150,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for planning student studios to assist cities and counties with planning projects.
FOR THE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COUNCIL—POLICY COORDINATION AND ADMINISTRATION
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$126,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $126,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the consumer protection unit.
The student achievement council must ensure that all institutions of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.92.030 and eligible for state financial aid programs under chapters 28B.92 and 28B.118 RCW provide the data needed to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of state financial aid programs. This data must be promptly transmitted to the education data center so that it is available and easily accessible.
$575,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $575,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided to increase the number of high school seniors and college bound scholars that complete the free application for federal student aid and the Washington application for state financial aid through digital engagement tools, expanded training, and increased events for high school students.
$850,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $850,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for administrative support services to carry out duties and responsibilities necessary for recipients of the Washington college grant who are enrolled in a state registered apprenticeship program.
$179,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $179,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the complete Washington program.
$46,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $46,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the state of Washington's annual dues to the education commission of the state.
$650,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 421, Laws of 2023 (postsecondary student needs).
$1,388,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for distribution to four-year institutions of higher education participating in the students experiencing homelessness program without reduction by the Washington student achievement council, pursuant to chapter 339, Laws of 2023 (student homelessness pilot). Of the amounts included in this subsection, no more than $46,000 per fiscal year is for the administration of the program.
$356,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the Washington student achievement council to staff the workforce education investment accountability and oversight board as provided in chapter 282, Laws of 2023 (workforce investment board).
$204,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided for students experiencing homelessness program. This funding will allow for the Northwest Indian College to be added to the program as provided in House Bill No. 1540 (homelessness/tribal colleges).
FOR THE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COUNCIL—OFFICE OF STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$8,034,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $8,035,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for student financial aid payments under the state work study program, including up to four percent administrative allowance for the state work study program.
$276,416,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $276,416,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, $480,359,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation, $69,639,000 of the education legacy trust fund—state appropriation, and $67,654,000 of the Washington opportunity pathways account—state appropriation are provided solely for the Washington college grant program as provided in RCW 28B.92.200.
Changes made to the state work study program in the 2009-2011 and 2011-2013 fiscal biennia are continued in the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium including maintaining the increased required employer share of wages; adjusted employer match rates; discontinuation of nonresident student eligibility for the program; and revising distribution methods to institutions by taking into consideration other factors such as off-campus job development, historical utilization trends, and student need.
$1,165,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026, $1,165,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027, $1,000,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation, $15,849,000 of the education legacy trust account—state appropriation, and $32,273,000 of the Washington opportunity pathways account—state appropriation are provided solely for the college bound scholarship program and may support scholarships for summer session. The office of student financial assistance and the institutions of higher education shall not consider awards made by the opportunity scholarship program to be state-funded for the purpose of determining the value of an award amount under RCW 28B.118.010.
$6,999,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $6,999,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the passport to college program. The maximum scholarship award is up to $5,000. The council shall contract with a nonprofit organization to provide support services to increase student completion in their postsecondary program and shall, under this contract, provide a minimum of $500,000 in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 for this purpose.
$250,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the national guard grant program.
$150,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 369, Laws of 2024 (behav. health scholarship).
$2,250,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 203, Laws of 2024 (Native American apprentices).
$200,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 240, Laws of 2024 (college in the HS fees).
$204,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of House Bill No. 1540 (homelessness/tribal colleges).
FOR THE WORKFORCE TRAINING AND EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$240,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $240,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the health workforce council of the state workforce training and education coordinating board. In partnership with the office of the governor, the health workforce council shall continue to assess workforce shortages across behavioral health disciplines and incorporate the recommended action plan completed in 2020.
$573,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $573,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to conduct health workforce surveys, in collaboration with the nursing care quality assurance commission, to collect and analyze data on the long-term care workforce, and to manage a stakeholder process to address retention and career pathways in long-term care facilities.
$2,000,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for the workforce board to award grants for the purposes of providing apprenticeship, industry certifications and wraparound student supports to workers pursuing job advancement and enhancement through college readiness, apprenticeship, degree, certification, or professional development opportunities in the health care field. Grant recipients must be labor-management partnerships established under section 302 of the labor-management relations act, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 186 that demonstrate adequate funding match and competency in the provision of student supports, or employers who can demonstrate service serving greater than 50 percent medicaid populations who can demonstrate that they will use the grant to join or establish a labor-management partnership dedicated to the purposes of this section. Preference must be given to applications that demonstrate an ability to support students from racially diverse backgrounds, and that are focused on in-demand fields with career ladders to living wage jobs. Grant recipients must use the funds to provide services including, but not limited to, development and implementation of apprenticeship and industry certifications, benefits administration, tuition assistance, counseling and navigation, tutoring and test preparation, instructor/mentor training, materials and technology for students, childcare, and travel costs.
The workforce board must report to and coordinate with the department of ecology to track expenditures from climate commitment act accounts, as defined and described in RCW 70A.65.300 and chapter 173-446B WAC.
$20,000 of the workforce education investment account—state appropriation is provided solely for implementation of chapter 126, Laws of 2023 (nurse supply).
$252,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $252,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely to support the career bridge platform.
$20,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for reasonable accommodation requests.
FOR THE STATE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Funding provided in this section is sufficient for the school to offer to students enrolled in grades six through twelve for full-time instructional services at the Vancouver campus or online with the opportunity to participate in a minimum of 1,080 hours of instruction and the opportunity to earn 24 high school credits.
FOR THE WASHINGTON CENTER FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING YOUTH
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Funding provided in this section is sufficient for the center to offer students ages three through 21 enrolled at the center the opportunity to participate in a minimum of 1,080 hours of instruction and the opportunity to earn 24 high school credits.
FOR THE WASHINGTON STATE ARTS COMMISSION
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$79,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $79,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the creative districts program.
$867,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $867,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for the establishment of a tribal cultural affairs program. Of the amounts provided in this subsection, $500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for grants to support tribal cultural, arts, and creative programs.
$708,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 is provided solely for implementation of chapter 387, Laws of 2023 (Billy Frank Jr. statue).
FOR THE WASHINGTON STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
FOR THE EASTERN WASHINGTON STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: $119,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $119,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided solely for an arts curator.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT POOL
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
The appropriations are provided solely for expenditure into the information technology investment revolving account created in RCW 43.41.433. Amounts in the account are provided solely for the information technology projects shown in LEAP omnibus document IT-2025-H, dated March 24, 2025, which is hereby incorporated by reference. To facilitate the transfer of moneys from other funds and accounts that are associated with projects contained in LEAP omnibus document IT-2025-H, dated March 24, 2025, the state treasurer is directed to transfer moneys from other funds and accounts to the information technology investment revolving account in accordance with schedules provided by the office of financial management. Restricted federal funds may be transferred only to the extent permitted by law, and will otherwise remain outside the information technology investment account. The projects affected remain subject to the other provisions of this section.
Agencies must apply to Washington technology solutions for certification and release of funding for each gate of the project. When Washington technology solutions certifies the key deliverables of the gate have been met, a current technology budget is approved; and if applicable to the stage or gate of the project, that the project is putting functioning software into production that addresses user needs, is in compliance with the quality assurance plan, and meets a defined set of industry best practices for code quality that Washington technology solutions will post to their website by July 1, 2025, it must notify the office of financial management and the fiscal committees of the legislature. The office of financial management may not approve funding for the certified project gate any earlier than ten business days from the date of notification to the fiscal committees of the legislature.
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Allocations and allotments of information technology investment revolving account must be made for discrete stages of projects as determined by the technology budget approved by Washington technology solutions and the office of financial management.
Fifteen percent of total funding allocated by the office of financial management, or another amount as defined jointly by the office of financial management and Washington technology solutions, will be retained in the account, but remain allocated to that project. The retained funding will be released to the agency only after successful completion of that stage of the project and only after Washington technology solutions certifies the stage as required in subsection (2) of this section. For the one Washington project, the amount retained is increased to at least 20 percent of total funding allocated for any stage of that project. If there is no significant risk to the project, the holdback does not apply to the final gate during a biennial close.
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Each project must have a technology budget. The technology budget must have the detail by fiscal month for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. The technology budget must use a method similar to the state capital budget, identifying project costs, each fund source, and anticipated deliverables through each stage of the entire project investment and across fiscal periods and biennia from project onset through implementation and close out, as well as at least five years of maintenance and operations costs.
As part of the development of a technology budget and at each request for funding, the agency shall submit an updated technology budget, if changes occurred, to include detailed financial information to the office of financial management and Washington technology solutions. The technology budget must describe the total cost of the project, as well as maintenance and operations costs, to include and identify at least:
(A) If the project is funded from the information technology revolving account, the technology budget must include a worksheet that provides the fund sources that were transferred into the account by fiscal year;
(B) If the project managed is by a central service agency, and funds are driven out by the central service model, the technology budget must provide a statewide impact by agency by fund as a worksheet in the technology budget file;
ii. Full time equivalent staffing level to include job classification assumptions. This is to assure that the project has adequate state staffing and agency support to ensure success, ensure user acceptance, and adequately test the functionality being delivered in each sprint before it is accepted by the agency's contracting officer or their representative. Key project functions that are deemed "critical" must be retained by state personnel and not outsourced, to ensure that knowledge is retained within state government and that the state can self-sufficiently support the system and make improvements without long-term dependence on a vendor;
iii. Discrete financial budget codes to include at least the appropriation index and program index;
iv. Object and subobject codes of expenditures;
v. Anticipated deliverables to include software demonstration dates;
vi. Historical budget and expenditure detail by fiscal year; and
vii. Maintenance and operations costs by fiscal year for at least five years as a separate worksheet.
c. If a project technology budget changes and a revised technology budget is completed, a comparison of the revised technology budget to the last approved technology budget must be posted to the dashboard, to include a narrative rationale on what changed, why, and how that impacts the project in scope, budget, and schedule.
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Each project must have a project charter. The charter must include:
An organizational chart of the project management team that identifies team members and their roles and responsibilities, and shows that the project is adequately staffed by state personnel in key functions to ensure success;
The Washington technology solutions staff assigned to the project;
A project roadmap that includes the problems the team is solving and the sequence in which the team intends to take on those problems, updated periodically to reflect what has been learned;
Metrics to support the project strategy and vision, to determine that the project is incrementally meeting user needs;
An implementation schedule covering activities, critical milestones, and deliverables at each stage of the project for the life of the project at each agency affected by the project;
Performance measures used to determine that the project is on time, within budget, and meeting expectations for quality of work product;
Ongoing maintenance and operations cost of the project post implementation and close out delineated by agency staffing, contracted staffing, and service level agreements; and
Financial budget coding to include at least discrete financial coding for the project.
If required by Washington technology solutions, a project may also need to have an investment plan. Washington technology solutions must:
Base the requirement of an agency needing to have an investment plan on the complexity and risk of the project;
Establish requirements by project risk level in statewide technology policy, and publish the requirements by September 30, 2025; and
In collaboration with the department of enterprise services, define the circumstances under which the vendor will be terminated or replaced and establish the process by which the agency will transition to a new vendor with a minimal reduction in project productivity.
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Projects with estimated costs greater than $100,000,000 from initiation to completion and implementation may be divided into discrete subprojects as determined by Washington technology solutions, except for the one Washington project which must be divided into the following discrete subprojects: Core financials, expanding financials and procurement, budget, and human resources. Each subproject must have a technology budget as provided in this section.
If the project affects more than one agency:
A separate technology budget and investment plan must be prepared by each agency; and
There must be a budget roll up that includes each affected agency at the subproject level.
Washington technology solutions shall maintain a statewide information technology project dashboard that provides updated information each fiscal month on projects subject to this section. The statewide dashboard must meet the requirements in section 156 of this act.
For any project that exceeds $2,000,000 in total funds to complete, requires more than one biennium to complete, or is financed through financial contracts, bonds, or other indebtedness:
Independent quality assurance services for the project must report independently to Washington technology solutions;
Washington technology solutions, based on project risk assessments, may require additional quality assurance services and independent verification and validation services;
Washington technology solutions must review, and, if necessary, revise the proposed project to ensure it is flexible and adaptable to advances in technology;
The technology budget must specifically identify the uses of any financing proceeds. No more than thirty percent of the financing proceeds may be used for payroll-related costs for state employees assigned to project management, installation, testing, or training;
The agency must consult with the office of the state treasurer during the competitive procurement process to evaluate early in the process whether products and services to be solicited and the responsive bids from a solicitation may be financed;
The agency must consult with the contracting division of the department of enterprise services for a review of all contracts and agreements related to the project's information technology procurements;
The agency and project must use an agile development model holding live demonstrations of functioning software, developed using incremental user research, held at the end of every two-week sprint, except for:
Hardware or infrastructure projects; and
Projects that have implemented all phases and are now in maintenance and operations;
The project solution must be capable of being continually updated, as necessary; and
Washington technology solutions must evaluate the project at each stage and certify whether the project is putting functioning software into production that addresses user needs, is projected to be completed within budget, is in compliance with the quality assurance plan, and meets a defined set of industry best practices for code quality, and whether the project is planned, managed, and meeting deliverable targets as defined in the project's approved technology budget and investment plan.
Washington technology solutions may suspend or terminate a project at any time if it determines that the project is not meeting or not expected to meet anticipated performance and technology outcomes. Once suspension or termination occurs, the agency shall unallot any unused funding and shall not make any expenditure for the project without the approval of the office of financial management. Washington technology solutions must report on December 1 each calendar year any suspension or termination of a project in the previous 12-month period to the legislative fiscal committees.
Washington technology solutions, in consultation with the office of financial management, may identify additional projects to be subject to this section, including projects that are not separately identified within an agency budget. Washington technology solutions must report on December 1 each calendar year any additional projects to be subjected to this section that were identified in the previous 12-month period to the legislative fiscal committees.
Any cost to administer or implement this section for projects listed in subsection (1) of this section, must be paid from the information technology investment revolving account. For any other information technology project subject to the conditions, limitations, and review of this section, the cost to implement this section must be paid from the funds for that project.
The following information technology projects are subject to the conditions, limitations, and review of this section:
The state network firewall replacement of the Washington technology solutions agency;
The resident portal of the Washington technology solutions agency; and
The resident identity and access management modernization projects of the Washington technology solutions agency.
FOR THE STATE TREASURER—BOND RETIREMENT AND INTEREST, AND ONGOING BOND REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER CHARGES: FOR DEBT SUBJECT TO THE DEBT LIMIT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The general fund appropriations are for expenditure into the debt-limit general fund bond retirement account.
FOR THE STATE TREASURER—BOND RETIREMENT AND INTEREST, AND ONGOING BOND REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER CHARGES: FOR GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT TO BE REIMBURSED AS PRESCRIBED BY STATUTE
The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations: The general fund appropriation is for expenditure into the nondebt limit general fund bond retirement account.
FOR THE STATE TREASURER—BOND RETIREMENT AND INTEREST, AND ONGOING BOND REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER CHARGES: FOR BOND SALE EXPENSES
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY FUNDING
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
$1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $1,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided for the critically necessary work of any state agency in the event of an emergent or unforeseen circumstance. Prior to the allocation of funding from this subsection (1), the requesting agency and the office of financial management must comply with the provisions of RCW 43.88.250.
$2,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and $2,500,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 are provided for individual assistance consistent with RCW 38.52.030(9) during an emergency proclaimed by the governor, as defined in RCW 38.52.010. The office of financial management must notify the fiscal committees of the legislature of the receipt by the governor or adjutant general of each application, request, or allocation for individual assistance from the amounts provided in this subsection (2).
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY REVOLVING ACCOUNT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations are provided solely for expenditure into the education technology revolving account for the purpose of covering ongoing operational and equipment replacement costs incurred by the K-20 educational network program in providing telecommunication services to network participants.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—O'BRIEN BUILDING IMPROVEMENT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations are provided solely for expenditure into the enterprise services account for payment of principal, interest, and financing expenses associated with the certificate of participation for the O'Brien building improvement, project number 20081007.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—CHERBERG BUILDING REHABILITATION
The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriation is provided solely for expenditure into the enterprise services account for payment of principal, interest, and financing expenses associated with the certificate of participation for the Cherberg building improvements, project number 2002-1-005.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—STATE HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY ACCOUNT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations are provided solely for expenditure into the state health care affordability account created in RCW 43.71.130.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE—COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACCOUNT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations are provided solely for expenditure into the community reinvestment account created in RCW 43.79.567.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENTERPRISE SERVICES—PRESCRIBED FIRE CLAIMS ACCOUNT
The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriation is provided solely for expenditure into the prescribed fire claims account created in Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1563 (prescribed fire claims). If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this section shall lapse.
FOR THE STATE TREASURER—COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH ASSISTANCE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The state treasurer shall distribute the appropriations to the following counties and health districts in the amounts designated to support public health services, including public health nursing:
Health District
FY 2026
FY 2027
2025-2027 Biennium
Adams County Integrated Health Care Services
$121,213
$121,213
$242,426
Asotin County Health District
$159,890
$159,890
$319,780
Benton-Franklin Health District
$1,614,337
$1,614,337
$3,228,674
Chelan-Douglas Health District
$399,634
$399,634
$799,268
Clallam County Health and Human Services Department
$291,401
$291,401
$582,802
Clark County Public Health
$1,767,341
$1,767,341
$3,534,682
Skamania County Community Health
$111,327
$111,327
$222,654
Columbia County Health District
$119,991
$119,991
$239,982
Cowlitz County Health and Human Services
$477,981
$477,981
$955,962
Garfield County Health District
$93,154
$93,154
$186,308
Grant County Health District
$297,761
$297,761
$595,522
Grays Harbor Public Health and Social Services
$335,666
$335,666
$671,332
Island County Health Department
$255,224
$255,224
$510,448
Jefferson County Public Health
$184,080
$184,080
$368,160
Public Health - Seattle & King County
$12,685,521
$12,685,521
$25,371,042
Kitsap Public Health District
$997,476
$997,476
$1,994,952
Kittitas County Public Health
$198,979
$198,979
$397,958
Klickitat County Public Health
$153,784
$153,784
$307,568
Lewis County Public Health and Social Services
$263,134
$263,134
$526,268
Lincoln County Health Department
$113,917
$113,917
$227,834
Mason County Public Health and Human Services
$227,448
$227,448
$454,896
Okanogan County Public Health
$169,882
$169,882
$339,764
Pacific County Health and Human Services
$169,075
$169,075
$338,150
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
$4,143,169
$4,143,169
$8,286,338
San Juan County Health and Community Services
$126,569
$126,569
$253,138
Skagit County Health Department
$449,745
$449,745
$899,490
Snohomish Health District
$3,433,291
$3,433,291
$6,866,582
Spokane Regional Health District
$2,877,318
$2,877,318
$5,754,636
Northeast Tri-County Health District
$249,303
$249,303
$498,606
Thurston County Public Health and Social Services
$1,046,897
$1,046,897
$2,093,794
Wahkiakum County Health and Human Services
$93,181
$93,181
$186,362
Walla Walla County Department of Community Health
$302,173
$302,173
$604,346
Whatcom County Health Department
$1,214,301
$1,214,301
$2,428,602
Whitman County Health Department
$189,355
$189,355
$378,710
Yakima Health District
$1,052,482
$1,052,482
$2,104,964
TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS
$36,386,000
$36,386,000
$72,772,000
FOR THE STATE TREASURER—COUNTY CLERK LEGAL FINANCIAL OBLIGATION GRANTS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: By October 1st of each fiscal year, the state treasurer shall distribute the appropriations to the following county clerk offices in the amounts designated as grants for the collection of legal financial obligations pursuant to RCW 2.56.190:
County Clerk
FY 2026
FY 2027
Adams County Clerk
$3,109
$3,109
Asotin County Clerk
$4,339
$4,339
Benton County Clerk
$26,953
$26,953
Chelan County Clerk
$10,939
$10,939
Clallam County Clerk
$8,622
$8,622
Clark County Clerk
$48,249
$48,249
Columbia County Clerk
$568
$568
Cowlitz County Clerk
$25,020
$25,020
Douglas County Clerk
$4,483
$4,483
Ferry County Clerk
$624
$624
Franklin County Clerk
$8,111
$8,111
Garfield County Clerk
$359
$359
Grant County Clerk
$14,942
$14,942
Grays Harbor County Clerk
$12,802
$12,802
Island County Clerk
$4,523
$4,523
Jefferson County Clerk
$2,748
$2,748
King County Court Clerk
$176,446
$176,446
Kitsap County Clerk
$32,883
$32,883
Kittitas County Clerk
$5,250
$5,250
Klickitat County Clerk
$3,180
$3,180
Lewis County Clerk
$15,287
$15,287
Lincoln County Clerk
$1,070
$1,070
Mason County Clerk
$7,608
$7,608
Okanogan County Clerk
$5,881
$5,881
Pacific County Clerk
$3,565
$3,565
Pend Oreille County Clerk
$903
$903
Pierce County Clerk
$113,990
$113,990
San Juan County Clerk
$894
$894
Skagit County Clerk
$16,350
$16,350
Skamania County Clerk
$1,702
$1,702
Snohomish County Clerk
$56,392
$56,392
Spokane County Clerk
$66,355
$66,355
Stevens County Clerk
$4,412
$4,412
Thurston County Clerk
$32,827
$32,827
Wahkiakum County Clerk
$591
$591
Walla Walla County Clerk
$7,296
$7,296
Whatcom County Clerk
$30,645
$30,645
Whitman County Clerk
$3,028
$3,028
Yakima County Clerk
$37,054
$37,054
TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS
$800,000
$800,000
BELATED CLAIMS
The agencies and institutions of the state may expend moneys appropriated in this act, upon approval of the office of financial management, for the payment of supplies and services furnished to the agency or institution in prior fiscal biennia.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—FOUNDATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations are provided solely for distribution as provided in RCW 43.70.515.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—ANDY HILL CANCER RESEARCH ENDOWMENT FUND MATCH TRANSFER ACCOUNT
The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriation is provided solely for expenditure into the Andy Hill cancer research endowment fund match transfer account per RCW 43.348.080 to fund the Andy Hill cancer research endowment program. Matching funds using the amounts appropriated in this section may not be used to fund new grants that exceed two years in duration.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—NORTHEAST WASHINGTON WOLF-LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations are provided solely for expenditure into the northeast Washington wolf-livestock management account for the deployment of nonlethal wolf deterrence resources as provided in chapter 16.76 RCW.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE ACCOUNT: JUVENILE CODE REVISIONS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations are provided solely for expenditure into the county criminal justice assistance account for costs to the criminal justice system associated with the implementation of chapter 338, Laws of 1997 (juvenile code revisions). The amounts provided in this subsection are intended to provide funding for county adult court costs associated with the implementation of chapter 338, Laws of 1997 and shall be distributed in accordance with RCW 82.14.310.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE ACCOUNT: REPEAT OFFENDERS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations, or so much thereof as may be necessary, are provided solely for expenditure into the county criminal justice assistance account. The treasurer shall make quarterly distributions from the county criminal justice assistance account of the amounts provided in this section in accordance with RCW 82.14.310 for the purposes of reimbursing local jurisdictions for increased costs incurred as a result of the mandatory arrest of repeat offenders pursuant to chapter 35, Laws of 2013 2nd sp. sess. The appropriations and distributions made under this section constitute appropriate reimbursement for costs for any new programs or increased level of services for the purposes of RCW 43.135.060.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—MUNICIPAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE ACCOUNT: REPEAT OFFENDERS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations, or so much thereof as may be necessary, are appropriated for expenditure into the municipal criminal justice assistance account. The treasurer shall make quarterly distributions from the municipal criminal justice assistance account of the amounts provided in this section in accordance with RCW 82.14.320 and 82.14.330, for the purposes of reimbursing local jurisdictions for increased costs incurred as a result of the mandatory arrest of repeat offenders pursuant to chapter 35, Laws of 2013 2nd sp. sess. The appropriations and distributions made under this section constitute appropriate reimbursement for costs for any new programs or increased level of services for the purposes of RCW 43.135.060.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—INDIAN HEALTH IMPROVEMENT REINVESTMENT ACCOUNT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations are provided solely for expenditure into the Indian health improvement reinvestment account created in RCW 43.71B.040.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—OUTDOOR EDUCATION AND RECREATION PROGRAM ACCOUNT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations are provided solely for expenditure into the outdoor education and recreation program account for the purposes identified in RCW 79A.05.351.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—WASHINGTON CAREER AND COLLEGE PATHWAYS INNOVATION CHALLENGE PROGRAM ACCOUNT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations are provided solely for expenditure into the Washington career and college pathways innovation challenge program account created in RCW 28B.120.040 to implement RCW 28B.120.060. The student achievement council must report to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature on the uses of the general fund moneys deposited in the account by December 1 of each fiscal year of the biennium.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—WASHINGTON INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN ACCOUNT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations are provided solely for expenditure into the Washington internet crimes against children account created in RCW 43.101.435.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—LANDLORD MITIGATION PROGRAM ACCOUNT
The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriation is provided solely for expenditure into the landlord mitigation program account created in RCW 43.31.615 for costs to reimburse anticipated claims made under the landlord damage relief program, the landlord survivor relief program, and the tenancy preservation program as authorized in RCW 43.31.605.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF RETIREMENT SYSTEMS—CONTRIBUTIONS TO RETIREMENT SYSTEMS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations for the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system shall be made on a monthly basis consistent with chapter 41.45 RCW, and the appropriations for the judges and judicial retirement systems shall be made on a quarterly basis consistent with chapters 2.10 and 2.12 RCW.
There is appropriated for state contributions to the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system:
There is appropriated for contributions to the judicial retirement system:
FOR THE BOARD FOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS AND RESERVE OFFICERS—CONTRIBUTIONS TO RETIREMENT SYSTEMS
There is appropriated for state contributions to the volunteer firefighters' and reserve officers' relief and pension principal fund:
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—BEHAVIORAL HEALTH LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM ACCOUNT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations are provided solely for expenditure into the behavioral health loan repayment program account created in RCW 28B.115.135.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—HEALTH PROFESSIONALS LOAN REPAYMENT AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ACCOUNT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
The appropriations are provided solely for expenditure into the health professionals loan repayment and scholarship program account created in RCW 28B.115.130.
These amounts must be used to increase the number of licensed primary care health professionals to serve in licensed primary care health professional critical shortage areas. Contracts between the office of student financial assistance and program recipients must guarantee at least three years of conditional loan repayments. The office of student financial assistance and the department of health shall prioritize a portion of any nonfederal balances in the health professional loan repayment and scholarship fund for conditional loan repayment contracts with psychiatrists and with advanced registered nurse practitioners for work at one of the state-operated psychiatric hospitals. The office and department shall designate the state hospitals as health professional shortage areas if necessary for this purpose. The office shall coordinate with the department of social and health services to effectively incorporate three conditional loan repayments into the department's advanced psychiatric professional recruitment and retention strategies. The office may use these targeted amounts for other program participants should there be any remaining amounts after eligible psychiatrists and advanced registered nurse practitioners have been served. The office shall also work to prioritize loan repayments to professionals working at health care delivery sites that demonstrate a commitment to serving uninsured clients. It is the intent of the legislature to provide funding to maintain the current number and amount of awards for the program in the 2027-2029 fiscal biennium on the basis of these contractual obligations.
Funding may be used for the forensic pathologist loan repayment program established in RCW 28B.115.030.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—RURAL JOBS PROGRAM MATCH TRANSFER ACCOUNT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations are provided solely for expenditure into the rural jobs program match transfer account created in RCW 28B.145.120.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP MATCH TRANSFER ACCOUNT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations are provided solely for expenditure into the opportunity scholarship match transfer account created in RCW 28B.145.050.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—EDUCATOR CONDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations are provided solely for expenditure into the educator conditional scholarship account created in RCW 28B.102.080 for the teacher shortage conditional grant program.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES COMMUNITY SERVICES ACCOUNT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations are provided solely for expenditure into the developmental disabilities community services account (Dan Thompson memorial community services account) for the purposes identified in RCW 71A.20.170.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—HOME VISITING SERVICES ACCOUNT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations are provided solely for expenditure into the home visiting services account created in RCW 43.216.130 for the home visiting program.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL ACCOUNT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations are provided solely for expenditure into the affordable housing for all account created in RCW 43.185C.190 for operations, maintenance, and services for permanent supportive housing as defined in RCW 36.70A.030.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—JUDICIAL INFORMATIONS SYSTEM ACCOUNT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations are provided solely for expenditure into the judicial information systems account created in RCW 2.68.020.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—CRIME VICTIM AND WITNESS ASSISTANCE ACCOUNT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations are provided solely for expenditure into the state crime victim and witness assistance account created in RCW 7.68.047.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—DNA DATABASE ACCOUNT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations are provided solely for expenditure into the state DNA database account created in RCW 43.43.7532.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—WASHINGTON STATE LIBRARY OPERATIONS ACCOUNT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations are provided solely for expenditure into the Washington state library operations account created in RCW 43.07.129.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—HEALTH PROFESSIONS ACCOUNT
The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriation is provided solely for expenditure into the health professions account created in RCW 43.70.320 to implement chapter 366, Laws of 2024 (substance use treatment).
FOR THE WASHINGTON STATE PATROL—STATE FIREARMS BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM ACCOUNT
The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriation is provided solely for expenditure into the state firearms background check system account pursuant to Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1163 (firearm purchase) for the initial establishment of the permit to purchase firearms program. If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 2025, the amount provided in this section shall lapse.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—SECRETARY OF STATE ARCHIVES AND RECORDS MANAGEMENT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations in this section reflect adjustments in agency appropriations that correspond to adjustments in the secretary of state's billing authority for archives and records management. The office of financial management shall adjust allotments in the amounts specified, and to the state agencies specified, in LEAP omnibus document 92C-2025-H, dated March 24, 2025, and adjust appropriation schedules accordingly.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—STATE AUDITOR AUDIT SERVICES
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Amounts in this section reflect adjustments in agency appropriations that correspond to adjustments in the state auditor's billing authority for state agency auditing services. The office of financial management shall adjust allotments in the amounts specified, and to the state agencies specified, in LEAP omnibus document 92D-2025-H, dated March 24, 2025, and adjust appropriation schedules accordingly.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL LEGAL SERVICES
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations in this section reflect adjustments in agency appropriations that correspond to adjustments in the office of the attorney general's billing authority for legal services. The office of financial management shall adjust allotments in the amounts specified, and to the state agencies specified, in LEAP omnibus document 92E-2025-H, dated March 24, 2025, and adjust appropriation schedules accordingly.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations in this section reflect adjustments in agency appropriations that correspond to adjustments in the office of administrative hearings' billing authority. The office of financial management shall adjust allotments in the amounts specified, and to the state agencies specified, in LEAP omnibus document 92G-2025-H, dated March 24, 2025, and adjust appropriation schedules accordingly.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—WASHINGTON TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations in this section reflect adjustments in agency appropriations that correspond to adjustments in the Washington technology solutions agency's billing authority. The office of financial management shall adjust allotments in the amounts specified, and to the state agencies specified, in LEAP omnibus document 92J-2025-H, dated March 24, 2025, and adjust appropriation schedules accordingly.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—DEPARTMENT OF ENTERPRISE SERVICES CENTRAL SERVICES
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations in this section reflect adjustments in agency appropriations that correspond to adjustments in the department of enterprise services' billing authority. The office of financial management shall adjust allotments in the amounts specified, and to the state agencies specified, in LEAP omnibus document 92K-2025-H, dated March 24, 2025, and adjust appropriation schedules accordingly.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT CENTRAL SERVICES
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: The appropriations in this section reflect adjustments in agency appropriations that correspond to adjustments in the office of financial management's billing authority. The office of financial management shall adjust allotments in the amounts specified, and to the state agencies specified, in LEAP omnibus document 92R-2025-H, dated March 24, 2025, and adjust appropriation schedules accordingly.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR CENTRAL SERVICES
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Amounts in this section reflect adjustments in agency appropriations that correspond to adjustments in the office of the governor's billing authority. The office of financial management shall adjust allotments in the amounts specified, and to the state agencies specified, in LEAP omnibus document 92W-2025-H, dated March 24, 2025, and adjust appropriation schedules accordingly.
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—EXTRAORDINARY CRIMINAL JUSTICE COSTS
The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations: The director of financial management shall distribute $300,000 to Kitsap county for extraordinary criminal justice costs pursuant to RCW 43.330.190.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—PSE—EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Appropriations to state agencies include funding for adjustments associated with the collective bargaining agreement between the public school employees' association and Eastern Washington University approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—WFSE—EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Appropriations to state agencies include funding for adjustments related to the collective bargaining agreement reached between the Washington federation of state employees and Eastern Washington University approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—WFSE UNIFORMED PERSONNEL—EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Appropriations to state agencies include funding for adjustments related to the collective bargaining agreement reached between the Washington federation of state employees and Eastern Washington University approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—COMPENSATION WFSE UNIT A—WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Appropriations to state agencies include funding for adjustments related to the collective bargaining agreement reached between the Washington federation of state employees bargaining unit A and Western Washington University approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—COMPENSATION WFSE UNIT B—WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Appropriations to state agencies include funding for adjustments related to the collective bargaining agreement reached between the Washington federation of state employees bargaining unit B and Western Washington University approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—PSE UNIT D—WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Appropriations to state agencies include funding for adjustments related to the collective bargaining agreement reached between the public school employees' of Washington bargaining unit D and Western Washington University approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—WFSE UNIT E—WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Appropriations to state agencies include funding for adjustments related to the collective bargaining agreement reached between the Washington federation of state employees bargaining unit E and Western Washington University approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COMPENSATION PSE UNIT PTE—WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Appropriations to state agencies include funding for adjustments related to the collective bargaining agreement reached between the public school employees of Washington/professional and technical employees and Western Washington University approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
PENSION RATE ADJUSTMENT (HIGHER ED)
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Appropriations to higher education institutions include funding for adjustments related to the adjustment of pension contribution rates consistent with Substitute House Bill No. 1467 (actuarial pension funding). Appropriations are adjusted by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025.
PENSION RATE ADJUSTMENT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Appropriations to state agencies include funding for adjustments related to the adjustment of pension contribution rates consistent with Substitute House Bill No. 1467 (actuarial pension funding). Appropriations are adjusted by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025.
WFSE CLASSIFIED—THE EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Appropriations to state agencies include funding for adjustments related to the collective bargaining agreement reached between the Washington federation of state employees and The Evergreen State College approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
WFSE CLASSIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT—THE EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Appropriations to state agencies include funding for adjustments related to the collective bargaining agreement reached between the Washington federation of state employees classified law enforcement and The Evergreen State College approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
WFSE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERALS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Appropriations to state agencies include funding for adjustments related to the collective bargaining agreement reached between the Washington federation of state employees assistant attorney generals and the state approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
NONREPRESENTED EMPLOYEE SHIFT PREMIUM
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Appropriations to state agencies include funding for adjustments related to providing a one dollar per hour shift premium to state employees not represented by a union and who are assigned to a facility providing direct care to residents or patients. Appropriations are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON—SEIU 925
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: An agreement has been reached between the University of Washington and the service employees international union local 925 under the provisions of chapter 41.80 RCW for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON—WFSE Local 1488 and 3488
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: An agreement has been reached between the University of Washington and the Washington federation of state employees locals 1488 and 3488 under the provisions of chapter 41.80 RCW for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON—TEAMSTERS 117 POLICE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: An agreement has been reached through arbitration between the University of Washington and the teamsters 117 police under the provisions of chapter 41.80 RCW for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON— WFSE POLICE MANAGEMENT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: An agreement has been reached between the University of Washington and the Washington federation of state employees police management under the provisions of chapter 41.80 RCW for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—WSP TROOPERS ASSOCIATION
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: An agreement has been reached between the governor and the Washington state patrol troopers association under the provisions of chapter 41.56 RCW for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—WSP LIEUTENANTS AND CAPTAINS ASSOCIATION
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: An agreement has been reached between the governor and the Washington state patrol lieutenants and captains association under the provisions of chapter 41.56 RCW for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—WFSE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Funding is for the agreement reached between the governor and the Washington federation of state employees general government for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—DFW SERGEANTS ASSOCIATION/TEAMSTERS 760
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: An agreement has been reached between the governor and the department of fish and wildlife sergeants association/teamsters 760 under the provisions of chapter 41.56 RCW for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—WFSE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES
The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations: Funding is for the agreement reached for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium between the governor and the Washington federation of state employees administrative law judges and approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—COMMUNITY COLLEGE COALITION—WFSE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: An agreement has been reached between the governor on behalf of the community college coalition and the Washington federation of state employees under the provisions of chapter 41.80 RCW for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
BEREAVEMENT AND REST AND RECOVERY LEAVE—NONREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Funding is provided for bereavement and rest and recovery leave for nonrepresented employees in general government state agencies. Appropriations in this act for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—FISH AND WILDLIFE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS GUILD
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Funding is for the agreement reached between the governor and the fish and wildlife enforcement officers guild for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—WAFWP
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Funding is for the agreement reached between the governor and the Washington association of fish and wildlife professionals for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—TEAMSTERS LOCAL 117—DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Funding is for the agreement reached between the governor and the teamsters 117 department of corrections for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—PTE LOCAL 17
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Funding is for the agreement reached between the governor and the professional and technical employees local 17 for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—COALITION OF UNIONS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Funding is for the agreement reached between the governor and the coalition of unions for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
NONREPRESENTED GENERAL WAGE INCREASES—GENERAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Funding is for general government state employee compensation increases to employees who are not represented or who bargain under statutory authority other than chapters 41.80 or 47.64 RCW, or RCW 41.56.473 or 41.56.475, subject to the conditions and limitations in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this section.
NONREPRESENTED GENERAL WAGE INCREASES—HIGHER EDUCATION EMPLOYEES
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Funding is for higher education state employee compensation increases to employees who are not represented or who bargain under statutory authority other than chapter 41.80 or 47.64 RCW, or RCW 41.56.473 or 41.56.475, subject to the conditions and limitations in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this section.
NONREPRESENTED PREMIUM PAY
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Funding is for general government state employee compensation increases to employees who are not represented or who bargain under statutory authority other than chapters 41.80 or 47.64 RCW, or RCW 41.56.473 or 41.56.475, and who are eligible for premium pay subject to the conditions and limitations in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this section.
NONREPRESENTED EMPLOYEE TARGETED PAY INCREASES—GENERAL GOVERNMENT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Funding is for general government state employee compensation increases to employees who are not represented or who bargain under statutory authority other than chapters 41.80 or 47.64 RCW, or RCW 41.56.473 or 41.56.475, and who are eligible for targeted pay increases subject to the conditions and limitations in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this section.
NONREPRESENTED EMPLOYEE TARGETED PAY INCREASES—HIGHER EDUCATION
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Funding is for higher education institution state employee compensation increases to employees who are not represented or who bargain under statutory authority other than chapters 41.80 or 47.64 RCW, or RCW 41.56.473 or 41.56.475, and who are eligible for targeted pay increases subject to the conditions and limitations in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this section.
NONREPRESENTED EMPLOYEE MINIMUM STARTING WAGE—GENERAL GOVERNMENT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Funding is for general government state employee compensation increases to employees who are not represented or who bargain under statutory authority other than chapters 41.80 or 47.64 RCW, or RCW 41.56.473 or 41.56.475, and who are eligible for an increase to a starting wage of $18 per hour subject to the conditions and limitations in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this section.
NONREPRESENTED EMPLOYEE MINIMUM STARTING WAGE—HIGHER EDUCATION
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Funding is for higher education institution state employee compensation increases to employees who are not represented or who bargain under statutory authority other than chapters 41.80 or 47.64 RCW, or RCW 41.56.473 or 41.56.475, and who are eligible for an increase to a starting wage of $18 per hour subject to the conditions and limitations in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this section.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—SEIU HEALTHCARE 1199NW GENERAL GOVERNMENT
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Funding is for the agreement reached between the governor and the service employees international union healthcare 1199nw and approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
UPDATED PEBB RATE—INSURANCE BENEFITS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Funding is for adjustments to the health benefit funding rate for general government state agencies, and is subject to the conditions and limitations in part IX of this act. Appropriations in this act for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
UPDATED PEBB RATE (HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS)—INSURANCE BENEFITS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Funding is for adjustments to the health benefit funding rate for general government state agencies, and is subject to the conditions and limitations in part IX of this act. Appropriations in this act for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
NONREPRESENTED EMPLOYEE SALARY SCHEDULE REVISIONS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Funding is for state employee compensation increases to employees who are not represented or who bargain under statutory authority other than chapters 41.80 or 47.64 RCW, or RCW 41.56.473 or 41.56.475, and who are eligible for a salary schedule revision subject to the conditions and limitations in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this section.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY—TEAMSTERS CAMPUS POLICE OFFICERS AND SERGEANTS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: An agreement has been reached between Central Washington University and the teamsters campus police bargaining unit under the provisions of chapter 41.80 RCW for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—LEGISLATIVE PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: An agreement has been reached between the Washington state senate and the Washington state house of representatives and the legislative professionals association under the provisions of chapter 44.90 RCW for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—NONREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT—HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Funding is for state employee compensation increases to employees of the house of representatives who are not represented. Funding is sufficient for a three percent increase July 1, 2025, and a two percent increase July 1, 2026. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—WPEA—WASHINGTON STATE SENATE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: An agreement has been reached between the Washington state senate and the Washington public employees association under the provisions of chapter 44.90 RCW for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY—PSE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: An agreement has been reached between Central Washington University and the public school employees under the provisions of chapter 41.80 RCW for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY—WSU POLICE GUILD BARGAINING UNIT 4
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: An agreement has been reached between Washington State University and the Washington State University police guild bargaining unit 4 under the provisions of chapter 41.80 RCW for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY—WFSE UNITS 2, 12, 13, 15, and 20
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: An agreement has been reached between Washington State University and the Washington federation of state employees bargaining units 2, 12, 13, 15, and 20 under the provisions of chapter 41.80 RCW for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY—INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: An agreement has been reached between Washington State University and the international union of operating engineers under the provisions of chapter 41.80 RCW for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—WPEA—WASHINGTON STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: An agreement has been reached between the Washington state house of representatives and the Washington public employees association under the provisions of chapter 44.90 RCW for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—YAKIMA VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE—WPEA
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: An agreement has been reached between Yakima Valley Community College and the Washington public employees association under the provisions of chapter 41.80 RCW for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY—WFSE
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: An agreement has been reached between Central Washington University and the Washington federation of state employees under the provisions of chapter 41.80 RCW for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations for state agencies are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT—WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY—WWPG
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Appropriations to state agencies include funding for adjustments related to the collective bargaining agreement reached between the Western Washington University police guild and Western Washington University approved in part IX of this act. Appropriations are increased by the amounts specified in LEAP omnibus document compensation adjustments, dated March 18, 2025, to fund the provisions of this agreement.
FOR THE STATE TREASURER—STATE REVENUES FOR DISTRIBUTION
The total expenditures from the state treasury under the appropriations in this section shall not exceed the funds available under statutory distributions for the stated purposes.
FOR THE STATE TREASURER—FOR THE COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE ACCOUNT
The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations: The amount appropriated in this section shall be distributed quarterly during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium in accordance with RCW 82.14.310. This funding is provided to counties for the costs of implementing criminal justice legislation including, but not limited to: Chapter 206, Laws of 1998 (drunk driving penalties); chapter 207, Laws of 1998 (DUI penalties); chapter 208, Laws of 1998 (deferred prosecution); chapter 209, Laws of 1998 (DUI/license suspension); chapter 210, Laws of 1998 (ignition interlock violations); chapter 211, Laws of 1998 (DUI penalties); chapter 212, Laws of 1998 (DUI penalties); chapter 213, Laws of 1998 (intoxication levels lowered); chapter 214, Laws of 1998 (DUI penalties); and chapter 215, Laws of 1998 (DUI provisions).
FOR THE STATE TREASURER—MUNICIPAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE ACCOUNT
The appropriation in this section is subject to the following conditions and limitations: The amount appropriated in this section shall be distributed quarterly during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium to all cities ratably based on population as last determined by the office of financial management. The distributions to any city that substantially decriminalizes or repeals its criminal code after July 1, 1990, and that does not reimburse the county for costs associated with criminal cases under RCW 3.50.800 or 3.50.805(2), shall be made to the county in which the city is located. This funding is provided to cities for the costs of implementing criminal justice legislation including, but not limited to: Chapter 206, Laws of 1998 (drunk driving penalties); chapter 207, Laws of 1998 (DUI penalties); chapter 208, Laws of 1998 (deferred prosecution); chapter 209, Laws of 1998 (DUI/license suspension); chapter 210, Laws of 1998 (ignition interlock violations); chapter 211, Laws of 1998 (DUI penalties); chapter 212, Laws of 1998 (DUI penalties); chapter 213, Laws of 1998 (intoxication levels lowered); chapter 214, Laws of 1998 (DUI penalties); and chapter 215, Laws of 1998 (DUI provisions).
FOR THE STATE TREASURER—FEDERAL REVENUES FOR DISTRIBUTION
FOR THE STATE TREASURER—TRANSFERS
EXPENDITURE AUTHORIZATIONS
The appropriations contained in this act are maximum expenditure authorizations. Pursuant to RCW 43.88.037, moneys disbursed from the treasury on the basis of a formal loan agreement shall be recorded as loans receivable and not as expenditures for accounting purposes. To the extent that moneys are disbursed on a loan basis, the corresponding appropriation shall be reduced by the amount of loan moneys disbursed from the treasury during the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium.
EMERGENCY FUND ALLOCATIONS
Whenever allocations are made from the governor's emergency fund appropriation to an agency that is financed in whole or in part by other than general fund moneys, the director of financial management may direct the repayment of such allocated amount to the general fund from any balance in the fund or funds which finance the agency. An appropriation is not necessary to effect such repayment.
STATUTORY APPROPRIATIONS
In addition to the amounts appropriated in this act for revenues for distribution, state contributions to the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2 and bond retirement and interest, including ongoing bond registration and transfer charges, transfers, interest on registered warrants, and certificates of indebtedness, there is also appropriated such further amounts as may be required or available for these purposes under any statutory formula or under chapters 39.94, 39.96, and 39.98 RCW or any proper bond covenant made under law.
BOND EXPENSES
In addition to such other appropriations as are made by this act, there is hereby appropriated to the state finance committee from legally available bond proceeds in the applicable construction or building funds and accounts such amounts as are necessary to pay the expenses incurred in the issuance and sale of the subject bonds.
VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT AND SEPARATION
As a management tool to reduce costs and make more effective use of resources, while improving employee productivity and morale, agencies may implement either a voluntary retirement or separation program, or both, that is cost neutral or results in cost savings, including costs to the state pension systems, over a two-year period following the commencement of the program, provided that such a program is approved by the director of financial management. Agencies participating in this authorization may offer voluntary retirement and/or separation incentives and options according to procedures and guidelines established by the office of financial management in consultation with the department of retirement systems. The options may include, but are not limited to, financial incentives for voluntary separation or retirement. An employee does not have a contractual right to a financial incentive offered under this section. The office of financial management and the department of retirement systems may review and monitor incentive offers. Agencies are required to submit a report by the date established by the office of financial management in the guidelines required in this section to the legislature and the office of financial management on the outcome of their approved incentive program. The report should include information on the details of the program, including the incentive payment amount for each participant, the total cost to the state, and the projected or actual net dollar savings over the two-year period.
The department of retirement systems may collect from employers the actuarial cost of any incentive provided under this program, or any other incentive to retire provided by employers to members of the state's pension systems, for deposit in the appropriate pension account.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS NOT IMPAIRED
Nothing in this act prohibits the expenditure of any funds by an agency or institution of the state for benefits guaranteed by any collective bargaining agreement in effect on the effective date of this section.
COMPENSATION—REVISE PENSION CONTRIBUTION RATES
The appropriations in this act for school districts and state agencies, including institutions of higher education, are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Appropriations are adjusted to reflect changes to agency appropriations to reflect pension contribution rates adopted by the pension funding council and the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system plan 2 board.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS
In accordance with chapters 41.80 and 41.56 RCW, agreements have been reached between the governor and organizations representing state employee bargaining units and nonstate employee bargaining units for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium presented to the legislature during the 2025 legislative session. Agreements are not approved in this section that were not submitted to the office of financial management by October 1, 2024. Funding is approved for agreements and awards with the following organizations, the terms of which are summarized in OFM document 2025-4, dated December 17, 2024:
Washington federation of state employees, general government;
Teamsters local 117, department of corrections;
Service employees international union, healthcare 1199NW;
Professional and technical engineers, local 17;
Washington association of fish and wildlife professionals;
The coalition of unions;
Association of Washington assistant attorneys general;
Washington federation of state employees, administrative law judges;
Washington state patrol lieutenants and captains association;
Fish and wildlife officers guild;
Teamsters 760, fish and wildlife sergeants;
Washington federation of state employees, higher education community college coalition;
Service employees international union local 925, family child care providers;
Adult family home council, adult family home providers; and
Washington federation of state employees, language access providers.
In accordance with chapters 41.80 and 41.56 RCW, agreements have been reached between institutions of higher education and employee organizations representing state employee bargaining units for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and funding is provided in Part VI of this act for agreements and awards with the following organizations:
University of Washington:
Washington federation of state employees;
Service employees international union local 925;
Teamsters local 117, police; and
Washington federation of state employees, police management;
Washington State University:
Washington federation of state employees;
Police guild; and
International union of operating engineers;
Central Washington University:
Washington federation of state employees;
Public school employees; and
Teamsters local 760 police and sergeants;
The Evergreen State College:
Washington federation of state employees; and
Washington federation of state employees, uniformed personnel;
Western Washington University:
Washington federation of state employees;
Western Washington University police guild; and
Public school employees;
Eastern Washington University:
Washington federation of state employees;
Washington federation of state employees, uniformed personnel; and
Public school employees; and
Yakima Valley College: Public school employees.
Expenditures for agreements in subsections (1) and (2) of this section may also be funded from nonappropriated accounts. If positions are funded with lidded grants or dedicated fund sources with insufficient revenue, additional funding from other sources is not provided.
Collective bargaining agreements that are not required to be approved by the legislature under RCW 41.80.010(4)(c)(ii)(A) are not rejected but are left to the institutions delegated to manage those bargained relationships under state employee collective bargaining law. The following agreements are not rejected, but do not require legislative approval:
Service employees international union local 1199, research/hall health;
Service employees international union local 1199, Harborview medical center/airlift northwest;
Service employees international union local 1199, UW medical center—northwest;
Washington state nurses association, UW medical center—northwest; and
Washington state nurses association, UW medical center—Montlake.
LEGISLATIVE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS
In accordance with chapter 44.90 RCW, the first agreements have been reached between the employer and organizations representing legislative employee bargaining units for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium and presented to the legislature during the 2025 legislative session. Funding is approved for agreements with the legislative professionals association and the Washington public employees association.
COMPENSATION—STATE EMPLOYEES—INSURANCE BENEFITS
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An agreement was reached for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium between the governor and the health care coalition under the provisions of chapter 41.80 RCW. Appropriations in this act for state agencies, including institutions of higher education, are sufficient to implement the provisions of the 2025-2027 collective bargaining agreement, which maintains the provisions of the prior agreement.
Appropriations for state agencies in this act are sufficient for represented employees outside the coalition and for nonrepresented state employee health benefits.
The appropriations for state agencies in this act are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
The monthly employer funding rate for insurance benefit premiums, public employees' benefits board administration, and the uniform medical plan, shall not exceed $1,347 per eligible employee for fiscal year 2026. For fiscal year 2027, the monthly employer funding rate shall not exceed $1,348 per eligible employee.
The board shall collect a $25 per month surcharge payment from members who use tobacco products and a surcharge payment of not less than $50 per month from members who cover a spouse or domestic partner where the spouse or domestic partner has chosen not to enroll in another employer-based group health insurance that has benefits and premiums with an actuarial value of not less than 95 percent of the actuarial value of the public employees' benefits board plan with the largest enrollment. The surcharge payments shall be collected in addition to the member premium payment.
The health care authority, subject to the approval of the public employees' benefits board, shall provide subsidies for health benefit premiums to eligible retired or disabled public employees and school district employees who are eligible for medicare, pursuant to RCW 41.05.085. For calendar years 2026 and 2027, the subsidy shall be up to $183 per month. Funds from reserves accumulated for future adverse claims experience, from past favorable claims experience, or otherwise, may not be used to increase this retiree subsidy beyond what is authorized in this subsection.
The monthly employer funding rate paid by school districts and educational service districts to the health care authority includes $67.61 per month beginning September 1, 2025, and $77.56 beginning September 1, 2026, for deposit into the public employees' and retirees' insurance account established in RCW 41.05.120.
The board has the authority to forgo the federal retiree drug subsidy collected under RCW 41.05.068 for uniform medical plan classic medicare, only to leverage additional federal subsidies via adoption of a medicare part D employer group waiver plan to help reduce premiums for medicare retirees enrolled in uniform medical plan classic medicare.
The funding rates in subsection (2) of this section are sufficient to cover, effective January 1, 2026, the following:
In the uniform medical plan, coverage for doula services;
In the uniform dental plan, the following:
Increasing the temporomandibular joint benefit to $1,000 annually and $5,000 per lifetime; and
Eliminating the deductible for children up to age 15; and
Implementation of Substitute House Bill No. 1123 (hospital affordability).
The funding rates in subsection (2) of this section are not sufficient to continue offering:
An accountable care plan as of plan year 2026; and
The smarthealth wellness program, except for a schedule that ends the program as promptly as possible consistent with obligations to represented employees under collective bargaining agreements approved in this act.
The funding rates in this section assume the reduction of the premium stabilization reserve level for the uniform medical plan to be reduced from 7.0 percent to 5.0 percent for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium.
Current funding allows for the school employees' benefits board to adjust the employer paid long term disability benefit to a maximum monthly benefit of $450 within the current funding resources.
COMPENSATION—SCHOOL EMPLOYEES—INSURANCE BENEFITS
An agreement was reached for the 2025-2027 biennium between the governor and the school employee coalition under the provisions of chapters 41.56 and 41.59 RCW. Appropriations in this act for allocations to school districts are sufficient to implement the provisions of the 2025-2027 collective bargaining agreement, which maintains the provisions of the prior agreement, and are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
The monthly employer funding rate for insurance benefit premiums, school employees' benefits board administration, retiree remittance, and the uniform medical plan, shall not exceed the rates identified in section 506(4) of this act.
These rates are sufficient to cover:
In the uniform medical plan, effective January 1, 2026, coverage for doula services; and
Implementation of Substitute House Bill No. 1123 (hospital affordability).
The funding rates in section 506(4) of this act are not sufficient to continue offering an accountable care plan as of plan year 2026.
The funding rates in section 506(4) of this act assume the reduction of the premium stabilization reserve level for the uniform medical plan to be reduced from 7.0 percent to 5.0 percent for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium.
The funding rates in section 506(4) of this act assume the phase-out of the smarthealth wellness program during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium on a schedule that ends the program as promptly as possible consistent with any obligations under the collective bargaining agreement approved in this section.
Current funding allows for the school employees' benefits board to adjust the employer paid long term disability benefit to a maximum monthly benefit of $450 within the current funding resources.
Except as provided by the parties' health care agreement, in order to achieve the level of funding provided for health benefits, the school employees' benefits board shall require any or all of the following: Employee premium copayments, increases in point-of-service cost sharing, the implementation of managed competition, or other changes to benefits consistent with RCW 41.05.740.
The health care authority shall deposit any moneys received on behalf of the school employees' medical plan as a result of rebates on prescription drugs, audits of hospitals, subrogation payments, or any other moneys recovered as a result of prior uniform medical plan claims payments, into the school employees' and retirees' insurance account to be used for insurance benefits. Such receipts may not be used for administrative expenditures.
When bargaining for funding for school employees health benefits for subsequent fiscal biennia, any proposal agreed upon must assume the imposition of a $25 per month surcharge payment from members who use tobacco products and a surcharge payment of not less than $50 per month from members who cover a spouse or domestic partner where the spouse or domestic partner has chosen not to enroll in another employer-based group health insurance that has benefits and premiums with an actuarial value of not less than 95 percent of the actuarial value of the public employees' benefits board plan with the largest enrollment. The surcharge payments shall be collected in addition to the member premium payment.
GENERAL WAGE INCREASES
Appropriations for state agency employee compensation in this act are sufficient to provide general wage increases to state agency employees and employees of institutions of higher education, who are not represented or who bargain under statutory authority other than chapter 41.80 or 47.64 RCW or RCW 41.56.473 or 41.56.475.
Funding is provided for a three percent general wage increase effective July 1, 2025, for all classified employees as specified in subsection (1)(a) of this section, employees in the Washington management service, and exempt employees under the jurisdiction of the office of financial management. The appropriations are also sufficient to fund a three percent salary increase effective July 1, 2025, for executive, legislative, and judicial branch employees exempt from merit system rules whose maximum salaries are not set by the commission on salaries for elected officials.
Funding is provided for a two percent general wage increase effective July 1, 2026, for all classified employees as specified in subsection (1) of this section, employees in the Washington management service, and exempt employees under the jurisdiction of the office of financial management. The appropriations are also sufficient to fund a two percent salary increase effective July 1, 2026, for executive, legislative, and judicial branch employees exempt from merit system rules whose maximum salaries are not set by the commission on salaries for elected officials.
COMPENSATION—PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS
The appropriations in this act for school districts and state agencies, including institutions of higher education, are subject to the following conditions and limitations: Appropriations are adjusted to reflect changes to agency appropriations to reflect savings resulting from changes to pension funding as provided in Substitute House Bill No. 1467 (actuarial funding of pension systems).
During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the health care authority, department of commerce, department of corrections, and department of children, youth, and families must revise their agreements and contracts with vendors to include a provision to require that each vendor agrees to equality among its workers by ensuring similarly employed individuals are compensated as equals as follows:
Employees are similarly employed if the individuals work for the same employer, the performance of the job requires comparable skill, effort, and responsibility, and the jobs are performed under similar working conditions. Job titles alone are not determinative of whether employees are similarly employed.
Vendors may allow differentials in compensation for their workers based in good faith on any of the following: A seniority system, a merit system, a system that measures earnings by quantity or quality of production, a bona fide job-related factor or factors, or a bona fide regional difference in compensation levels.
A bona fide job-related factor or factors may include, but is not limited to, education, training, or experience, that is consistent with business necessity, not based on or derived from a gender-based differential, and accounts for the entire differential.
A bona fide regional difference in compensation level must be consistent with business necessity, not based on or derived from a gender-based differential, and account for the entire differential.
The provision must allow for the termination of the contract if the agency or the department of enterprise services determines that the vendor is not in compliance with this agreement or contract term.
Agencies must implement this provision with any new contract and at the time of renewal of any existing contract.
The department of enterprise services must revise its master contracts with vendors, including cooperative purchasing agreements under RCW 39.26.060, in accordance with this section. Any cost incurred by the department of enterprise services to implement this section must be recouped from the fees charged to master contract vendors.
The jail modernization task force established in the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium continues to be composed of the following members:
One member from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate;
One member from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
A representative from the caseload forecast council, as an advisory member;
One member appointed by and representing each of the following:
The governor;
The department of corrections;
The sentencing guidelines commission;
The department of social and health services, representing the behavioral health administration's state hospitals;
The health care authority;
The criminal justice training commission;
The superior court judges association;
The district and municipal court judges association;
ix. The Washington association of criminal defense attorneys or the Washington defender association;
The Washington state minority and justice commission;
Disability rights Washington;
A behavioral health administrative service organization; and
An individual with lived experience; and
Two members appointed by and representing each of the following:
The Washington state association of counties, with one representative from east of the crest of the Cascades and one representative from west of the crest of the Cascades; and
The Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, with one representative from east of the crest of the Cascades and one representative from west of the crest of the Cascades.
Any additions or modifications to the membership provided in subsection (1) of this section will be informed by the analysis performed by the Washington state institute for public policy and the convening assessment performed by the William D. Ruckelshaus center.
The task force shall review the Washington state institute for public policy's report on jail characteristics, any resulting legislation from the criminal sentencing task force, and any resulting legislation from the Washington state joint legislative task force on jail standards. At a minimum, the task force shall also discuss the following:
Employee retention issues and potential solutions;
The impact of overtime, jail atmosphere, emergency response time, and inexperienced corrections officers, and how to overcome these challenges;
The type of facility needed to house those with behavioral health needs and associated costs of these facilities;
Available diversion programs and their costs;
Types of existing behavioral health facilities for those involved in the criminal justice system, the costs of building and running these facilities, how these facilities vary by location, the viability of offering facilities in every county, and potential system improvements to the types of services and supports offered and delivered to those with behavioral health needs;
The types of services and supports provided to those exiting the jail system; and
What reforms are necessary to create and enhance a seamless transition back to the community following jail confinement.
The task force shall develop a set of statewide jail modernization recommendations to include, at a minimum, identifying existing facilities in need of upgrades or remodel and any need for building new facilities, and potential funding sources or mechanisms to make the recommendations feasible.
Legislative members of the task force are reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative members are not entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses if they are elected officials or are participating on behalf of an employer, governmental entity, or other organization. Any reimbursement for other nonlegislative members is subject to chapter 43.03 RCW.
The task force shall submit an initial report, including findings and recommendations, to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature, pursuant to RCW 43.01.036, by July 1, 2025. The task force shall submit a final report by December 31, 2025.
There is hereby created the gambling revolving fund which shall consist of all moneys receivable for licensing, penalties, forfeitures, and all other moneys, income, or revenue received by the commission. The state treasurer shall be custodian of the fund. All moneys received by the commission or any employee thereof, except for change funds and an amount of petty cash as fixed by rule or regulation of the commission, shall be deposited each day in a depository approved by the state treasurer and transferred to the state treasurer to be credited to the gambling revolving fund. Disbursements from the revolving fund shall be on authorization of the commission or a duly authorized representative thereof. In order to maintain an effective expenditure and revenue control the gambling revolving fund shall be subject in all respects to chapter 43.88 RCW but no appropriation shall be required to permit expenditures and payment of obligations from such fund. All expenses relative to commission business, including but not limited to salaries and expenses of the director and other commission employees shall be paid from the gambling revolving fund.
During the 2003-2005 fiscal biennium, the legislature may transfer from the gambling revolving fund to the state general fund such amounts as reflect the excess nontribal fund balance of the fund. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, moneys in the account may also be transferred into the state general fund. The commission shall not increase fees during the 2003-2005 fiscal biennium for the purpose of restoring the excess fund balance transferred under this section.
The fair fund is created in the custody of the state treasury.
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All moneys received by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this fund and from RCW 67.16.105 shall be deposited into the fund. Each fiscal year, the state treasurer shall transfer into the fair fund from the general fund an amount appropriated in the omnibus operating appropriations act equal to:
$2,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;
$2,750,000 in each fiscal year 2022 and 2023;
$3,500,000 in each fiscal year 2024 and 2025;
$2,250,000 in each fiscal year 2026 and 2027; and
$4,000,000 in fiscal year 2028 and each fiscal year thereafter.
To support inclusiveness at fair events, a portion of the additional funds provided to fairs as a result of chapter 245, Laws of 2021 must be prioritized to be spent on educational programs and outreach that are reflective of the diversity within a fair's local population.
Expenditures from the fund may be used only for assisting fairs in the manner provided in this chapter. Only the director of agriculture or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the fund. The fund is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for expenditures.
A license to practice public accounting shall be granted by the board to any person:
Who is of good character. Good character, for purposes of this section, means lack of a history of dishonest or felonious acts. The board may refuse to grant a license on the ground of failure to satisfy this requirement only if there is a substantial connection between the lack of good character of the applicant and the professional and ethical responsibilities of a licensee and if the finding by the board of lack of good character is supported by a preponderance of evidence. When an applicant is found to be unqualified for a license because of a lack of good character, the board shall furnish the applicant a statement containing the findings of the board and a notice of the applicant's right of appeal;
Who has met the educational standards established by rule as the board determines to be appropriate;
Who has passed an examination;
Who has met the experience requirements established by rule by the board as it deems appropriate, which is gained:
Through the use of accounting, issuing reports, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, tax advisory, or consulting skills;
While employed in government, industry, academia, or public practice; and
Meeting the competency requirements in a manner as determined by the board to be appropriate and established by board rule; and
Who has paid appropriate application fees as established by rule by the board.
The examination described in subsection (1)(c) of this section shall test the applicant's knowledge of the subjects of accounting and auditing, and other related fields the board may specify by rule. The time for holding the examination is fixed by the board and may be changed from time to time. The board shall prescribe by rule the methods of applying for and taking the examination, including methods for grading examinations and determining a passing grade required of an applicant for a license. The board shall to the extent possible see to it that the grading of the examination, and the passing grades, are uniform with those applicable to all other states. The board may make use of all or a part of the uniform certified public accountant examination and advisory grading service of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and may contract with third parties to perform administrative services with respect to the examination as the board deems appropriate to assist it in performing its duties under this chapter. The board shall establish by rule provisions for transitioning to a new examination structure or to a new media for administering the examination.
The board shall charge each applicant an examination fee for the initial examination or for reexamination. The applicable fee shall be paid at the time an individual applies for examination, reexamination, or evaluation of educational qualifications. Fees for examination, reexamination, or evaluation of educational qualifications shall be determined by the board under this chapter. There is established in the state treasury an account to be known as the certified public accountants' account. All fees received from candidates to take any or all sections of the certified public accountant examination shall be used only for costs related to the examination.
Individuals whose certificates are current and valid on June 30, 2024, will automatically be converted to a licensee in an inactive status. To activate a license and become an active licensee, the individual must apply to the board to activate the license and:
For applications to activate, the licensees must submit to the board documentation that they have gained one year of experience through the use of accounting, issuing reports, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, tax advisory, or consulting skills, without regard to the eight-year limitation set forth in (b) of this subsection, while employed in government, industry, academia, or public practice;
For applications submitted to the board before January 1, 2024, the individual must provide documentation to the board that they have one year of experience acquired within eight years prior to applying for a license through the use of accounting, issuing reports, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, tax advisory, or consulting skills in government, industry, academia, or public practice;
Meet competency requirements in a manner as determined by the board to be appropriate and established by board rule;
Submit to the board satisfactory proof of having completed an accumulation of one hundred twenty hours of CPE during the thirty-six months preceding the date of filing the petition;
Pay the appropriate fees established by rule by the board.
Individuals who did not hold a valid certificate on the conversion date of June 30, 2024, and who wish to apply for a license must apply as a new licensee and meet the requirements under subsection (1) of this section for initial licensure.
Licensees in good standing may request to have their license placed on inactive status. All licensees in inactive status, including those who converted from certificate to a license, are subject to the following conditions:
The licensee is prohibited from practicing public accounting;
The licensee must pay a renewal fee to maintain this status;
The licensee must comply with the applicable CPE requirements;
The licensee is subject to the requirements of this chapter and the rules adopted by the board.
During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, moneys in the account may also be transferred into the state general fund.
The assisted living facility temporary management account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from civil penalties imposed under this chapter must be deposited into the account. Only the director or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the protection of the health, safety, welfare, or property of residents of assisted living facilities found to be deficient. Uses of the account include, but are not limited to:
Payment for the costs of relocation of residents to other facilities;
Payment to maintain operation of an assisted living facility pending correction of deficiencies or closure, including payment of costs associated with temporary management authorized under this chapter;
Reimbursement of residents for personal funds or property lost or stolen when the resident's personal funds or property cannot be recovered from the assisted living facility or third-party insurer; and
The protection of the health, safety, welfare, and property of residents of assisted living facilities found to be noncompliant with licensing standards.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the department is authorized to expend funds from the assisted living facility temporary management account for any purpose deemed necessary to support its operations and responsibilities.
The board shall set fees at a level adequate to pay the costs of administering this chapter. All fees collected under the provisions of RCW 18.43.050, 18.43.060, 18.43.080, 18.43.100, and 18.43.130 and fines collected under RCW 18.43.110 shall be paid into the professional engineers' account, which account is hereby established in the state treasury to be used to carry out the purposes and provisions of RCW 18.43.050, 18.43.060, 18.43.080, 18.43.100, 18.43.110, 18.43.120, 18.43.130, and all other duties required for operation and enforcement of this chapter. During the 2013-2015 and 2015-2017 fiscal biennia, the legislature may transfer moneys from the professional engineers' account to the state general fund such amounts as reflect the excess fund balance of the fund. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, moneys in the account may also be transferred into the state general fund.
In any case in which the department finds that a licensee, or any partner, officer, director, owner of five percent or more of the assets of the nursing home, or managing employee failed or refused to comply with the requirements of this chapter or of chapter 74.42 RCW, or the standards, rules, and regulations established under them or, in the case of a medicaid contractor, failed or refused to comply with the medicaid requirements of Title XIX of the social security act, as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder, the department may take any or all of the following actions:
Suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a license;
Order stop placement;
Assess monetary penalties of a civil nature;
Deny payment to a nursing home for any medicaid resident admitted after notice to deny payment. Residents who are medicaid recipients shall not be responsible for payment when the department takes action under this subsection;
Appoint temporary management as provided in subsection (7) of this section.
The department may suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a license, assess monetary penalties of a civil nature, or both, in any case in which it finds that the licensee, or any partner, officer, director, owner of five percent or more of the assets of the nursing home, or managing employee:
Operated a nursing home without a license or under a revoked or suspended license; or
Knowingly or with reason to know made a false statement of a material fact in his or her application for license or any data attached thereto, or in any matter under investigation by the department; or
Refused to allow representatives or agents of the department to inspect all books, records, and files required to be maintained or any portion of the premises of the nursing home; or
Willfully prevented, interfered with, or attempted to impede in any way the work of any duly authorized representative of the department and the lawful enforcement of any provision of this chapter or of chapter 74.42 RCW; or
Willfully prevented or interfered with any representative of the department in the preservation of evidence of any violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or of chapter 74.42 RCW or the standards, rules, and regulations adopted under them; or
Failed to report patient abuse or neglect in violation of chapter 70.124 RCW; or
Fails to pay any civil monetary penalty assessed by the department pursuant to this chapter within ten days after such assessment becomes final.
The department shall deny payment to a nursing home having a medicaid contract with respect to any medicaid-eligible individual admitted to the nursing home when:
The department finds the nursing home not in compliance with the requirements of Title XIX of the social security act, as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the facility has not complied with such requirements within three months; in such case, the department shall deny payment until correction has been achieved; or
The department finds on three consecutive standard surveys that the nursing home provided substandard quality of care; in such case, the department shall deny payment for new admissions until the facility has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the department that it is in compliance with medicaid requirements and that it will remain in compliance with such requirements.
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Civil penalties collected under this section or under chapter 74.42 RCW shall be deposited into a special fund administered by the department to be applied to the protection of the health or property of residents of nursing homes found to be deficient, including payment for the costs of relocation of residents to other facilities, maintenance of operation of a facility pending correction of deficiencies or closure, and reimbursement of residents for personal funds lost. Notwithstanding the restrictions in this subsection, for the fiscal biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027, the department is authorized to expend funds from the nursing home civil monetary penalty account for any purpose deemed necessary by the department to support its operations and responsibilities. This expanded expenditure authority expires June 30, 2027, after which expenditures shall be exclusively for the purposes described in this subsection.
Civil monetary penalties, if imposed, may be assessed and collected, with interest, for each day a nursing home is or was out of compliance. Civil monetary penalties shall not exceed three thousand dollars per violation. Each day upon which the same or a substantially similar action occurs is a separate violation subject to the assessment of a separate penalty.
Any civil penalty assessed under this section or chapter 74.46 RCW shall be a nonreimbursable item under chapter 74.46 RCW.
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The department shall order stop placement on a nursing home, effective upon oral or written notice, when the department determines:
The nursing home no longer substantially meets the requirements of chapter 18.51 or 74.42 RCW, or in the case of medicaid contractors, the requirements of Title XIX of the social security act, as amended, and any regulations promulgated under such statutes; and
The deficiency or deficiencies in the nursing home:
(A) Jeopardize the health and safety of the residents, or
(B) Seriously limit the nursing home's capacity to provide adequate care.
b. When the department has ordered a stop placement, the department may approve a readmission to the nursing home from a hospital when the department determines the readmission would be in the best interest of the individual seeking readmission.
c. The department shall terminate the stop placement when:
i. The provider states in writing that the deficiencies necessitating the stop placement action have been corrected; and
ii. The department staff confirms in a timely fashion not to exceed fifteen working days that:
(A) The deficiencies necessitating stop placement action have been corrected, and
(B) The provider exhibits the capacity to maintain adequate care and service.
d. A nursing home provider shall have the right to an informal review to present written evidence to refute the deficiencies cited as the basis for the stop placement. A request for an informal review must be made in writing within ten days of the effective date of the stop placement.
e. A stop placement shall not be delayed or suspended because the nursing home requests a hearing pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW or an informal review. The stop placement shall remain in effect until:
i. The department terminates the stop placement; or
ii. The stop placement is terminated by a final agency order, after a hearing, pursuant to chapter 34.05 RCW.
If the department determines that an emergency exists as a result of a nursing home's failure or refusal to comply with requirements of this chapter or, in the case of a medicaid contractor, its failure or refusal to comply with medicaid requirements of Title XIX of the social security act, as amended, and rules adopted thereunder, the department may suspend the nursing home's license and order the immediate closure of the nursing home, the immediate transfer of residents, or both.
If the department determines that the health or safety of residents is immediately jeopardized as a result of a nursing home's failure or refusal to comply with requirements of this chapter or, in the case of a medicaid contractor, its failure or refusal to comply with medicaid requirements of Title XIX of the social security act, as amended, and rules adopted thereunder, the department may appoint temporary management to:
Oversee the operation of the facility; and
Ensure the health and safety of the facilities residents while:
Orderly closure of the facility occurs; or
The deficiencies necessitating temporary management are corrected.
The department shall by rule specify criteria as to when and how the sanctions specified in this section shall be applied. Such criteria shall provide for the imposition of incrementally more severe penalties for deficiencies that are repeated, uncorrected, pervasive, or present a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of the residents.
All fees required under this chapter shall be set by the director in accordance with RCW 43.24.086 and shall be paid to the state treasurer. All fees paid under the provisions of this chapter shall be placed in the real estate commission account in the state treasury. All money derived from fines imposed under this chapter shall be deposited in the real estate education program account created in RCW 18.85.321. During the 2013-2015 and 2015-2017 fiscal biennia, the legislature may transfer to the state general fund such amounts as reflect the excess fund balance in the real estate commission account. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, moneys in the account may also be transferred into the state general fund.
Beginning with the 2015-2017 omnibus appropriations act, except for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the legislature shall appropriate to the state board for community and technical colleges and to each of the four-year institutions of higher education an amount that is at least equal to the total state funds appropriated in the 2013-2015 biennium and the net revenue loss from resident undergraduate tuition operating fees based on budgeted full-time equivalent enrollment received for the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium under RCW 28B.15.067 (3) and (6). The net revenue loss shall be adjusted for inflation in subsequent biennia.
As used in this section and RCW 28B.15.069, "inflation" shall be based on the consumer price index, using the official current base, compiled by the bureau of labor statistics, United States department of labor for the state of Washington. If the bureau of labor statistics develops more than one consumer price index for areas within the state, the index covering the greatest number of people and covering areas exclusively within the boundaries of the state shall be used.
The state financial aid account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. The primary purpose of the account is to ensure that all appropriations designated for financial aid through statewide student financial aid programs are made available to eligible students. The account shall be a nontreasury account.
The office shall deposit in the account all money received for the Washington college grant program established under chapter 28B.92 RCW, the state work-study program established under chapter 28B.12 RCW, the Washington scholars program established under RCW 28A.600.110, the Washington award for vocational excellence program established under RCW 28C.04.525, and the educational opportunity grant program established under chapter 28B.101 RCW. The account shall consist of funds appropriated by the legislature for the programs listed in this subsection and private contributions to the programs. Moneys deposited in the account do not lapse at the close of the fiscal period for which they were appropriated. Both during and after the fiscal period in which moneys were deposited in the account, the office may expend moneys in the account only for the purposes for which they were appropriated, and the expenditures are subject to any other conditions or limitations placed on the appropriations.
Expenditures from the account shall be used for scholarships to students eligible for the programs according to program rules and policies. For the 2019-2021 fiscal biennium, expenditures may also be used for scholarship awards in the passport to career program established under chapter 28B.117 RCW. It is the intent of the legislature that this policy will be continued in subsequent fiscal biennia.
Disbursements from the account are exempt from appropriations and the allotment provisions of chapter 43.88 RCW.
Only the director of the office or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account.
During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer money in the state financial aid account to the state general fund.
In addition to other eligibility requirements outlined in this chapter, students who demonstrate financial need are eligible to receive the Washington college grant. Financial need is as follows:
Until academic year 2020-21, students with family incomes between zero and fifty percent of the state median family income, adjusted for family size, shall receive the maximum Washington college grant as defined in RCW 28B.92.030. Grants for students with incomes between fifty-one and seventy percent of the state median family income, adjusted for family size, shall be prorated at the following percentages of the maximum Washington college grant amount:
Seventy percent for students with family incomes between fifty-one and fifty-five percent of the state median family income;
Sixty-five percent for students with family incomes between fifty-six and sixty percent of the state median family income;
Sixty percent for students with family incomes between sixty-one and sixty-five percent of the state median family income; and
Fifty percent for students with family incomes between sixty-six and seventy percent of the state median family income.
Beginning with academic year 2020-21, except during the 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26, and 2026-27 academic years, students with family incomes between zero and fifty-five percent of the state median family income, adjusted for family size, shall receive the maximum Washington college grant as defined in RCW 28B.92.030. During the 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26, and 2026-27 academic years, students with family incomes between zero and sixty percent of the state median family income, adjusted for family size, shall receive the maximum Washington college grant. Grants for students with incomes between fifty-six and one hundred percent of the state median family income, adjusted for family size, shall be prorated at the following percentages of the maximum Washington college grant amount:
Seventy percent for students with family incomes between fifty-six and sixty percent of the state median family income, except during the 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26, and 2026-27 academic years;
Sixty percent for students with family incomes between sixty-one and sixty-five percent of the state median family income, except during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years when student grant award shall not be prorated and students shall receive the maximum award;
Fifty percent for students with family incomes between sixty-six and seventy percent of the state median family income;
Twenty-four and one-half percent for students with family incomes between seventy-one and seventy-five percent of the state median family income; and
Ten percent for students with family incomes between seventy-six and one hundred percent of the state median family income.
(1) The Washington student loan account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from the Washington student loan program must be deposited in the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for administration and the issuance of new student loans. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. During the 2023-2025 and 2025-2027 fiscal biennium biennia, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to make transfers of moneys in the Washington student loan account to the state general fund.
The medical student loan account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. Only the executive director of the office or the executive director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. No appropriation is required for expenditures from the account for medical student loans. An appropriation is required for expenditures from the account for costs associated with program administration by the office.
The office shall deposit into the account all moneys received for the program. Revenues to the account consist of moneys received for the program by the office, including grants and donations, and receipts from participant repayments, including principal and interest.
Expenditures from the account may be used solely for medical student loans to participants in the program established by this chapter and costs associated with program administration by the office.
During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer money in the medical student loan account to the state general fund.
The tuition recovery trust fund is hereby established in the custody of the state treasurer. The agency shall deposit in the fund all moneys received under RCW 28C.10.084. Moneys in the fund may be spent only for the purposes under RCW 28C.10.084. Disbursements from the fund shall be on authorization of the agency. Disbursements from the fund shall only be used to reimburse students who are Washington state residents, or agencies or businesses that pay tuition and fees on behalf of Washington students. During the 2013-2015 fiscal biennium, the legislature may transfer from the tuition recovery trust fund to the state general fund such amounts as reflect the excess fund balance in the fund. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, moneys in the fund may also be used to cover the costs associated with the agency's administration, including private vocational school licensing and the veterans program. The fund is subject to the allotment procedure provided under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for disbursements.
The public disclosure transparency account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from penalties collected pursuant to enforcement actions or settlements under this title, including any fees or costs, must be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Moneys in the account may be used only for the implementation of chapter 304, Laws of 2018 and duties under this title, and may not be used to supplant general fund appropriations to the commission. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, moneys in the account may also be transferred into the state general fund.
The public employees' and retirees' insurance account is hereby established in the custody of the state treasurer, to be used by the director for the deposit of contributions, the remittance paid by school districts and educational service districts under RCW 28A.400.410, reserves, dividends, and refunds, for payment of premiums and claims for employee and retiree insurance benefit contracts and subsidy amounts provided under RCW 41.05.085, and transfers from the flexible spending administrative account as authorized in RCW 41.05.123. Moneys from the account shall be disbursed by the state treasurer by warrants on vouchers duly authorized by the director. Moneys from the account may be transferred to the flexible spending administrative account to provide reserves and start-up costs for the operation of the flexible spending administrative account program. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer money in the public employees' and retirees' insurance account to the state general fund.
The state treasurer and the state investment board may invest moneys in the public employees' and retirees' insurance account. All such investments shall be in accordance with RCW 43.84.080 or 43.84.150, whichever is applicable. The director shall determine whether the state treasurer or the state investment board or both shall invest moneys in the public employees' and retirees' insurance account.
The school employees' insurance account is hereby established in the custody of the state treasurer, to be used by the director for the deposit of contributions, reserves, dividends, and refunds, for payment of premiums and claims for school employee insurance benefit contracts, and for transfers from the school employees' benefits board flexible spending and dependent care administrative account as authorized in this subsection. Moneys from the account shall be disbursed by the state treasurer by warrants on vouchers duly authorized by the director. Moneys from the account may be transferred to the school employees' benefits board flexible spending and dependent care administrative account to provide reserves and start-up costs for the operation of the school employees' benefits board flexible spending arrangement and dependent care assistance program. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer money in the school employees' insurance account to the state general fund.
The state treasurer and the state investment board may invest moneys in the school employees' insurance account. These investments must be in accordance with RCW 43.84.080 or 43.84.150, whichever is applicable. The director shall determine whether the state treasurer or the state investment board or both shall invest moneys in the school employees' insurance account.
Moneys may be transferred between the public employees' and retirees' insurance account and the school employees' insurance account for short-term cash management and cash balance purposes.
The personnel service fund is created in the state treasury, to be used by the office of financial management as a revolving fund for the payment of salaries, wages, and operations required for the administration of the provisions of this chapter, applicable provisions of chapter 41.04 RCW, and chapter 41.60 RCW. An amount not to exceed one and one-half percent of the salaries and wages for all positions in each of the agencies subject to this chapter, except the institutions of higher education, shall be charged to the operations appropriations of each agency and credited to the personnel service fund as the allotments are approved pursuant to chapter 43.88 RCW. Subject to the above limitations, the amount shall be charged against the allotments pro rata, at a rate to be fixed by the director from time to time which, together with income derived from services rendered under RCW 41.06.080, will provide the office of financial management with funds to meet its anticipated expenditures during the allotment period, including the training requirements in RCW 41.06.500 and 41.06.530.
The director shall fix the terms and charges for services rendered by the office of financial management pursuant to RCW 41.06.080, which amounts shall be credited to the personnel service fund and charged against the proper fund or appropriation of the recipient of such services no longer than on a quarterly basis. Payment for services so rendered under RCW 41.06.080 shall be made according to the state administrative and accounting manual (SAAM) to the state treasurer and deposited in the personnel service fund.
The office of financial management may use the personnel service fund to administer an employee transit pass program and other employment benefits. The office of financial management must bill state agencies for the total cost of administering the program and payments received from agencies must be deposited in the personnel service fund.
During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, moneys in the account may also be transferred into the state general fund.
The higher education personnel service fund is created in the state treasury, to be used by the office of financial management as a revolving fund for the payment of salaries, wages, and operations required for the administration of the provisions of this chapter and applicable provisions of chapters 41.04 and 41.60 RCW. An amount not to exceed one-half of one percent of the salaries and wages for all positions in the classified service shall be contributed from the operations appropriations of each institution and the state board for community and technical colleges and credited to the higher education personnel service fund as such allotments are approved pursuant to chapter 43.88 RCW. Subject to the above limitations, such amount shall be charged against the allotments pro rata, at a rate to be fixed by the director of financial management from time to time, which will provide the office of financial management with funds to meet its anticipated expenditures during the allotment period.
During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, moneys in the account may also be transferred into the state general fund.
Except as provided by RCW 41.50.255 and subsection (6) of this section, all expenses of the administration of the department, the expenses of administration of the retirement systems, and the expenses of the administration of the office of the state actuary created in chapters 2.10, 2.12, 28B.10, 41.26, 41.32, 41.40, 41.34, 41.35, 41.37, 43.43, and 44.44 RCW shall be paid from the department of retirement systems expense fund.
In order to reimburse the department of retirement systems expense fund on an equitable basis the department shall ascertain and report to each employer, as defined in RCW 28B.10.400, 41.26.030, 41.32.010, 41.35.010, 41.37.010, or 41.40.010, the sum necessary to defray its proportional share of the entire expense of the administration of the retirement system that the employer participates in during the ensuing biennium or fiscal year whichever may be required. Such sum is to be computed in an amount directly proportional to the estimated entire expense of the administration as the ratio of monthly salaries of the employer's members bears to the total salaries of all members in the entire system. It shall then be the duty of all such employers to include in their budgets or otherwise provide the amounts so required.
The department shall compute and bill each employer, as defined in RCW 28B.10.400, 41.26.030, 41.32.010, 41.35.010, 41.37.010, or 41.40.010, at the end of each month for the amount due for that month to the department of retirement systems expense fund and the same shall be paid as are its other obligations. Such computation as to each employer shall be made on a percentage rate of salary established by the department. However, the department may at its discretion establish a system of billing based upon calendar year quarters in which event the said billing shall be at the end of each such quarter.
The director may adjust the expense fund contribution rate for each system at any time when necessary to reflect unanticipated costs or savings in administering the department.
An employer who fails to submit timely and accurate reports to the department may be assessed an additional fee related to the increased costs incurred by the department in processing the deficient reports. Fees paid under this subsection shall be deposited in the retirement system expense fund.
Every six months the department shall determine the amount of an employer's fee by reviewing the timeliness and accuracy of the reports submitted by the employer in the preceding six months. If those reports were not both timely and accurate the department may prospectively assess an additional fee under this subsection.
An additional fee assessed by the department under this subsection shall not exceed fifty percent of the standard fee.
The department shall adopt rules implementing this section.
Expenses other than those under RCW 41.34.060(4) shall be paid pursuant to subsection (1) of this section.
During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer money in the department of retirement systems' expense fund to the state general fund .
The public disclosure transparency account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from penalties collected pursuant to enforcement actions or settlements under this chapter, including any fees or costs, must be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Moneys in the account may be used only for the implementation of chapter 304, Laws of 2018 and duties under this chapter, and may not be used to supplant general fund appropriations to the commission. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, moneys in the account may also be transferred into the state general fund.
The Washington state library operations account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All moneys received under RCW 36.18.010(11) and 43.07.128 must be deposited in the account. Expenditures from the account may be made only for the following purposes:
Payment of the financing contract entered into by the secretary of state for the Washington state library-archives building;
Capital maintenance of the Washington state library-archives building and the specialized regional facility located in eastern Washington designed to serve the archives, records management, and digital data management needs of local government; and
Program operations that serve the public, relate to the collections and exhibits housed in the Washington state library-archives building, or fulfill the missions of the state archives and state library.
Only the secretary of state or the secretary of state's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. An appropriation is not required for expenditures, but the account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, moneys in the account may also be transferred into the state general fund.
There is created within the state treasury a revolving fund, to be known as the "secretary of state's revolving fund," which must be used by the office of the secretary of state to defray the costs of providing registration and information services authorized by law by the office of the secretary of state, and any other cost of carrying out the functions of the secretary of state under Title 11, 18, 19, 23, 23B, 24, 25, 26, 30A, 30B, 42, 43, or 64 RCW.
The secretary of state is authorized to charge a fee for publications in an amount which will compensate for the costs of printing, reprinting, and distributing such printed matter. Fees recovered by the secretary of state under RCW 43.07.120(2), 19.09.305, 19.09.315, 19.09.440, 23.95.260(1) (a)(ii) and (iii) and (d), or 46.64.040, and such other moneys as are expressly designated for deposit in the secretary of state's revolving fund must be placed in the secretary of state's revolving fund.
During the 2005-2007 fiscal biennium, the legislature may transfer from the secretary of state's revolving fund to the state general fund such amounts as reflect the excess fund balance of the fund. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, moneys in the fund may also be transferred into the state general fund.
The Washington state library-archives building account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All moneys received under RCW 36.18.010(12), 36.22.175(3), and 43.07.370(3) must be deposited in the account. Except for during the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium, expenditures from the account may be made only for the purposes of payment of the financing contract entered into by the secretary of state for the Washington state library-archives building. During the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium, the secretary of state may spend up to $8,000,000 from the account for costs associated with the design and construction of the state library-archives building and for costs necessary to prepare the building for occupancy. Only the secretary of state or the secretary of state's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. An appropriation is not required for expenditures, but the account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, moneys in the account may also be transferred into the state general fund.
The performance audits of government account is hereby created in the custody of the state treasurer. Revenue identified in RCW 82.08.020(5) and 82.12.0201 shall be deposited in the account. Money in the account shall be used to fund the performance audits and follow-up performance audits under RCW 43.09.470 and shall be expended by the state auditor in accordance with chapter 1, Laws of 2006. Only the state auditor or the state auditor's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures. The performance audits of government account may be appropriated for the joint legislative audit and review committee, the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee, and for the office of financial management's performance audit and compliance audit activities. During the 2019-2021, 2021-2023, and 2023-2025 fiscal biennia, the performance audits of government account may be appropriated for the superintendent of public instruction, the office of the governor, and audits of school districts. In addition, during the 2019-2021 and 2021-2023 fiscal biennia the account may be used to fund the office of financial management's contract for the compliance audit of the state auditor and audit activities at the department of revenue. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, moneys in the account may also be transferred into the state general fund.
The enterprise services account is created in the custody of the state treasurer and shall be used for all activities conducted by the department, except information technology services. Only the director or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to the allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW. During the 2013-2015 fiscal biennium, the director of the office of financial management may authorize expenditures from the account for the provision of small agency client services. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer money in the enterprise services account to the state general fund.
The office of financial management central service account is created in the state treasury. The account is to be used by the office as a revolving fund for the payment of salaries, wages, and other costs required for the operation and maintenance of statewide budgeting, accounting, forecasting, and functions and activities in the office. All receipts from agency fees and charges for services collected from public agencies must be deposited into the account. The director shall fix the terms and charges to agencies based on each agency's share of the office statewide cost allocation plan for federal funds. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. During the 2021-2023 and 2023-2025 fiscal biennia, the account may be used as a revolving fund for the payment of salaries, wages, and other costs related to policy activities in the office. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, moneys in the account may also be transferred into the state general fund.
The proportionate share of earnings based on the average daily balance in the public works assistance account shall be placed in the public facilities construction loan revolving fund, provided that during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium the public works assistance account must retain its own interest earnings and costs.
The stadium and exhibition center account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from the taxes imposed under RCW 82.14.0494 and distributions under RCW 67.70.240(1)(d) shall be deposited into the account. Only the director of the office of financial management or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW. An appropriation is not required for expenditures from this account.
Until bonds are issued under RCW 43.99N.020, up to $5,000,000 per year beginning January 1, 1999, shall be used for the purposes of subsection (3)(b) of this section, all remaining moneys in the account shall be transferred to the public stadium authority, created under RCW 36.102.020, to be used for public stadium authority operations and development of the stadium and exhibition center.
After bonds are issued under RCW 43.99N.020, all moneys in the stadium and exhibition center account shall be used exclusively for the following purposes in the following priority:
On or before June 30th of each year, the office of financial management shall accumulate in the stadium and exhibition center account an amount at least equal to the amount required in the next succeeding twelve months for the payment of principal of and interest on the bonds issued under RCW 43.99N.020;
An additional reserve amount not in excess of the expected average annual principal and interest requirements of bonds issued under RCW 43.99N.020 shall be accumulated and maintained in the account, subject to withdrawal by the state treasurer at any time if necessary to meet the requirements of (a) of this subsection, and, following any withdrawal, reaccumulated from the first tax revenues and other amounts deposited in the account after meeting the requirements of (a) of this subsection; and
The balance, if any, shall be transferred to the youth athletic facility account under subsection (4) of this section.
Any revenues derived from the taxes authorized by RCW 36.38.010(5) and 36.38.040 or other amounts that if used as provided under (a) and (b) of this subsection would cause the loss of any tax exemption under federal law for interest on bonds issued under RCW 43.99N.020 shall be deposited in and used exclusively for the purposes of the youth athletic facility account and shall not be used, directly or indirectly, as a source of payment of principal of or interest on bonds issued under RCW 43.99N.020, or to replace or reimburse other funds used for that purpose.
Any moneys in the stadium and exhibition center account not required or permitted to be used for the purposes described in subsection (3)(a) and (b) of this section shall be deposited in the youth athletic facility account hereby created in the state treasury. Expenditures from the account may be used only for purposes of grants or loans to cities, counties, and qualified nonprofit organizations for community outdoor athletic facilities. Only the director of the recreation and conservation office or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures. The athletic facility grants or loans may be used for acquiring, developing, equipping, maintaining, and improving community outdoor athletic facilities. Funds shall be divided equally between the development of new community outdoor athletic facilities, the improvement of existing community outdoor athletic facilities, and the maintenance of existing community outdoor athletic facilities. Cities, counties, and qualified nonprofit organizations must submit proposals for grants or loans from the account. To the extent that funds are available, cities, counties, and qualified nonprofit organizations must meet eligibility criteria as established by the director of the recreation and conservation office. The grants and loans shall be awarded on a competitive application process and the amount of the grant or loan shall be in proportion to the population of the city or county for where the community outdoor athletic facility is located. Grants or loans awarded in any one year need not be distributed in that year. The director of the recreation and conservation office may expend up to one and one-half percent of the moneys deposited in the account created in this subsection for administrative purposes. During the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium, the legislature may appropriate moneys from the youth athletic facility account to support a task force to consider ways to improve equitable access to K-12 schools' fields and athletic facilities and local parks agency facilities with the goal of increasing physical activity for youth and families. A portion of the appropriation must be used to inventory K-12 school fields and athletic facilities and park agency facilities.
During the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium, subsection (4) of this section applies to expenditures from the youth athletic facility account except as provided in this subsection.
During the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium, the recreation and conservation office may spend appropriations made from the youth athletic facility account for grants and loans to political subdivisions of the state other than cities and counties as well as federally recognized Indian tribes for community outdoor athletic facilities. The office is not required to divide the expenditures equally between development, improvement, and maintenance of facilities. The office's authority to retain 1.5 percent of amounts deposited in the account for administration is suspended, and the office's administrative overhead is instead specified in the appropriations for this purpose.
During the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium, the legislature may also appropriate moneys in the youth athletic facility account for the following:
To the department of commerce for the public facility improvement fund as provided in section 1038, chapter 474, Laws of 2023; and
To the recreation and conservation office for the purpose of the youth athletic facilities program as provided in section 3060, chapter 474, Laws of 2023.
During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to make transfers of money in the youth athletic facility account to the state general fund.
Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, all law enforcement personnel, except volunteers, and reserve officers whether paid or unpaid, initially employed on or after January 1, 1978, shall engage in basic law enforcement training which complies with standards adopted by the commission pursuant to RCW 43.101.080. For personnel initially employed before January 1, 1990, such training shall be successfully completed during the first fifteen months of employment of such personnel unless otherwise extended or waived by the commission and shall be requisite to the continuation of such employment. Personnel initially employed on or after January 1, 1990, shall commence basic training during the first six months of employment unless the basic training requirement is otherwise waived or extended by the commission. Successful completion of basic training is requisite to the continuation of employment of such personnel initially employed on or after January 1, 1990.
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All law enforcement personnel who are limited authority Washington peace officers and whose employment commences on or after July 1, 2023, shall commence basic training during the first 12 months of employment unless the basic training requirement is otherwise waived or extended by the commission. Successful completion of basic training is requisite to the continuation of employment of such personnel initially employed on or after July 1, 2023.
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The commission shall review the training files of all law enforcement personnel who are limited authority Washington peace officers, whose employment commenced prior to July 1, 2023, and who have not successfully completed training that complies with standards adopted by the commission, to determine what, if any, supplemental training is required to appropriately carry out the officers' duties and responsibilities.
Nothing in this section may be interpreted to require law enforcement personnel who are limited authority Washington peace officers, whose employment commenced prior to July 1, 2023, to complete the basic law enforcement training academy as a condition of continuing employment as a limited authority Washington peace officer.
Law enforcement personnel who are limited authority Washington peace officers are not required to complete the basic law enforcement academy or an equivalent basic academy upon transferring to a general authority Washington law enforcement agency or limited authority Washington law enforcement agency, as defined in RCW 10.93.020, if they have:
(A) Been employed as a special agent with the Washington state gambling commission, been a natural resource investigator with the department of natural resources, been a liquor enforcement officer with the liquor and cannabis board, been an investigator with the office of the insurance commissioner, or been a park ranger with the Washington state parks and recreation commission, before or after July 1, 2023; and
(B) Received a certificate of successful completion from the basic law enforcement academy or the basic law enforcement equivalency academy and thereafter engaged in regular and commissioned law enforcement employment with an agency listed in (b)(iii)(A) of this subsection without a break or interruption in excess of 24 months; and
(C) Remained current with the in-service training requirements as adopted by the commission by rule.
PROVIDED FURTHER, That limited authority Washington law enforcement agencies as defined in RCW 10.93.020 shall reimburse the commission for the full cost of training their personnel.
The corrections personnel of the state and all counties and municipal corporations initially employed on or after January 1, 1982, shall engage in basic corrections training which complies with standards adopted by the commission. The standards adopted must provide for basic corrections training of at least ten weeks in length for any corrections officers subject to the certification requirement under RCW 43.101.095 who are hired on or after July 1, 2021, or on an earlier date set by the commission. The training shall be successfully completed during the first six months of employment of the personnel, unless otherwise extended or waived by the commission, and shall be requisite to the continuation of employment.
The commission shall provide the training required in this section, together with facilities, supplies, materials, and the room and board for noncommuting attendees, except during fiscal year 2025 and during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, when the employing county, municipal corporation, or state agency shall reimburse the commission for twenty-five percent of the cost of training its personnel.
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Subsections (1) and (2) of this section do not apply to the Washington state department of corrections prisons division. The Washington state department of corrections is responsible for identifying training standards, designing curricula and programs, and providing the training for those corrections personnel employed by it. In doing so, the secretary of the department of corrections shall consult with staff development experts and correctional professionals both inside and outside of the agency, to include soliciting input from labor organizations.
The commission and the department of corrections share the responsibility of developing and defining training standards and providing training for community corrections officers employed within the community corrections division of the department of corrections.
(1) The public works assistance account is hereby established in the state treasury. Money may be placed in the public works assistance account from the proceeds of bonds when authorized by the legislature or from any other lawful source. Money in the public works assistance account shall be used to make loans and grants and to give financial guarantees to local governments for public works projects. Moneys in the account may also be appropriated or transferred to the water pollution control revolving fund and the drinking water assistance account to provide for state match requirements under federal law. Moneys in the account may be transferred to the move ahead WA account to provide support of public works projects funded in the move ahead WA program. Not more than 20 percent of the biennial capital budget appropriation to the public works board from this account may be expended or obligated for preconstruction loans and grants, emergency loans and grants, or loans and grants for capital facility planning under this chapter. Not more than 10 percent of the biennial capital budget appropriation to the public works board from this account may be expended or obligated as grants for preconstruction, emergency, capital facility planning, and construction projects. During the 2017-2019 and 2019-2021 fiscal biennia, the legislature may appropriate moneys from the account for activities related to rural economic development, the growth management act, the aviation revitalization loan program, the community economic revitalization board broadband program, and the voluntary stewardship program. During the 2021-2023 and 2023-2025 fiscal biennia, the legislature may appropriate moneys from the account for activities related to the community aviation revitalization board. During the 2019-2021 fiscal biennia, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to make transfers of moneys in the public works assistance account to the education legacy trust account. During the 2019-2021 and 2021-2023 fiscal biennia, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to make transfers of moneys in the public works assistance account to the statewide broadband account. The legislature may appropriate moneys from the public works assistance account for activities related to the voluntary stewardship program, rural economic development, and the growth management act. During the 2021-2023 biennium, the legislature may appropriate moneys from the account for projects identified in section 1033, chapter 296, Laws of 2022. During the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium, the legislature may appropriate moneys from the public works assistance account for an evaluation of the costs of relocating public utilities related to fish barrier removal projects. During the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium, the legislature may appropriate moneys from the account for activities related to developing a data dashboard to map investments made by the public works board, the department of commerce, the department of health, the department of ecology, the department of transportation, the transportation improvement board, and by board partners to the system improvement team created in RCW 43.155.150.
There is created in the custody of the state treasurer a local fund known as the "financial services regulation fund" which shall consist of all moneys received by the divisions of the department of financial institutions, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section.
The division of securities shall deposit thirteen percent of all moneys received, except as provided in RCW 43.320.115 and subsection (3) of this section, and which shall be used for the purchase of supplies and necessary equipment; the payment of salaries, wages, and utilities; the establishment of reserves; and other incidental costs required for the proper regulation of individuals and entities subject to regulation by the department.
The division of securities shall deposit one hundred percent of all moneys received that are attributable to increases in fees implemented by rule pursuant to RCW 21.20.340(15).
Disbursements from the fund shall be on authorization of the director of financial institutions or the director's designee. In order to maintain an effective expenditure and revenue control, the fund shall be subject in all respects to chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required to permit expenditures and payment of obligations from the fund.
During the 2017-2019 fiscal biennium, the legislature may transfer from the financial services regulation fund to the state general fund such amounts as reflect the excess fund balance of the fund. During the 2017-2019 , 2021-2023, and 2025-2027 fiscal biennia, moneys from the financial services regulation fund may be appropriated for the family prosperity account program at the department of commerce and for the operations of the department of revenue.
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Beginning in the 2020-2021 fiscal year, the state treasurer shall annually transfer from the fund to the student loan advocate account created in RCW 28B.77.008, the greater of one hundred seventy-five thousand dollars or twenty percent of the annual assessment derived from student education loan servicing.
The department must provide information to the state treasurer regarding the amount of the annual assessment derived from student education loan servicing.
The director's obligations or duties under chapter 62, Laws of 2018 are subject to section 21, chapter 62, Laws of 2018.
During the 2019-2021 and 2023-2025 fiscal biennia, moneys in the financial services regulation fund may be appropriated for the operations of the department of revenue.
During the 2023-2025 and 2025-2027 fiscal biennia, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to make transfers of moneys in the financial services regulation fund to the general fund. It is the intent of the legislature to continue this policy in subsequent biennia.
The apple health and homes account is created in the state treasury. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only for permanent supportive housing programs administered by the office created in RCW 43.330.181, including acquisition and development of permanent supportive housing units, operations, maintenance, and services costs of permanent supportive housing units, project-based vouchers, provider grants, and other purposes authorized by appropriations made in the operating budget. The department must prioritize allocating at least 10 percent of the expenditures from the account to organizations that serve and are substantially governed by individuals disproportionately impacted by homelessness and behavioral health conditions, including black, indigenous, and other people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender, and other gender diverse individuals. When selecting projects supported by funds from the account, the office shall balance the state's interest in quickly approving and financing projects, the degree to which the project will leverage other funds, the extent to which the project promotes racial equity, and the extent to which the project will promote priorities of chapter 216, Laws of 2022 on a statewide basis, including in rural areas and in geographically diverse parts of the state. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer money in the apple health and homes account to the state general fund.
The economic development strategic reserve account is created in the state treasury to be used only for the purposes of this section.
Only the governor, with the recommendation of the director of the department of commerce, may authorize expenditures from the account.
During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer moneys in the account into the state general fund.
Expenditures from the account may be made to prevent closure of a business or facility, to prevent relocation of a business or facility in the state to a location outside the state, or to recruit a business or facility to the state. Expenditures may be authorized for:
Workforce development;
Public infrastructure needed to support or sustain the operations of the business or facility;
Other lawfully provided assistance including, but not limited to, technical assistance, environmental analysis, relocation assistance, and planning assistance. Funding may be provided for such assistance only when it is in the public interest and may only be provided under a contractual arrangement ensuring that the state will receive appropriate consideration, such as an assurance of job creation or retention; and
The joint center for aerospace technology innovation.
The funds shall not be expended from the account unless:
The circumstances are such that time does not permit the director of the department of commerce or the business or facility to secure funding from other state sources;
The business or facility produces or will produce significant long-term economic benefits to the state, a region of the state, or a particular community in the state;
The business or facility does not require continuing state support;
The expenditure will result in new jobs, job retention, or higher incomes for citizens of the state;
The expenditure will not supplant private investment; and
The expenditure is accompanied by private investment.
No more than three million dollars per year may be expended from the account for the purpose of assisting an individual business or facility pursuant to the authority specified in this section.
If the account balance in the strategic reserve account exceeds fifteen million dollars at any time, the amount in excess of fifteen million dollars shall be transferred to the education construction account.
During the 2017-2019 , 2019-2021, and 2025-2027 fiscal biennia, the legislature may appropriate moneys from the account to fund programs and grants at the department of commerce. It is the intent of the legislature that this policy will be continued in subsequent fiscal biennia.
The electric vehicle incentive account is created in the state treasury. Revenues to the account shall consist of appropriations and transfers by the legislature and all other moneys directed for deposit into the account. Moneys in the account may only be spent after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used for programs and incentives that promote the purchase or conversion to alternative fuel vehicles to further state climate goals under RCW 70A.45.020 and environmental justice goals under 70A.02 RCW, including but not limited to:
Income-qualified grant programs to retire vehicles and replace them with alternative fuel vehicles;
Programs to provide grants for the installation of electric vehicle infrastructure to support electric vehicle adoption; and
Programs to conduct research and public outreach regarding adoption of alternative fuel vehicles.
During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer money in the electric vehicle incentive account to the state general fund.
Collective bargaining negotiations under this chapter must commence no later than July 1st of each even-numbered year after a bargaining unit has been certified.
The duration of any collective bargaining agreement shall not exceed one fiscal biennium.
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The director must submit ratified collective bargaining agreements, with cost estimates, to the employer by October 1st before the legislative session at which the request for funds is to be considered. The transmission by the legislature to the governor under RCW 43.88.090 must include a request for funds necessary to implement the provisions of all collective bargaining agreements covering legislative employees.
For the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the legislature may approve funding for collective bargaining agreements with the Washington public employees association on behalf of legislative staff that ratified after October 1, 2024, and before December 31, 2024. Subsequent agreements must be submitted to the employer by October 1st before the legislative session at which the request for funds is to be considered in order to be included in the omnibus operating appropriations act.
If the legislature or governor fails to provide the funds for a collective bargaining agreement for legislative employees, either party may reopen all or part of the agreement or the exclusive bargaining representative may seek to implement the procedures provided for in RCW 44.90.075.
Negotiation for economic terms will be by a coalition of all exclusive bargaining representatives. Any such provisions agreed to by the employer and the coalition must be included in all collective bargaining agreements negotiated by the parties. The director and the exclusive bargaining representative or representatives are authorized to enter into supplemental bargaining of bargaining unit specific issues for inclusion in the collective bargaining agreement, subject to the parties' agreement regarding the issues and procedures for supplemental bargaining. This subsection does not prohibit cooperation and coordination of bargaining between two or more exclusive bargaining representatives.
If a significant revenue shortfall occurs resulting in reduced appropriations, as declared by proclamation of the governor or by resolution of the legislature, both parties must immediately enter into collective bargaining for a mutually agreed-upon modification of the agreement.
The nonhighway and off-road vehicle activities program account is created in the state treasury. Moneys in this account are subject to legislative appropriation. The recreation and conservation funding board shall administer the account for purposes specified in this chapter and shall hold it separate and apart from all other money, funds, and accounts of the board. Grants, gifts, or other financial assistance, proceeds received from public bodies as administrative cost contributions, and any moneys made available to the state of Washington by the federal government for outdoor recreation may be deposited into the account. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer money in the nonhighway and off-road vehicle activities program account to the state general fund.
The Washington auto theft prevention authority account is created in the state treasury, subject to appropriation. Revenues consist of deposits to the account under RCW 48.14.020(1)(b) and all receipts from gifts, grants, bequests, devises, or other funds from public and private sources to support the activities of the auto theft prevention authority must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for activities relating to motor vehicle theft, including education, prevention, law enforcement, investigation, prosecution, and confinement.
The authority shall allocate moneys appropriated from the account to public agencies for the purpose of establishing, maintaining, and supporting programs that are designed to prevent motor vehicle theft, including:
Financial support to prosecution agencies to increase the effectiveness of motor vehicle theft prosecution;
Financial support to a unit of local government or a team consisting of units of local governments to increase the effectiveness of motor vehicle theft enforcement;
Financial support for the procurement of equipment and technologies for use by law enforcement agencies for the purpose of enforcing motor vehicle theft laws; and
Financial support for programs that are designed to educate and assist the public in the prevention of motor vehicle theft.
The costs of administration shall not exceed 10 percent of the moneys in the account in any one year so that the greatest possible portion of the moneys available to the authority is expended on combating motor vehicle theft.
Prior to awarding any moneys from the Washington auto theft prevention authority account for motor vehicle theft enforcement, the auto theft prevention authority must verify that the financial award includes sufficient funding to cover proposed activities.
Moneys expended from the Washington auto theft prevention authority account under subsection (2) of this section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other moneys that are available for motor vehicle theft prevention.
Grants provided under subsection (2) of this section constitute reimbursement for purposes of RCW 43.135.060(1).
During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, moneys in the account may also be transferred into the state general fund.
There shall be maintained as special funds, separate and apart from all public moneys or funds of this state an unemployment compensation fund and an administrative contingency fund, which shall be administered by the commissioner exclusively for the purposes of this title, and to which RCW 43.01.050 shall not be applicable.
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The unemployment compensation fund shall consist of:
All contributions collected under RCW 50.24.010 and payments in lieu of contributions collected pursuant to the provisions of this title;
Any property or securities acquired through the use of moneys belonging to the fund;
All earnings of such property or securities;
Any moneys received from the federal unemployment account in the unemployment trust fund in accordance with Title XII of the social security act, as amended;
All money recovered on official bonds for losses sustained by the fund;
All money credited to this state's account in the unemployment trust fund pursuant to section 903 of the social security act, as amended;
All money received from the federal government as reimbursement pursuant to section 204 of the federal-state extended compensation act of 1970 (84 Stat. 708-712; 26 U.S.C. Sec. 3304);
The portion of the additional penalties as provided in RCW 50.20.070(2) that is fifteen percent of the amount of benefits overpaid or deemed overpaid; and
ix. All moneys received for the fund from any other source.
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Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, the administrative contingency fund shall consist of:
All interest on delinquent contributions collected pursuant to this title;
All fines and penalties collected pursuant to the provisions of this title, except the portion of the additional penalties as provided in RCW 50.20.070(2) that is fifteen percent of the amount of benefits overpaid or deemed overpaid;
All sums recovered on official bonds for losses sustained by the fund; and
Revenue received under RCW 50.24.014.
All fees, fines, forfeitures, and penalties collected or assessed by a district court because of the violation of this title or rules adopted under this title shall be remitted as provided in chapter 3.62 RCW.
Except as provided in (d) of this subsection, moneys available in the administrative contingency fund, other than money in the special account created under RCW 50.24.014, shall be expended upon the direction of the commissioner, with the approval of the governor, whenever it appears to him or her that such expenditure is necessary solely for:
The proper administration of this title and that insufficient federal funds are available for the specific purpose to which such expenditure is to be made, provided, the moneys are not substituted for appropriations from federal funds which, in the absence of such moneys, would be made available.
The proper administration of this title for which purpose appropriations from federal funds have been requested but not yet received, provided, the administrative contingency fund will be reimbursed upon receipt of the requested federal appropriation.
The proper administration of this title for which compliance and audit issues have been identified that establish federal claims requiring the expenditure of state resources in resolution. Claims must be resolved in the following priority: First priority is to provide services to eligible participants within the state; second priority is to provide substitute services or program support; and last priority is the direct payment of funds to the federal government.
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During the 2007-2009 fiscal biennium, moneys available in the administrative contingency fund, other than money in the special account created under RCW 50.24.014(1)(a), shall be expended as appropriated by the legislature for: (A) The cost of the job skills or worker retraining programs at the community and technical colleges and administrative costs at the state board for community and technical colleges; and (B) reemployment services such as business and project development assistance, local economic development capacity building, and local economic development financial assistance at the department of commerce. The remaining appropriation may be expended as specified in (c) of this subsection.
During the 2015-2017, 2017-2019, 2019-2021, and 2025-2027 fiscal biennia, moneys available in the administrative contingency fund, other than money in the special account created under RCW 50.24.014(1)(a), shall be expended as appropriated by the legislature: (A) For the department of social and health services for employment and training services and programs in the WorkFirst program; (B) for the administrative costs of state agencies participating in the WorkFirst program; and (C) by the commissioner for the work group on agricultural and agricultural-related issues as provided in the 2013-2015 omnibus operating appropriations act. The remaining appropriation may be expended as specified in (c) of this subsection.
During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, moneys available in the administrative contingency fund, other than money in the special account created under RCW 50.24.014(1)(a), shall be expended as appropriated by the legislature for the career connected learning grant program authorized in RCW 28C.30.040 and 28C.30.050, and for additional audit support staff due to an increase in the workload associated with audits. The remaining appropriation may be expended as specified in (c) of this subsection.
Money in the special account created under RCW 50.24.014(1)(a) may only be expended, after appropriation, for the purposes specified in this section and RCW 50.62.010, 50.62.020, 50.62.030, 50.24.014, 50.44.053, and 50.22.010.
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A separate and identifiable account to provide for the financing of special programs to assist the unemployed is established in the administrative contingency fund. All money in this account shall be expended solely for the purposes of this title and for no other purposes whatsoever, except as provided in subsection (4) of this section. Contributions to this account shall accrue and become payable by each employer, except employers as described in RCW 50.44.010 and 50.44.030 who have properly elected to make payments in lieu of contributions, taxable local government employers as described in RCW 50.44.035, and those employers who are required to make payments in lieu of contributions, at a basic rate of two one-hundredths of one percent. The amount of wages subject to tax shall be determined under RCW 50.24.010.
A separate and identifiable account is established in the administrative contingency fund for financing the employment security department's administrative costs under RCW 50.22.150 and 50.22.155 and the costs under RCW 50.22.150(11) and 50.22.155 (1)(m) and (2)(m). All money in this account shall be expended solely for the purposes of this title and for no other purposes whatsoever. Contributions to this account shall accrue and become payable by each employer, except employers as described in RCW 50.44.010 and 50.44.030 who have properly elected to make payments in lieu of contributions, taxable local government employers as described in RCW 50.44.035, those employers who are required to make payments in lieu of contributions, those employers described under RCW 50.29.025(1)(d), and those qualified employers assigned rate class 20 or rate class 40, as applicable, under RCW 50.29.025, at a basic rate of one one-hundredth of one percent. The amount of wages subject to tax shall be determined under RCW 50.24.010. Any amount of contributions payable under this subsection (1)(b) that exceeds the amount that would have been collected at a rate of four one-thousandths of one percent must be deposited in the account created in (a) of this subsection.
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Contributions under this section shall become due and be paid by each employer under rules as the commissioner may prescribe, and shall not be deducted, in whole or in part, from the remuneration of individuals in the employ of the employer. Any deduction in violation of this section is unlawful.
In the payment of any contributions under this section, a fractional part of a cent shall be disregarded unless it amounts to one-half cent or more, in which case it shall be increased to one cent.
If the commissioner determines that federal funding has been increased to provide financing for the services specified in chapter 50.62 RCW, the commissioner shall direct that collection of contributions under this section be terminated on the following January 1st.
During the 2023-2025 and 2025-2027 fiscal biennia, moneys in the account in subsection (1)(a) of this section may be appropriated for poverty reduction programs that coordinate employment, training, education, and other existing systems designed to assist low-income individuals attain self-sufficiency.
For the purposes of this subsection (1), the legislature must appropriate the amounts provided in this subsection:
$12,500,000 annually to the board for administration of this chapter as appropriated in the omnibus appropriations act;
$11,000,000 annually to the department of health for the following:
(A) A cannabis use public health hotline that provides referrals to substance abuse treatment providers, uses evidence-based or research-based public health approaches to minimizing the harms associated with cannabis use, and does not solely advocate an abstinence-only approach;
(B) Programs that support development and implementation of coordinated intervention strategies for the prevention and reduction of commercial tobacco, vapor product, and cannabis use by youth and cannabis cessation treatment services, including grant programs to local health departments or other local community agencies;
(C) Media-based education campaigns across television, internet, radio, print, and out-of-home advertising, separately targeting youth and adults, that provide medically and scientifically accurate information about the health and safety risks posed by cannabis use; and
(D) Outreach to priority populations regarding commercial tobacco, vapor product, and cannabis use, prevention, and cessation; and
ii. The Washington poison control center;
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i. $3,000,000 annually to the department of commerce to fund cannabis social equity grants under RCW 43.330.540; and
ii. $200,000 annually to the department of commerce to fund technical assistance through a roster of mentors under RCW 43.330.540;
d. $200,000 annually, until June 30, 2032, to the health care authority to contract with the Washington state institute for public policy to conduct the cost-benefit evaluations and produce the reports described in RCW 69.50.550;
e. $25,000 annually to the University of Washington alcohol and drug abuse institute for the creation, maintenance, and timely updating of web-based public education materials providing medically and scientifically accurate information about the health and safety risks posed by cannabis use;
f. $300,000 annually to the University of Washington and $175,000 annually to the Washington State University for research on the short-term and long-term effects of cannabis use to include, but not be limited to, formal and informal methods for estimating and measuring intoxication and impairments, and for the dissemination of such research;
g. $550,000 annually to the office of the superintendent of public instruction to fund grants to building bridges programs under chapter 28A.175 RCW;
h. $2,423,000 for fiscal year 2022 and $2,423,000 for fiscal year 2023 to the Washington state patrol for a drug enforcement task force;
i. $270,000 for fiscal year 2022 and $290,000 for fiscal year 2023 to the department of ecology for implementation of accreditation of cannabis product testing laboratories;
j. $800,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2023 to the department of health for the administration of the cannabis authorization database;
k. $621,000 for fiscal year 2022 and $635,000 for fiscal year 2023 to the department of agriculture for compliance-based laboratory analysis of pesticides in cannabis;
l. $849,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $849,000 for fiscal year 2027 to the department of agriculture to implement the cannabis lab accreditation and standards program; and
m. $635,000 for fiscal year 2026 and $635,000 for fiscal year 2027 to the department of agriculture for ongoing cannabis laboratory work associated with regulatory program operations.
Subsection (1)(a) through (g) of this section must be adjusted annually based on the United States bureau of labor statistics' consumer price index for the Seattle area.
After appropriation of the amounts identified in subsection (1) of this section, the legislature must annually appropriate such remaining amounts for the purposes listed in this subsection (3) as follows:
Fifty-two percent to the state basic health plan trust account to be administered by the Washington basic health plan administrator and used as provided under chapter 70.47 RCW;
Eleven percent to the health care authority to:
Design and administer the Washington state healthy youth survey, analyze the collected data, and produce reports, in collaboration with the office of the superintendent of public instruction, department of health, department of commerce, family policy council, and board. The survey must be conducted at least every two years and include questions regarding, but not necessarily limited to, academic achievement, age at time of substance use initiation, antisocial behavior of friends, attitudes toward antisocial behavior, attitudes toward substance use, laws and community norms regarding antisocial behavior, family conflict, family management, parental attitudes toward substance use, peer rewarding of antisocial behavior, perceived risk of substance use, and rebelliousness. Funds disbursed under this subsection may be used to expand administration of the healthy youth survey to student populations attending institutions of higher education in Washington;
Develop, implement, maintain, and evaluate programs and practices aimed at the prevention or reduction of maladaptive substance use, substance use disorder, substance abuse or substance dependence, as these terms are defined in the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, among middle school and high school-age students, whether as an explicit goal of a given program or practice or as a consistently corresponding effect of its implementation, mental health services for children and youth, and services for pregnant and parenting women. In deciding which programs and practices to fund under this subsection (3)(b)(ii), the director of the health care authority must consult, at least annually, with the University of Washington's social development research group and the University of Washington's alcohol and drug abuse institute; and
Contract with community health centers to provide primary health and dental care services, migrant health services, and maternity health care services as provided under RCW 41.05.220;
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One and one-half percent to counties, cities, and towns where licensed cannabis retailers are physically located. Each jurisdiction must receive a share of the revenue distribution under this subsection (3)(c)(i) based on the proportional share of the total revenues generated in the individual jurisdiction from the taxes collected under RCW 69.50.535, from licensed cannabis retailers physically located in each jurisdiction. For purposes of this subsection (3)(c), 100 percent of the proportional amount attributed to a retailer physically located in a city or town must be distributed to the city or town;
Three and one-half percent to counties, cities, and towns ratably on a per capita basis. Counties must receive 60 percent of the distribution based on each county's total proportional population. Funds may only be distributed to jurisdictions that do not prohibit the siting of any state licensed cannabis producer, processor, or retailer;
By September 15th of each year, the board must provide the state treasurer the annual distribution amount made under this subsection (3)(c), if any, for each county and city as determined in (c)(i) and (ii) of this subsection; and
Distribution amounts allocated to each county, city, and town in (c)(i) and (ii) of this subsection must be distributed in four installments by the last day of each fiscal quarter; and
Thirty-two percent must be deposited in the state general fund.
The amount distributed under subsection (3)(c)(i) and (ii) of this section shall total to five percent of the remaining amount available after appropriation of the amounts identified in subsection (1) of this section, excluding the amounts under subsection (1)(l) and (m) of this section. Any difference between five percent and the remaining amount available after appropriation of the amounts identified in subsection (1) of this section, excluding the amounts under subsection (1)(l) and (m) of this section, shall be paid from the state general fund.
The chief inspector shall give an official receipt for all fees required by chapter 70.79 RCW and shall transfer all sums so received to the treasurer of the state of Washington as ex officio custodian thereof and the treasurer shall place all sums in a special fund hereby created and designated as the "pressure systems safety fund." Funds shall be paid out upon vouchers duly and regularly issued therefor and approved by the director of the department of labor and industries. The treasurer, as ex officio custodian of the fund, shall keep an accurate record of any payments into the fund, and of all disbursements therefrom. The fund shall be used exclusively to defray only the expenses of administering chapter 70.79 RCW by the chief inspector as authorized by law and the expenses incident to the maintenance of the office. The fund shall be charged with its pro rata share of the cost of administering the fund which is to be determined by the director of financial management and by the director of the department of labor and industries.
During the 2003-2005 fiscal biennium, the legislature may transfer from the pressure systems safety fund to the state general fund such amounts as reflect the excess fund balance of the fund. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, moneys in the fund may also be transferred into the state general fund.
The department is authorized to take one or more of the actions listed in subsection (2) of this section in any case in which the department finds that an adult family home provider has:
Failed or refused to comply with the requirements of this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter;
Operated an adult family home without a license or under a revoked license;
Knowingly or with reason to know made a false statement of material fact on his or her application for license or any data attached thereto, or in any matter under investigation by the department; or
Willfully prevented or interfered with any inspection or investigation by the department.
When authorized by subsection (1) of this section, the department may take one or more of the following actions:
Refuse to issue a license;
Impose reasonable conditions on a license, such as correction within a specified time, training, and limits on the type of clients the provider may admit or serve;
Impose civil penalties of at least one hundred dollars per day per violation;
Impose civil penalties of up to three thousand dollars for each incident that violates adult family home licensing laws and rules, including, but not limited to, chapters 70.128, 70.129, 74.34, and 74.39A RCW and related rules. Each day upon which the same or substantially similar action occurs is a separate violation subject to the assessment of a separate penalty;
Impose civil penalties of up to ten thousand dollars for a current or former licensed provider who is operating an unlicensed home;
Suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a license; or
Suspend admissions to the adult family home by imposing stop placement.
When the department orders stop placement, the facility shall not admit any person until the stop placement order is terminated. The department may approve readmission of a resident to the facility from a hospital or nursing home during the stop placement. The department shall terminate the stop placement only after: (a) The violations necessitating the stop placement have been corrected; and (b) the provider exhibits the capacity to maintain correction of the violations previously found deficient. However, if upon the revisit the department finds new violations that the department reasonably believes will result in a new stop placement, the previous stop placement shall remain in effect until the new stop placement is imposed. In order to protect the home's existing residents from potential ongoing neglect, when the provider has been cited for a violation that is repeated, uncorrected, pervasive, or presents a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of one or more residents, and the department has imposed a stop placement, the department shall also impose a condition on license or other remedy to facilitate or spur prompter compliance if the violation has not been corrected, and the provider has not exhibited the capacity to maintain correction, within sixty days of the stop placement.
Nothing in subsection (3) of this section is intended to apply to stop placement imposed in conjunction with a license revocation or summary suspension or to prevent the department from imposing a condition on license or other remedy prior to sixty days after a stop placement, if the department considers it necessary to protect one or more residents' well-being. After a department finding of a violation for which a stop placement has been imposed, the department shall make an on-site revisit of the provider within fifteen working days from the request for revisit, to ensure correction of the violation. For violations that are serious or recurring or uncorrected following a previous citation, and create actual or threatened harm to one or more residents' well-being, including violations of residents' rights, the department shall make an on-site revisit as soon as appropriate to ensure correction of the violation. Verification of correction of all other violations may be made by either a department on-site revisit or by written or photographic documentation found by the department to be credible. This subsection does not prevent the department from enforcing license suspensions or revocations. Nothing in this subsection shall interfere with or diminish the department's authority and duty to ensure that the provider adequately cares for residents, including to make departmental on-site revisits as needed to ensure that the provider protects residents, and to enforce compliance with this chapter.
Chapter 34.05 RCW applies to department actions under this section, except that orders of the department imposing license suspension, stop placement, or conditions for continuation of a license are effective immediately upon notice and shall continue in effect pending a hearing, which must commence no later than sixty days after receipt of a request for a hearing. The time for commencement of a hearing may be extended by agreement of the parties or by the presiding officer for good cause shown by either party, but must commence no later than one hundred twenty days after receipt of a request for a hearing.
A separate adult family home account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from civil penalties imposed under this chapter must be deposited into the account. Only the director or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures. The department shall use the special account only for promoting the quality of life and care of residents living in adult family homes. During the 2015-2017 fiscal biennium, the account may be expended for funding costs associated with the adult family home program. Notwithstanding the restrictions in this subsection, for the fiscal biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027, the department may expend funds from the adult family home account for any purpose deemed necessary by the department to support the operations and responsibilities of the adult family home program. This temporary provision expires June 30, 2027, after which expenditures from the account shall be for the purposes described in this subsection.
The department shall by rule specify criteria as to when and how the sanctions specified in this section must be applied. The criteria must provide for the imposition of incrementally more severe penalties for deficiencies that are repeated, uncorrected, pervasive, or present a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of one or more residents. The criteria shall be tiered such that those homes consistently found to have deficiencies will be subjected to increasingly severe penalties. The department shall implement prompt and specific enforcement remedies without delay for providers found to have delivered care or failed to deliver care resulting in problems that are repeated, uncorrected, pervasive, or present a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of one or more residents. In the selection of remedies, the health, safety, and well-being of residents must be of paramount importance.
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The department of health shall annually review all records maintained under this chapter.
The department of health shall require any health care provider upon writing a prescription or dispensing medication under this chapter to file a copy of the dispensing record and such other administratively required documentation with the department. All administratively required documentation shall be transmitted electronically, mailed, or otherwise transmitted as allowed by department of health rule to the department no later than 30 calendar days after the writing of a prescription and dispensing of medication under this chapter, except that all documents required to be filed with the department by the prescribing qualified medical provider after the death of the patient shall be transmitted electronically, mailed, or faxed no later than 30 calendar days after the date of death of the patient. In the event that anyone required under this chapter to report information to the department of health provides an inadequate or incomplete report, the department shall contact the person to request a complete report.
The department of health shall adopt rules to facilitate the collection of information regarding compliance with this chapter. Except as otherwise required by law, the information collected is not a public record and may not be made available for inspection by the public.
Except during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the department of health shall generate and make available to the public an annual statistical report of information collected under subsection (2) of this section.
The health care authority, department of social and health services, and department of health shall each submit a report to the governor and the legislature by December 31, 2019, and every second year thereafter, except during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, on the following:
The financial impact and reach diabetes of all types is having on programs administered by each agency and individuals enrolled in those programs. Items included in this assessment must include the number of lives with diabetes impacted or covered by programs administered by the agency, the number of lives with diabetes and family members impacted by prevention and diabetes control programs implemented by the agency, the financial toll or impact diabetes and its complications places on these programs, and the financial toll or impact diabetes and its complications places on these programs in comparison to other chronic diseases and conditions;
An assessment of the benefits of implemented programs and activities aimed at controlling diabetes and preventing the disease. This assessment must also document the amount and source for any funding directed to the agency for programs and activities aimed at reaching those with diabetes;
A description of the level of coordination existing between the agencies on activities, programmatic activities, and messaging on managing, treating, or preventing all forms of diabetes and its complications;
A development or revision of detailed action plans for battling diabetes with a range of actionable items for consideration by the legislature. The plans must identify proposed action steps to reduce the impact of diabetes, prediabetes, and related diabetes complications. The plan must also identify expected outcomes of the action steps proposed in the following biennium while also establishing benchmarks for controlling and preventing relevant forms of diabetes; and
An estimate of costs and resources required to implement the plan identified in subsection (4) of this section.
(1) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, each year or biennium, as appropriate, when allocating funds from the carbon emissions reduction account created in RCW 70A.65.240, the climate commitment account created in RCW 70A.65.260, the natural climate solutions account created in RCW 70A.65.270, the climate investment account created in RCW 70A.65.250, the air quality and health disparities improvement account created in RCW 70A.65.280, the climate transit programs account created in RCW 46.68.500, or the climate active transportation account created in RCW 46.68.490, or administering grants or programs funded by the accounts, agencies shall conduct an environmental justice assessment consistent with the requirements of RCW 70A.02.060 and establish a minimum of not less than 35 percent and a goal of 40 percent of total investments that provide direct and meaningful benefits to vulnerable populations within the boundaries of overburdened communities through: (a) The direct reduction of environmental burdens in overburdened communities; (b) the reduction of disproportionate, cumulative risk from environmental burdens, including those associated with climate change; (c) the support of community led project development, planning, and participation costs; or (d) meeting a community need identified by the community that is consistent with the intent of this chapter or RCW 70A.02.010.
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The climate investment account is created in the state treasury. Except as otherwise provided in chapter 316, Laws of 2021, all receipts from the auction of allowances authorized in this chapter must be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation.
Projects or activities funded from the account must meet high labor standards, including family sustaining wages, providing benefits including health care and employer-contributed retirement plans, career development opportunities, and maximize access to economic benefits from such projects for local workers and diverse businesses. Each contracting entity's proposal must be reviewed for equity and opportunity improvement efforts, including: (i) Employer paid sick leave programs; (ii) pay practices in relation to living wage indicators such as the federal poverty level; (iii) efforts to evaluate pay equity based on gender identity, race, and other protected status under Washington law; (iv) facilitating career development opportunities, such as apprenticeship programs, internships, job-shadowing, and on-the-job training; and (v) employment assistance and employment barriers for justice affected individuals.
Moneys in the account may be used only for projects and programs that achieve the purposes of the greenhouse gas emissions cap and invest program established under this chapter and for tribal capacity grants under RCW 70A.65.305. During the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium, moneys in the account may also be used for tribal capacity grant activities supporting climate resilience and adaptation, developing tribal clean energy projects, applying for state or federal grant funding, and other related work; and for providing payments to agricultural fuel purchasers. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, moneys in the account may also be used for tribal capacity grant activities supporting climate resilience and adaptation, developing tribal clean energy projects, applying for state or federal grant funding, and other related work. Moneys in the account as described in this subsection must first be appropriated for the administration of the requirements of this chapter, in an amount not to exceed five percent of the total receipt of funds from allowance auction proceeds under this chapter. Beginning July 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, the state treasurer shall distribute funds in the account that exceed the amounts appropriated for the purposes of this subsection (2) as follows:
Seventy-five percent of the moneys to the climate commitment account created in RCW 70A.65.260; and
Twenty-five percent of the moneys to the natural climate solutions account created in RCW 70A.65.270.
The allocations specified in subsection (2)(a) and (b) of this section must be reviewed by the legislature on a biennial basis based on the changing needs of the state in meeting its clean economy and greenhouse gas reduction goals in a timely, economically advantageous, and equitable manner.
During the 2023-2025 and 2025-2027 fiscal biennia, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to make transfers of moneys in the climate investment account to the carbon emissions reduction account, the climate commitment account, and the natural climate solutions account.
The climate commitment account is created in the state treasury. The account must receive moneys distributed to the account from the climate investment account created in RCW 70A.65.250. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Projects, activities, and programs eligible for funding from the account must be physically located in Washington state and include, but are not limited to, the following:
Implementing the working families' tax credit in RCW 82.08.0206;
Supplementing the growth management planning and environmental review fund established in RCW 36.70A.490 for the purpose of making grants or loans to local governments for the purposes set forth in RCW 43.21C.240, 43.21C.031, 36.70A.500, and 36.70A.600, for costs associated with RCW 36.70A.610, and to cover costs associated with the adoption of optional elements of comprehensive plans consistent with RCW 43.21C.420;
Programs, activities, or projects that reduce and mitigate impacts from greenhouse gases and copollutants in overburdened communities, including strengthening the air quality monitoring network to measure, track, and better understand air pollution levels and trends and to inform the analysis, monitoring, and pollution reduction measures required in RCW 70A.65.020;
Programs, activities, or projects that deploy renewable energy resources, such as solar and wind power, and projects to deploy distributed generation, energy storage, demand-side technologies and strategies, and other grid modernization projects;
Programs, activities, or projects that increase the energy efficiency or reduce greenhouse gas emissions of industrial facilities including, but not limited to, proposals to implement combined heat and power, district energy, or on-site renewables, such as solar and wind power, to upgrade the energy efficiency of existing equipment, to reduce process emissions, and to switch to less emissions intensive fuel sources;
Programs, activities, or projects that achieve energy efficiency or emissions reductions in the agricultural sector including:
Fertilizer management;
Soil management;
Bioenergy;
Biofuels;
Grants, rebates, and other financial incentives for agricultural harvesting equipment, heavy duty trucks, agricultural pump engines, tractors, and other equipment used in agricultural operations;
Grants, loans, or any financial incentives to food processors to implement projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
Renewable energy projects;
Farmworker housing weatherization programs;
ix. Dairy digester research and development;
Programs, activities, or projects that increase energy efficiency in new and existing buildings, or that promote low carbon architecture, including use of newly emerging alternative building materials that result in a lower carbon footprint in the built environment over the life cycle of the building and component building materials;
Programs, activities, or projects that promote the electrification and decarbonization of new and existing buildings, including residential, commercial, and industrial buildings;
Clean energy transition and assistance programs, activities, or projects that assist affected workers or people with lower incomes during the transition to a clean energy economy, or grow and expand clean manufacturing capacity in communities across Washington state including, but not limited to:
Programs, activities, or projects that directly improve energy affordability and reduce the energy burden of people with lower incomes, as well as the higher transportation fuel burden of rural residents, such as bill assistance, energy efficiency, and weatherization programs;
Community renewable energy projects that allow qualifying participants to own or receive the benefits of those projects at reduced or no cost;
Programs, activities, or other worker-support projects for bargaining unit and nonsupervisory fossil fuel workers who are affected by the transition away from fossil fuels to a clean energy economy. Worker support may include, but is not limited to: (A) Full wage replacement, health benefits, and pension contributions for every worker within five years of retirement; (B) full wage replacement, health benefits, and pension contributions for every worker with at least one year of service for each year of service up to five years of service; (C) wage insurance for up to five years for workers reemployed who have more than five years of service; (D) up to two years of retraining costs, including tuition and related costs, based on in-state community and technical college costs; (E) peer counseling services during transition; (F) employment placement services, prioritizing employment in the clean energy sector; and (G) relocation expenses;
Direct investment in workforce development, via technical education, community college, institutions of higher education, apprenticeships, and other programs including, but not limited to:
(A) Initiatives to develop a forest health workforce established under RCW 76.04.521; and
(B) Initiatives to develop new education programs, emerging fields, or jobs pertaining to the clean energy economy;
v. Transportation, municipal service delivery, and technology investments that increase a community's capacity for clean manufacturing, with an emphasis on communities in greatest need of job creation and economic development and potential for commute reduction;
k. Programs, activities, or projects that reduce emissions from landfills and waste-to-energy facilities through diversion of organic materials, methane capture or conversion strategies, installation of gas collection devices and gas control systems, monitoring and reporting of methane emissions, or other means, prioritizing funding needed for any activities by local governments to comply with chapter 70A.540 RCW;
l. Carbon dioxide removal projects, programs, and activities; and
m. Activities to support efforts to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change affecting Indian tribes, including capital investments in support of the relocation of Indian tribes located in areas at heightened risk due to anticipated sea level rise, flooding, or other disturbances caused by climate change. The legislature intends to dedicate at least $50,000,000 per biennium from the account for purposes of this subsection.
Moneys in the account may not be used for projects or activities that would violate tribal treaty rights or result in significant long-term damage to critical habitat or ecological functions. Investments from this account must result in long-term environmental benefits and increased resilience to the impacts of climate change.
During the 2023-2025 and 2025-2027 fiscal biennia, the legislature may appropriate moneys from the climate commitment account for activities related to environmental justice, including implementation of chapter 314, Laws of 2021.
The natural climate solutions account is created in the state treasury. All moneys directed to the account from the climate investment account created in RCW 70A.65.250 must be deposited in the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Moneys in the account are intended to increase the resilience of the state's waters, forests, and other vital ecosystems to the impacts of climate change, conserve working forestlands at risk of conversion, and increase their carbon pollution reduction capacity through sequestration, storage, and overall system integrity. Moneys in the account must be spent in a manner that is consistent with existing and future assessments of climate risks and resilience from the scientific community and expressed concerns of and impacts to overburdened communities.
Moneys in the account may be allocated for the following purposes:
Clean water investments that improve resilience from climate impacts. Funding under this subsection (2)(a) must be used to:
Restore and protect estuaries, fisheries, and marine shoreline habitats and prepare for sea level rise including, but not limited to, making fish passage correction investments such as those identified in the cost-share barrier removal program for small forestland owners created in RCW 76.13.150 and those that are considered by the fish passage barrier removal board created in RCW 77.95.160;
Increase carbon storage in the ocean or aquatic and coastal ecosystems;
Increase the ability to remediate and adapt to the impacts of ocean acidification;
Reduce flood risk and restore natural floodplain ecological function;
Increase the sustainable supply of water and improve aquatic habitat, including groundwater mapping and modeling;
Improve infrastructure treating stormwater from previously developed areas within an urban growth boundary designated under chapter 36.70A RCW, with a preference given to projects that use green stormwater infrastructure;
Either preserve or increase, or both, carbon sequestration and storage benefits in forests, forested wetlands, agricultural soils, tidally influenced agricultural or grazing lands, or freshwater, saltwater, or brackish aquatic lands; or
Either preserve or establish, or both, carbon sequestration by protecting or planting trees in marine shorelines and freshwater riparian areas sufficient to promote climate resilience, protect cold water fisheries, and achieve water quality standards;
Healthy forest investments to improve resilience from climate impacts. Funding under this subsection (2)(b) must be used for projects and activities that will:
Increase forest and community resilience to wildfire in the face of increased seasonal temperatures and drought;
Improve forest health and reduce vulnerability to changes in hydrology, insect infestation, and other impacts of climate change; or
Prevent emissions by preserving natural and working lands from the threat of conversion to development or loss of critical habitat, through actions that include, but are not limited to, the creation of new conservation lands, community forests, or increased support to small forestland owners through assistance programs including, but not limited to, the forest riparian easement program and the family forest fish passage program. It is the intent of the legislature that not less than $10,000,000 be expended each biennium for the forestry riparian easement program created in chapter 76.13 RCW or for riparian easement projects funded under the agricultural conservation easements program established under RCW 89.08.530, or similar riparian enhancement programs.
Moneys in the account may not be used for projects that would violate tribal treaty rights or result in significant long-term damage to critical habitat or ecological functions. Investments from this account must result in long-term environmental benefits and increased resilience to the impacts of climate change.
During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer money in the natural climate solutions account to the wildfire response, forest restoration, and community resilience account.
The department shall prepare, post on the department website, and submit to the appropriate committees of the legislature an annual report that identifies all distributions of moneys from the accounts created in RCW 70A.65.240 through 70A.65.280.
The report must identify, at a minimum, the recipient of the funding, the amount of the funding, the purpose of the funding, the actual end result or use of the funding, whether the project that received the funding produced any verifiable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions or other long-term impact to emissions, and if so, the quantity of reduced greenhouse gas emissions, the cost per carbon dioxide equivalent metric ton of reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and a comparison to other greenhouse gas emissions reduction projects in order to facilitate the development of cost-benefit ratios for greenhouse gas emissions reduction projects.
The department shall require by rule that recipients of funds from the accounts created in RCW 70A.65.240 through 70A.65.280 report to the department, in a form and manner prescribed by the department, the information required for the department to carry out the department's duties established in this section.
The department shall update its website with the information described in subsection (2) of this section as appropriate but no less frequently than once per calendar year.
The department shall submit its report to the appropriate committees of the legislature with the information described in subsection (2) of this section no later than September 30 of each year. For fiscal year 2025, the report must be submitted no later than November 30, 2024. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the report must be submitted no later than November 30 of each fiscal year.
There is hereby created an account within the state treasury to be known as the waste reduction, recycling, and litter control account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the waste reduction, recycling, and litter control account shall be used as follows:
Forty percent to the department of ecology, primarily for use by the departments of ecology, natural resources, revenue, transportation, and corrections, and the parks and recreation commission, for litter collection programs under RCW 70A.200.170. The amount to the department of ecology shall also be used for a central coordination function for litter control efforts statewide; to support employment of youth in litter cleanup as intended in RCW 70A.200.020, and for litter pick up using other authorized agencies; and for statewide public awareness programs under RCW 70A.200.150(7). The amount to the department shall also be used to defray the costs of administering the funding, coordination, and oversight of local government programs for waste reduction, litter control, recycling, and composting so that local governments can apply one hundred percent of their funding to achieving program goals. The amount to the department of revenue shall be used to enforce compliance with the litter tax imposed in chapter 82.19 RCW;
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Forty percent to the department of ecology to: (i) Implement activities under RCW 70A.200.150 for waste reduction, recycling, and composting efforts; (ii) provide technical assistance to local governments and commercial businesses to increase recycling markets and recycling and composting programs primarily for the products taxed under chapter 82.19 RCW designed to educate citizens about waste reduction, litter control, and recyclable and compostable products and programs; (iii) increase access to waste reduction, composting, and recycling programs, particularly for food packaging and plastic bags and appropriate composting techniques; and (iv) for programs to reduce wasted food and food waste that are designed to achieve the goals established in RCW 70A.205.715(1) and that are consistent with the plan developed in RCW 70A.205.715(3).
All taxes imposed in RCW 82.19.010 and fines and bail forfeitures collected or received pursuant to this chapter shall be deposited in the waste reduction, recycling, and litter control account and used for the programs under subsection (1) of this section.
Not less than five percent and no more than ten percent of the amount appropriated into the waste reduction, recycling, and litter control account every biennium shall be reserved for capital needs, including the purchase of vehicles for transporting crews and for collecting litter and solid waste. Capital funds shall be distributed among state agencies and local governments according to the same criteria provided in RCW 70A.200.170 for the remainder of the funds, so that the most effective waste reduction, litter control, recycling, and composting programs receive the most funding. The intent of this subsection is to provide funds for the purchase of equipment that will enable the department to account for the greatest return on investment in terms of reaching a zero litter goal.
Funds in the waste reduction, recycling, and litter control account, collected under chapter 82.19 RCW, must be prioritized for the products identified under RCW 82.19.020 solely for the purposes of recycling, composting, and litter collection, reduction, and control programs.
During the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium, Washington State University may use funds in the waste reduction, recycling, and litter control account, collected under chapter 82.19 RCW, to conduct an organic waste study.
During the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium, and as an exception to the distribution of expenditures otherwise required in this section, the department of ecology may use funds in the waste reduction, recycling, and litter control account to continue a series of food waste reduction campaigns, to continue to invest in litter prevention campaigns, to conduct a recycling study, and to increase litter control on state highways.
During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer money in the waste reduction, recycling, and litter control account to the model toxics control operating account.
The criminal justice treatment account is created in the state treasury. Moneys in the account may be expended solely for: (a) Substance use disorder treatment and treatment support services for offenders with a substance use disorder that, if not treated, would result in addiction, against whom charges are filed by a prosecuting attorney in Washington state; (b) the provision of substance use disorder treatment services and treatment support services for nonviolent offenders within a drug court program and for 180 days following graduation from the drug court program; and (c) the administrative and overhead costs associated with the operation of a drug court. Amounts provided in this subsection must be used for treatment and recovery support services for criminally involved offenders and authorization of these services shall not be subject to determinations of medical necessity. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation.
For purposes of this section:
"Treatment" means services that are critical to a participant's successful completion of his or her substance use disorder treatment program, including but not limited to the recovery support and other programmatic elements outlined in RCW 2.30.030 authorizing therapeutic courts; and
"Treatment support" includes transportation to or from inpatient or outpatient treatment services when no viable alternative exists, and child care services that are necessary to ensure a participant's ability to attend outpatient treatment sessions.
Revenues to the criminal justice treatment account consist of: (a) Funds transferred to the account pursuant to this section; and (b) any other revenues appropriated to or deposited in the account.
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For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2005, and each subsequent fiscal year, the state treasurer shall transfer eight million two hundred fifty thousand dollars from the general fund to the criminal justice treatment account, divided into four equal quarterly payments. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2006, and each subsequent fiscal year, the amount transferred shall be increased on an annual basis by the implicit price deflator as published by the federal bureau of labor statistics.
In each odd-numbered year, the legislature shall appropriate the amount transferred to the criminal justice treatment account in (a) of this subsection to the department for the purposes of subsection (5) of this section.
During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the legislature may appropriate moneys from the criminal justice treatment account to provide access to medications for opioid use disorders and alcohol use disorders to individuals in city, county, regional, and tribal jails. Appropriations made for these purposes are not subject to the distribution methodology established in subsection (5) of this section. It is the intent of the legislature that this policy will be continued in subsequent fiscal biennia.
Moneys appropriated to the authority from the criminal justice treatment account shall be distributed as specified in this subsection. The authority may retain up to three percent of the amount appropriated under subsection (4)(b) of this section for its administrative costs.
Seventy percent of amounts appropriated to the authority from the account shall be distributed to counties pursuant to the distribution formula adopted under this section. The authority, in consultation with the department of corrections, the Washington state association of counties, the Washington state association of drug court professionals, the superior court judges' association, the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys, representatives of the criminal defense bar, representatives of substance use disorder treatment providers, and any other person deemed by the authority to be necessary, shall establish a fair and reasonable methodology for distribution to counties of moneys in the criminal justice treatment account. County or regional plans submitted for the expenditure of formula funds must be approved by the panel established in (b) of this subsection.
Thirty percent of the amounts appropriated to the authority from the account shall be distributed as grants for purposes of treating offenders against whom charges are filed by a county prosecuting attorney. The authority shall appoint a panel of representatives from the Washington association of prosecuting attorneys, the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, the superior court judges' association, the Washington state association of counties, the Washington defender's association or the Washington association of criminal defense lawyers, the department of corrections, the Washington state association of drug court professionals, and substance use disorder treatment providers. The panel shall review county or regional plans for funding under (a) of this subsection and grants approved under this subsection. The panel shall attempt to ensure that treatment as funded by the grants is available to offenders statewide.
The county alcohol and drug coordinator, county prosecutor, county sheriff, county superior court, a substance abuse treatment provider appointed by the county legislative authority, a member of the criminal defense bar appointed by the county legislative authority, and, in counties with a drug court, a representative of the drug court shall jointly submit a plan, approved by the county legislative authority or authorities, to the panel established in subsection (5)(b) of this section, for disposition of all the funds provided from the criminal justice treatment account within that county. The submitted plan should incorporate current evidence-based practices in substance use disorder treatment. The funds shall be used solely to provide approved alcohol and substance use disorder treatment pursuant to RCW 71.24.560 and treatment support services. No more than ten percent of the total moneys received under subsections (4) and (5) of this section by a county or group of counties participating in a regional agreement shall be spent for treatment support services.
Counties are encouraged to consider regional agreements and submit regional plans for the efficient delivery of treatment under this section.
Moneys allocated under this section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other federal, state, and local funds used for substance abuse treatment.
If a region or county uses criminal justice treatment account funds to support a therapeutic court, the therapeutic court must allow the use of all medications approved by the federal food and drug administration for the treatment of opioid use disorder as deemed medically appropriate for a participant by a medical professional. If appropriate medication-assisted treatment resources are not available or accessible within the jurisdiction, the health care authority's designee for assistance must assist the court with acquiring the resource.
Counties must meet the criteria established in RCW 2.30.030(3).
The authority shall annually review and monitor the expenditures made by any county or group of counties that receives appropriated funds distributed under this section. Counties shall repay any funds that are not spent in accordance with the requirements of its contract with the authority.
(1) Establishing the state designated 988 contact hubs and enhancing the crisis response system will require collaborative work between the department, the authority, and regional system partners within their respective roles. The department shall have primary responsibility for designating 988 contact hubs, and shall seek recommendations from the behavioral health administrative services organizations to determine which 988 contact hubs best meet regional needs. The authority shall have primary responsibility for developing, implementing, and facilitating coordination of the crisis response system and services to support the work of the designated 988 contact hubs, regional crisis lines, and other coordinated regional behavioral health crisis response system partners. In any instance in which one agency is identified as the lead, the expectation is that agency will communicate and collaborate with the other to ensure seamless, continuous, and effective service delivery within the statewide crisis response system.
The department is authorized to acquire, receive, possess, sell, resell, deliver, dispense, distribute, and engage in any activity constituting the practice of pharmacy or wholesale distribution with respect to abortion medications.
The department may exercise the authority granted in this section for the benefit of any person, whether or not the person is in the custody or under the supervision of the department.
The department shall exercise the authority granted in this section in accordance with any applicable law including, but not limited to, any applicable licensing requirements, except that the department is exempt from obtaining a wholesaler's license for any actions taken pursuant to chapter 195, Laws of 2023 as provided in RCW 18.64.046.
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The department shall establish and operate a program to deliver, dispense, and distribute abortion medications described in this section. In circumstances in which the department is selling, delivering, or distributing abortion medications to a health care provider or health care entity, it may only sell, distribute, or deliver abortion medications to health care providers and health care entities that will only use the medications for the purposes of providing abortion care or medical management of early pregnancy loss.
Except as provided in (c) of this subsection, any abortion medications sold, resold, delivered, dispensed, or distributed whether individually or wholesale shall be conducted at cost not to exceed list price, plus a fee of $5 per dose to offset the cost of secure storage and delivery of medication. Revenues generated pursuant to chapter 195, Laws of 2023 shall be deposited to the general fund.
During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, any abortion medications sold, resold, delivered, dispensed, or distributed whether individually or wholesale shall be conducted at cost not to exceed list price.
Nothing in this section shall diminish any existing authority of the department.
For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
"Abortion medications" means substances used in the course of medical treatment intended to induce the termination of a pregnancy including, but not limited to, mifepristone.
"Deliver" has the same meaning as in RCW 18.64.011.
"Dispense" has the same meaning as in RCW 18.64.011.
"Distribute" has the same meaning as in RCW 18.64.011.
"Health care entity" means a hospital, clinic, pharmacy, office, or similar setting where a health care provider provides health care to patients.
"Health care provider" has the same meaning as in RCW 70.02.010.
"Person" has the same meaning as in RCW 18.64.011.
"Practice of pharmacy" has the same meaning as in RCW 18.64.011.
The traumatic brain injury account is created in the state treasury. The fee imposed under RCW 46.63.110(7)(c) must be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation, and may be used only to support the activities in the statewide traumatic brain injury comprehensive plan, to provide a public awareness campaign and services relating to traumatic brain injury under RCW 74.31.040 and 74.31.050, for information and referral services, and for costs of required department staff who are providing support for the council under RCW 74.31.020 and 74.31.030. The secretary of the department of social and health services has the authority to administer the funds. The department must make every effort to disburse the incremental revenue that is the result of the fee increased under RCW 46.63.110(7)(c) in a diverse manner to include rural areas of the state. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, moneys in the account may also be transferred into the state general fund.
The department shall establish in rule a new medicaid payment system for contracted assisted living, adult residential care, and enhanced adult residential care. Beginning July 1, 2019, payments for these contracts must be based on the new methodology which must be phased-in to full implementation according to funding made available by the legislature for this purpose. The new payment system must have these components: Client care, operations, and room and board.
Client care is the labor component of the system and must include variables to recognize the time and intensity of client care and services, staff wages, and associated fringe benefits. The wage variable in the client care component must be adjusted according to service areas based on labor costs.
The time variable is used to weight the client care payment to client acuity and must be scaled according to the classification levels utilized in the department's assessment tool. The initial system shall establish a variable for time using the residential care time study conducted in 2001 and the department's corresponding estimate of the average staff hours per client by job position.
The wage variable shall include recognition of staff positions needed to perform the functions required by contract, including nursing services. Data used to establish the wage variable must be adjusted so that no baseline wage is below the state minimum in effect at the time of implementation. The wage variable is a blended wage based on the federal bureau of labor statistics wage data and the distribution of time according to staff position. Blended wages are established for each county and then counties are arrayed from highest to lowest. Service areas are established and the median blended wage in each service area becomes the wage variable for all the assigned counties in that service area. The system must have no less than two service areas, one of which shall be a high labor cost service area and shall include counties at or above the ninety-fifth percentile in the array of blended wages.
The fringe benefit variable recognizes employee benefits and payroll taxes. The factor to calculate the percentage of fringe benefits shall be established using the statewide nursing facility cost ratio of benefits and payroll taxes to in-house wages.
The operations component must recognize costs that are allowable under federal medicaid rules for the federal matching percentage. The operations component is calculated at ninety percent or greater of the statewide median nursing facility costs associated with the following:
Supplies;
Nonlabor administrative expenses;
Staff education and in-service training; and
Operational overhead including licenses, insurance, and business and occupation taxes.
The room and board component recognizes costs that do not qualify for federal financial participation under medicaid rules by compensating providers for the medicaid client's share of raw food and shelter costs including expenses related to the physical plant such as property taxes, property and liability insurance, debt service, and major capital repairs. The room and board component is subject to the department's and the Washington state health care authority's rules related to client financial responsibility.
Subsections (2) and (3) of this section establish the rate for medicaid covered services. Subsection (4) of this section establishes the rate for nonmedicaid covered services.
The rates paid on July 1, 2019, shall be based on data from the 2016 calendar year, except for the time variable under subsection (2)(a) of this section. The client care and operations components must be rebased in even-numbered years. Beginning with rates paid on July 1, 2020, wages, benefits and taxes, and operations costs shall be rebased using 2018 data. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the department shall not implement the scheduled rebase of assisted living facility rates that would have otherwise taken effect July 1, 2026. Instead, it is the intent of the legislature that a special, one-time rebase of assisted living facility rates shall occur on July 1, 2027, utilizing the cost data originally intended for the July 1, 2026, rebase. This one-time rebase shall not constitute a permanent modification of the biennial rebasing schedule established under this section. Following the special rebase for rates effective July 1, 2027, the department shall resume adherence to the existing statutory biennial rebasing schedule established in this section.
Beginning July 1, 2020, the room and board component shall be updated annually subject to the department's and the Washington state health care authority's rules related to client financial responsibility.
A separate nursing facility quality enhancement account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. Beginning July 1, 2015, all net receipts from the reconciliation and settlement process provided in RCW 74.46.022(6), as described within RCW 74.46.561, must be deposited into the account. Beginning July 1, 2016, all receipts from the system of financial penalties for facilities out of compliance with minimum staffing standards, as described within RCW 74.42.360, must be deposited into the account. Only the secretary, or the secretary's designee, may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures. The department shall use the special account only for technical assistance for nursing facilities, specialized training for nursing facilities, or an increase to the quality enhancement established in RCW 74.46.561, or as necessary for the reconciliation and settlement process, which requires deposits and withdrawals to complete both the preliminary and final settlement net receipt amounts for this account. Notwithstanding any restrictions in this section, for the fiscal biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027, the department may expend funds from the nursing facility quality enhancement account for any purpose deemed necessary by the department to support its operations, programs, and responsibilities. This expanded authority expires June 30, 2027, after which expenditures shall be exclusively for the purposes described in this section.
There is established in the state treasury the limited fish and wildlife account which consists of moneys received from:
Fees for personalized vehicle, Wild on Washington, and Endangered Wildlife license plates, Washington's Wildlife license plate collection, and Washington's fish license plate collection as provided in chapter 46.17 RCW;
The department's share of revenues from auctions and raffles authorized by the commission;
The sale of watchable wildlife decals under RCW 77.32.560;
Moneys received from the recreation access pass account created in RCW 79A.80.090 must be dedicated to stewardship, operations, and maintenance of department lands used for public recreation purposes;
Fees for informational materials published by the department;
Those portions of the sale of licenses, permits, tags, stamps, endorsements, and application fees that are specified for a limited purpose within chapters 77.32, 77.65, and 77.70 RCW; and
Income directed to the limited fish and wildlife account by any other statute not listed in this subsection.
State and county officers receiving any moneys listed in subsection (1) of this section shall deposit them in the state treasury to be credited to the limited fish and wildlife account.
There is established in the state treasury the fish, wildlife, and conservation account that consists of moneys received from:
Rentals or concessions of the department;
The sale of real or personal property held for department purposes, unless the property is seized or recovered through a fish, shellfish, or wildlife enforcement action;
The assessment of administrative penalties;
Those portions of the sale of licenses, permits, tags, stamps, endorsements, and application fees that are not specified for a limited purpose within chapters 77.32, 77.65, and 77.70 RCW;
Articles or wildlife sold by the director under RCW 77.12.140;
Excise tax on anadromous game fish collected under chapter 82.27 RCW;
Donations received by the director under RCW 77.12.039;
Income directed to the fish, wildlife, and conservation account by any other statute not listed in this subsection.
State and county officers receiving any moneys listed in subsection (3) of this section shall deposit them in the state treasury to be credited to the fish, wildlife, and conservation account.
Compensation for damage to department property or wildlife losses or contributions, gifts, or grants received under RCW 77.12.320 must be deposited into the special wildlife account created in RCW 77.12.323. However, this excludes fish and shellfish overages and court-ordered restitution or donations associated with any fish, shellfish, or wildlife enforcement action, as such moneys must be deposited in the enforcement reward account pursuant to RCW 77.15.425.
During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer money in the limited fish and wildlife account to the fish, wildlife, and conservation account.
The warm water game fish account is created in the state treasury. Moneys in the account are subject to legislative appropriation and shall be used for the purpose of funding the warm water game fish enhancement program, including the development of warm water pond and lake habitat, culture of warm water game fish, improvement of warm water fish habitat, management of warm water fish populations, and other practical activities that will improve the fishing for warm water fish. Funds for warm water game fish as provided in RCW 77.32.440 shall not serve as replacement funding for department-operated warm water fish projects existing on December 31, 1994. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer money in the warm water game fish account to the fish, wildlife, and conservation account.
The habitat recovery pilot program is created.
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In order to be included in this statewide pilot program and qualify for the permit review and approval process created in this section, an environmental restoration project must directly benefit freshwater, estuarine, or marine fish, or the habitat they rely on, and must be included on a list of projects reviewed, approved, or funded by one of the following restoration programs:
The Bonneville power administration restoration program;
The Brian Abbott fish barrier removal board;
The estuary and salmon restoration program;
The floodplains by design program;
The office of Chehalis basin aquatic species restoration program;
The office of Columbia river habitat recovery projects;
The Puget Sound acquisition and restoration fund;
The Puget Sound national estuary program;
ix. The salmon recovery funding board;
The Yakima tributary access and habitat program;
Fish recovery projects sponsored by a federally recognized tribe; and
Fish acclimation facility projects sponsored or operated by a federally recognized tribe.
A project application reviewed under this section must document consistency with local, state, and federal flood risk reduction requirements. A project may not be reviewed under the process created in this section if the local government within whose geographical jurisdiction the project will be located determines that the project does not meet applicable flood risk reduction requirements, or otherwise determines that the project raises concerns regarding public health and safety, and the local government provides timely notice of its determination to the department.
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With regard to cultural resources, a project applicant or funding agency must review the project with the department of archaeology and historic preservation and complete any required site surveys before the project applicant files an application under this section. A project applicant must document consistency in the application with applicable cultural resource protection requirements.
A project applicant must provide a copy of its application to the department of archaeology and historic preservation, and to affected federally recognized tribes, no fewer than 60 days before the application may be filed with the department.
The department may not review a project under the expedited process created in this section if a cultural resource site is identified at the project site or if an affected federally recognized tribe withholds its consent that the project should be expedited according to the process set forth in this section. Such consent may be withheld upon a determination that the project may adversely impact cultural resources. Notice of such a determination must be provided to the department by the affected federally recognized tribe in a timely manner.
In the event of an inadvertent discovery of cultural resources or human remains, the project applicant shall immediately notify the department, the department of archaeology and historic preservation, and affected federally recognized tribes. In the event of an inadvertent discovery of cultural resources or human remains, existing requirements applicable to inadvertent discoveries of cultural resources and human remains, including those set forth in chapters 27.53, 27.44, and 68.60 RCW, apply.
For those projects that require a lease or other land use authorization from the department of natural resources, the project applicant must include in its application for a permit under this section a signed joint aquatic resources permit application, attachment E. The project applicant must provide a copy of a completed application to the department of natural resources no fewer than 30 days before the application may be filed with the department. The department of natural resources must make a final decision on applications for projects under this section within 30 days of the issuance of a permit under this section.
Fish recovery and fish habitat restoration projects meeting the criteria of subsection (2) of this section are expected to result in beneficial impacts to the aquatic environment. Projects approved for inclusion in this pilot program and that are reviewed and approved according to the provisions of this section are not subject to the requirements of RCW 43.21C.030(2) and are not required to obtain local or state permits or approvals other than the permit issued under this section, except permits minimally necessary as a requirement of participation in a federal program.
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A permit under this chapter is required for projects that meet the criteria of subsection (2) of this section and must be reviewed and, if appropriate, approved under this section. An applicant shall use the department's online permitting system to apply for approval under this section and shall at the same time provide a copy of the application to the local government within whose geographical jurisdiction the project will be located, to the members of the multiagency permitting team created in this section, and to potentially affected federally recognized tribes.
When the department concludes that a complete application has been submitted under this section and copies of the application have been provided as required in this section, the department shall provide notice to the local government within whose geographical jurisdiction the project will be located, to potentially affected federally recognized tribes, and to the members of the multiagency permitting team of receipt of a complete permit application.
Unless the multiagency permitting team process described in this section is invoked, the department shall evaluate and make a decision on the application not sooner than 25 days, and not later than 45 days, after receipt of a complete permit application.
Within 25 days of receiving a copy of the complete project application, the local government within whose geographical jurisdiction the project would be located, any member of the multiagency permitting team, or a potentially affected federally recognized tribe may request that the department place the application on hold and immediately convene a meeting with the requesting entity and the multiagency permitting team to review and evaluate the project.
All parties involved in this review process shall work in good faith to expedite permitting and any party with concerns shall provide the basis for its concerns and potential pathways to address those concerns. Any party objecting to expedited permitting shall provide a written basis for its objections to the department or the multiagency permitting team.
The multiagency review process may not exceed 45 days from the request for review.
The multiagency permitting team consists of representatives of the local government in whose geographical jurisdiction the project would be located, the department, the department of ecology, the recreation and conservation office, the governor's salmon recovery office, the department of natural resources, and, when the project in question is located in the Puget Sound basin, the Puget Sound partnership. For projects located in the Puget Sound basin, meetings of the multiagency permitting team must be facilitated by the Puget Sound partnership. All other meetings of the multiagency permitting team must be facilitated by the recreation and conservation office.
The department or, where applicable, the multiagency permitting team, shall exclude any project from the review and approval process created by this section if it concludes that the project may adversely impact human health, public safety, or the environment, or that the project's scope or complexity renders it inappropriate for expedited review.
If the department or the multiagency permitting team determines that the review and approval process created by this section is not appropriate for the proposed project, the department shall notify the applicant, the appropriate local government, and potentially affected federally recognized tribes of its determination. The applicant may reapply for approval of the project under generally applicable review and approval processes. If the multiagency permitting team determines that the review and approval process created by this section is appropriate for the proposed project, the hold on the application must be lifted and the department shall make a decision within the time that remains of the original 45-day decision deadline.
Any person aggrieved by the approval, denial, conditioning, or modification of a permit under this section may appeal the decision as provided in RCW 77.55.021(8).
The department shall, in a timely manner, provide a copy of any application seeking review under this section and shall thereafter coordinate with affected federally recognized tribes as it implements this section.
No local or state government may require permits or charge fees other than the permit issued under this section, except permits minimally necessary as a requirement of participation in a federal program, for fish recovery pilot projects that meet the criteria of subsection (2) of this section and that are reviewed and approved according to the provisions of this section.
No civil liability may be imposed by any court on the state or its officers and employees for any adverse impacts resulting from a fish recovery stimulus pilot project permitted by the department under the criteria of this section except upon proof of gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.
This section expires June 30, 2027.
The recreational fisheries enhancement account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from RCW 77.105.140 shall be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only for recreational fisheries enhancement programs identified in this chapter. Under no circumstances may moneys from the account be used to backfill shortfalls in other state funding sources. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer money in the recreation fisheries enhancement account to the fish, wildlife, and conservation account.
The board shall determine the amount deemed necessary in order to achieve the purposes of this chapter and shall provide by rule for the deduction of this amount from the moneys received from all leases, sales, contracts, licenses, permits, easements, and rights-of-way issued by the department and affecting state lands and aquatic lands, except as provided in RCW 79.64.130, provided that no deduction shall be made from the proceeds from agricultural college lands.
Moneys received as deposits from successful bidders, advance payments, and security under RCW 79.15.100, 79.15.080, and 79.11.150 prior to December 1, 1981, which have not been subjected to deduction under this section are not subject to deduction under this section.
Except as otherwise provided in subsection (5) of this section, the deductions authorized under this section shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the moneys received by the department in connection with any one transaction pertaining to state lands and aquatic lands other than second-class tide and shore lands and the beds of navigable waters, and fifty percent of the moneys received by the department pertaining to second-class tide and shore lands and the beds of navigable waters.
In the event that the department sells logs using the contract harvesting process described in RCW 79.15.500 through 79.15.530, the moneys received subject to this section are the net proceeds from the contract harvesting sale.
During the 2015-2017, 2017-2019, 2019-2021, 2021-2023, 2023-2025, and 2025-2027 fiscal biennia, the board may increase the twenty-five percent limitation up to thirty-two percent.
(1) Any moneys derived from the lease of state forestlands or from the sale of valuable materials, oils, gases, coal, minerals, or fossils from those lands, except as provided in RCW 79.64.130, or the appraised value of these resources when transferred to a public agency under RCW 79.22.060, must be distributed as follows:
There is created in the state treasury a public service revolving fund. Regulatory fees payable by all types of public service companies shall be deposited to the credit of the public service revolving fund. Except for expenses payable out of the pipeline safety account, all expense of operation of the Washington utilities and transportation commission shall be payable out of the public service revolving fund. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, moneys in the account may also be transferred into the state general fund.
The pipeline safety account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All fees received by the commission for the pipeline safety program according to RCW 80.24.060 and 81.24.090 and all receipts from the federal office of pipeline safety and any other state or federal funds provided for pipeline safety shall be deposited in the account. Any penalties collected under this chapter, or otherwise designated to this account must be deposited in the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only for funding pipeline safety. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, moneys in the account may also be transferred into the state general fund.
The statewide 988 behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention line account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from the statewide 988 behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention line tax imposed pursuant to this chapter must be deposited into the account. Moneys may only be spent after appropriation.
Expenditures from the account may only be used for:
Ensuring the efficient and effective routing of calls made to the 988 crisis hotline to an appropriate crisis hotline center or designated 988 contact hub;
Personnel and the provision of acute behavioral health, crisis outreach, and crisis stabilization services, as defined in RCW 71.24.025, by directly responding to the 988 crisis hotline and enhancing mobile crisis service standards and performance provided through mobile rapid response crisis teams and community-based crisis teams endorsed under RCW 71.24.903. Ten percent of the annual receipts from the tax must be dedicated to the establishment grants, performance payments, and supplemental performance payments for mobile rapid response crisis teams and community-based crisis teams endorsed under RCW 71.24.903 and endorsement activities in RCW 71.24.903, up to 30 percent of which is dedicated to mobile rapid response crisis teams and community-based crisis teams endorsed under RCW 71.24.903 that are affiliated with a tribe in Washington; and
During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the legislature may appropriate moneys from the statewide 988 behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention line account to maintain and expand behavioral health crisis response services including services provided by mobile crisis response teams, 23-hour crisis relief centers, and other community settings providing services to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Appropriations made for these purposes are not subject to the limitation in subsection (3) of this section. It is the intent of the legislature that this policy will be continued in subsequent fiscal biennia.
Moneys in the account may not be used to supplant general fund appropriations for behavioral health services or for medicaid covered services to individuals enrolled in the medicaid program.
The flood control assistance account is hereby established in the state treasury. At the beginning of the 2005-2007 fiscal biennium, the state treasurer shall transfer three million dollars from the general fund to the flood control assistance account. Each biennium thereafter the state treasurer shall transfer $4,000,000 from the general fund to the flood control assistance account, except that during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the state treasurer shall transfer $3,700,000 for the biennium from the general fund to the flood control assistance account. The legislature intends to continue this policy in the 2027-2029 fiscal biennium. Moneys in the flood control assistance account may be spent only after appropriation for purposes specified under this chapter. During the 2017-2019 and 2019-2021 fiscal biennia, the legislature may appropriate moneys from the account for the purposes specified under chapter 90.94 RCW.
(1)(a) In addition to any other charge authorized by law, the county auditor shall charge a surcharge of one dollar per instrument for each document recorded. Revenue generated through this surcharge shall be transmitted monthly to the state treasurer for deposit in the local government archives account under RCW 40.14.024. These funds shall be used solely for providing records scheduling, security microfilm inspection and storage, archival preservation, cataloging, and indexing for local government records and digital data and access to those records and data through the regional branch archives of the division of archives and records management.
The local government archives account is created in the state treasury. All receipts collected by the county auditors under RCW 40.14.027 and 36.22.175 for local government services, such as providing records schedule compliance, security microfilm inspection and storage, archival preservation, cataloging, and indexing for local government records and digital data and access to those records and data through the regional branch archives of the division of archives and records management, must be deposited into the account, and expenditures from the account may be used only for these purposes. Any amounts deposited in the account in accordance with RCW 36.22.175(4) may only be expended for the purposes authorized under that provision as follows: No more than fifty percent of funding may be used for the attorney general's consultation program and the state archivist's training services, and the remainder is to be used for the competitive grant program, except that during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium the competitive grant program may be suspended or reduced and the remainder used for administrative costs of the state archives.
The division of archives and records management in the office of the secretary of state must establish and administer a competitive grant program for local agencies to improve technology information systems for public record retention, management, and disclosure, and any related training, except that during the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium the competitive grant program may be suspended or reduced. The division of archives and records management may use up to six percent of amounts appropriated for the program for administration of the grant program.
Any local agency may apply to the grant program. The division of archives and records management in the office of the secretary of state must award grants annually. The division of archives and records management must consult with the chief information officer to develop the criteria for grant recipient selection with a preference given to small local governmental agencies based on the applicant agency's need and ability to improve its information technology systems for public record retention, management, and disclosure. The division of archives and records management may award grants for specific hardware, software, equipment, technology services management and training needs, indexing for local records and digital data, and other resources for improving information technology systems. To the extent possible, information technology systems, processes, training, and other resources for improving information technology systems for records retention and distribution may be replicated and shared with other governmental entities. Grants are provided for one-time investments and are not an ongoing source of revenue for operation or management costs. A grantee may not supplant local funding with grant funding provided by the office of the secretary of state.
The joint legislative audit and review committee must conduct a review of the attorney general's consultation program and the state archivist's training services created under section 4, chapter 303, Laws of 2017, and the local government competitive grant program created under this section. The review must include:
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Information on the number of local governments served, the types of consultation and training provided, and the implementation of any practices adopted from the attorney general's consultation program and the state archivist's training services; and
The effectiveness of the consultation program and the training services in providing assistance for local governments; and
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Information on the number of local governments that applied for and participated in the competitive grant program under this section, the amount of funding awarded through the grant program, and how such funding was used; and
The effectiveness of the grant program in improving local government technology information systems for public records retention, management, disclosure, and training.
Each agency shall maintain a log of public records requests submitted to and processed by the agency, which shall include but not be limited to the following information for each request: The identity of the requestor if provided by the requestor, the date the request was received, the text of the original request, a description of the records produced in response to the request, a description of the records redacted or withheld and the reasons therefor, and the date of the final disposition of the request. The log must be retained by the agency in accordance with the relevant record retention schedule established under this chapter, and shall be a public record subject to disclosure under chapter 42.56 RCW.
To improve best practices for dissemination of public records, each agency with actual staff and legal costs associated with fulfilling public records requests of at least one hundred thousand dollars during the prior fiscal year must, and each agency with such estimated costs of less than one hundred thousand dollars during the prior fiscal year may, report to the joint legislative audit and review committee by July 1st of each subsequent year the following metrics, measured over the preceding year:
The number of requests where the agency provided the requested records within five days of receiving the request.
The number of requests where the agency provided a time estimate for providing responsive records beyond five days after receiving the request.
The average and median number of days from receipt of request to the date the request is closed.
The number of requests where the agency formally sought additional clarification from the requestor;
The number of requests denied in full or in part and the most common reasons for denying requests;
The number of requests abandoned by requestors;
To the extent the information is known by the agency, requests by type of requestor, including individuals, law firms, organizations, insurers, governments, incarcerated persons, the media, anonymous requestors, current or former employees, and others;
Which portion of requests were fulfilled electronically compared to requests fulfilled by physical records;
The total estimated agency staff time spent on each individual request;
The estimated costs incurred by the agency in fulfilling records requests, including costs for staff compensation and legal review, and a measure of the average cost per request;
The number of claims filed alleging a violation of chapter 42.56 RCW or other public records statutes in the past year involving the agency, categorized by type and exemption at issue, if applicable;
The costs incurred by the agency litigating claims alleging a violation of chapter 42.56 RCW or other public records statutes in the past year, including any penalties imposed on the agency;
The costs incurred by the agency with managing and retaining records, including staff compensation and purchases of equipment, hardware, software, and services to manage and retain public records; and
Expenses recovered by the agency from requestors for fulfilling public records requests, including any customized service charges.
The joint legislative audit and review committee must consult with state and local agencies to develop a reporting method and clearly define standardized metrics in accordance with this section.
By December 1, 2019, the joint legislative audit and review committee must report to the legislature on its findings from the review, including recommendations on whether the competitive grant program, the attorney general's consultation program, and the state archivist's training services should continue or be allowed to expire.
The secretary of state and the director of financial management shall jointly establish a procedure and formula for allocating the costs of services provided by the division of archives and records management to state agencies. The total amount allotted for services to state agencies shall not exceed the appropriation to the archives and records management account during any allotment period.
There is created the public records efficiency, preservation, and access account in the state treasury which shall consist of all fees and charges collected under this section. The account shall be appropriated exclusively for the payment of costs and expenses incurred in the operation of the division of archives and records management as specified by law.
During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, moneys in the account may also be transferred into the Washington state library operations fund.
The performance audits of government account is hereby created in the custody of the state treasurer. Revenue identified in RCW 82.08.020(5) and 82.12.0201 shall be deposited in the account. Money in the account shall be used to fund the performance audits and follow-up performance audits under RCW 43.09.470 and shall be expended by the state auditor in accordance with chapter 1, Laws of 2006. Only the state auditor or the state auditor's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures. The performance audits of government account may be appropriated for the joint legislative audit and review committee, the legislative evaluation and accountability program committee, and for the office of financial management's performance audit and compliance audit activities. During the 2019-2021, 2021-2023, and 2023-2025 fiscal biennia, the performance audits of government account may be appropriated for the superintendent of public instruction, the office of the governor, and audits of school districts. In addition, during the 2019-2021 and 2021-2023 fiscal biennia the account may be used to fund the office of financial management's contract for the compliance audit of the state auditor and audit activities at the department of revenue. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the performance audits of government account may be used to support audits of deadly force investigations as described in chapter 43.101.460 RCW.
FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FOR THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE COURTS
FOR THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC DEFENSE
FOR THE OFFICE OF CIVIL LEGAL AID
FOR THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
FOR THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE COMMISSION
FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE
FOR THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
FOR THE COMMISSION ON ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN AFFAIRS
FOR THE STATE TREASURER
FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE—COMMUNITY SERVICES AND HOUSING
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE—LOCAL GOVERNMENT
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE—OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE—ENERGY AND INNOVATION
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE—PROGRAM SUPPORT
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
FOR THE OFFICE OF MINORITY AND WOMEN'S BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
FOR THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
FOR THE LIQUOR AND CANNABIS BOARD
FOR THE UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
FOR THE MILITARY DEPARTMENT
FOR THE BOARD FOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS
FOR THE FORENSIC INVESTIGATION COUNCIL
FOR THE CONSOLIDATED TECHNOLOGY SERVICES AGENCY
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES—MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES—DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES PROGRAM
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES—AGING AND ADULT SERVICES PROGRAM
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES—ECONOMIC SERVICES PROGRAM
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES—VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES—SPECIAL COMMITMENT PROGRAM
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES—ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORTING SERVICES PROGRAM
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES—PAYMENTS TO OTHER AGENCIES PROGRAM
FOR THE STATE HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY
FOR THE STATE HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY—MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
FOR THE STATE HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY—PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' BENEFITS BOARD AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS PROGRAM
FOR THE STATE HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY—SCHOOL EMPLOYEES' BENEFITS BOARD
FOR THE STATE HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY—HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGE
FOR THE STATE HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY—COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAM
FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING COMMISSION
FOR THE OFFICE OF INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIES
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF SERVICES FOR THE BLIND
FOR THE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY DEPARTMENT
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES—GENERAL
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES—CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICES PROGRAM
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES—JUVENILE REHABILITATION PROGRAM
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES—EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES—PROGRAM SUPPORT
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY
FOR THE WASHINGTON POLLUTION LIABILITY INSURANCE PROGRAM
FOR THE STATE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
FOR THE RECREATION AND CONSERVATION OFFICE
FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND LAND USE HEARINGS OFFICE
FOR THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
FOR THE PUGET SOUND PARTNERSHIP
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING
FOR THE WASHINGTON STATE PATROL
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
FOR THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR STANDARDS BOARD
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR GENERAL APPORTIONMENT
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR SCHOOL EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION ADJUSTMENTS
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR PUPIL TRANSPORTATION
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—SCHOOL FOOD SERVICES
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR LOCAL EFFORT ASSISTANCE
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR INSTITUTIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR PROGRAMS FOR HIGHLY CAPABLE STUDENTS
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—EDUCATION REFORM PROGRAMS
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR TRANSITIONAL BILINGUAL PROGRAMS
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR THE LEARNING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—PER PUPIL ALLOCATIONS
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
FOR THE OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS
FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION—FOR TRANSITION TO KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS
FOR THE STATE BOARD FOR COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES
FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
FOR WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
FOR EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
FOR CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
FOR THE EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE
FOR WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
FOR THE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COUNCIL—POLICY COORDINATION AND ADMINISTRATION
FOR THE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COUNCIL—OFFICE OF STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
FOR THE WASHINGTON CENTER FOR DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING YOUTH
FOR THE WASHINGTON STATE ARTS COMMISSION
FOR THE STATE TREASURER—BOND RETIREMENT AND INTEREST, AND ONGOING BOND REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER CHARGES: FOR DEBT SUBJECT TO THE DEBT LIMIT
FOR THE STATE TREASURER—BOND RETIREMENT AND INTEREST, AND ONGOING BOND REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER CHARGES: FOR GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT TO BE REIMBURSED AS PRESCRIBED BY STATUTE
FOR THE STATE TREASURER—BOND RETIREMENT AND INTEREST, AND ONGOING BOND REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER CHARGES: FOR BOND SALE EXPENSES
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—STATE HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY ACCOUNT
FOR SUNDRY CLAIMS
FOR THE WASHINGTON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT COUNCIL—OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP MATCH TRANSFER ACCOUNT
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—CORONAVIRUS STATE FISCAL RECOVERY
FOR THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT—HOME VISITING SERVICES ACCOUNT
FOR THE STATE TREASURER—STATE REVENUES FOR DISTRIBUTION
FOR THE STATE TREASURER—FOR THE COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE ACCOUNT
FOR THE STATE TREASURER—MUNICIPAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE ACCOUNT
FOR THE STATE TREASURER—TRANSFERS
The administrative hearings revolving fund is hereby created in the state treasury for the purpose of centralized funding, accounting, and distribution of the actual costs of the services provided to agencies of the state government by the office of administrative hearings. During the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer money in the administrative hearings revolving fund to the state general fund.
The military department capital account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from the sale of state-owned military department property must be deposited into the account. Money in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only for military department capital projects. During the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer money in the military department capital account to the state general fund.
The military department rental and lease account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from the rental or lease of state-owned military department property must be deposited into the account. Money in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only for operating and maintenance costs of military property. During the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer money in the military department rental and lease account to the state general fund.
The military department active state service account is created in the state treasury. Moneys may be placed in the account from legislative appropriations and transfers, federal appropriations, or any other lawful source. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only for claims and expenses for the organized militia called into active state service to perform duties under RCW 38.08.040 that are not paid under RCW 38.24.010 from nonappropriated funds, including but not limited to claims and expenses arising from anticipated planning, training, exercises, and other administrative duties that are not of an emergency nature. During the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer money in the military department active state service account to the state general fund.
The legislature recognizes the honor of Seattle being chosen as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer competition. The matches will attract hundreds of thousands of fans to our region and bring unprecedented attention to Seattle and the state of Washington as a whole. In recognition of the economic benefit to the state, the legislature intends to provide assistance in making the capital improvements necessary to host this event.
The stadium world cup capital account is created in the state treasury for the purpose of advancing moneys to the Washington state public stadium authority for capital improvements required to host the 2026 World Cup. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation.
The department of commerce must enter into a loan agreement with the Washington state public stadium authority to advance funds for capital improvements necessary to host the 2026 World Cup. The department must work with the state treasurer to record distributions from the stadium world cup capital account and calculate the repayment obligation for amounts expended. Loan terms shall include interest at a rate that is 0.5 percent higher than the interest rate that the account would have earned without the transfer, with funds to be repaid no later than September 30, 2026.
It is the intent of the legislature that loan funds be repaid from admissions taxes collected from World Cup events hosted at the stadium and deposited into the stadium and exhibition center account created in RCW 43.99N.060. If not earlier paid, on September 30, 2026, the director of the office of financial management shall direct the state treasurer to transfer any amounts due from the stadium and exhibition center account to the general fund.
During the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer money in the stadium world cup capital account to the state general fund.
The Washington auto theft prevention authority account is created in the state treasury, subject to appropriation. Revenues consist of deposits to the account under RCW 48.14.020(1)(b) and all receipts from gifts, grants, bequests, devises, or other funds from public and private sources to support the activities of the auto theft prevention authority must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for activities relating to motor vehicle theft, including education, prevention, law enforcement, investigation, prosecution, and confinement.
The authority shall allocate moneys appropriated from the account to public agencies for the purpose of establishing, maintaining, and supporting programs that are designed to prevent motor vehicle theft, including:
Financial support to prosecution agencies to increase the effectiveness of motor vehicle theft prosecution;
Financial support to a unit of local government or a team consisting of units of local governments to increase the effectiveness of motor vehicle theft enforcement;
Financial support for the procurement of equipment and technologies for use by law enforcement agencies for the purpose of enforcing motor vehicle theft laws; and
Financial support for programs that are designed to educate and assist the public in the prevention of motor vehicle theft.
The costs of administration shall not exceed 10 percent of the moneys in the account in any one year so that the greatest possible portion of the moneys available to the authority is expended on combating motor vehicle theft.
Prior to awarding any moneys from the Washington auto theft prevention authority account for motor vehicle theft enforcement, the auto theft prevention authority must verify that the financial award includes sufficient funding to cover proposed activities.
Moneys expended from the Washington auto theft prevention authority account under subsection (2) of this section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other moneys that are available for motor vehicle theft prevention.
Grants provided under subsection (2) of this section constitute reimbursement for purposes of RCW 43.135.060(1).
During the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer money in the Washington auto theft prevention authority account to the state general fund.
The industrial insurance premium refund account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All industrial insurance refunds earned by state agencies or institutions of higher education under the state fund retrospective rating program shall be deposited into the account. The account is subject to the allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for expenditures from the account. Only the executive head of the agency or institution of higher education, or designee, may authorize expenditures from the account. No agency or institution of higher education may make an expenditure from the account for an amount greater than the refund earned by the agency. If the agency or institution of higher education has staff dedicated to workers' compensation claims management, expenditures from the account must be used to pay for that staff, but additional expenditure from the account may be used for any program within an agency or institution of higher education that promotes or provides incentives for employee workplace safety and health and early, appropriate return-to-work for injured employees. During the 2009-2011 fiscal biennium, the legislature may transfer from the industrial insurance premium refund account to the state general fund such amounts as reflect the excess fund balance of the account. During the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer money in the industrial insurance premium refund account to the state general fund.
The port district equity fund is created in the custody of the state treasurer. Moneys to the account may consist of appropriations by the legislature, contributions from county and local governments and port districts, and private contributions. Expenditures from the account may only be used to make grants to port districts under RCW 43.330.610. Only the director of the department of commerce or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to the allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.
The department of commerce shall provide management services for the port district equity fund. The department shall establish procedures for fund management. The department shall develop the grant criteria, monitor the grant program, and select grant recipients.
The department of commerce shall prepare and publish an annual report on its website detailing grants made under this section, the uses to which the grants have been put, and the benefits that have been realized.
During the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer money in the port district equity fund to the state general fund.
The department is authorized to acquire, receive, possess, sell, resell, deliver, dispense, distribute, and engage in any activity constituting the practice of pharmacy or wholesale distribution with respect to abortion medications.
The department may exercise the authority granted in this section for the benefit of any person, whether or not the person is in the custody or under the supervision of the department.
The department shall exercise the authority granted in this section in accordance with any applicable law including, but not limited to, any applicable licensing requirements, except that the department is exempt from obtaining a wholesaler's license for any actions taken pursuant to chapter 195, Laws of 2023 as provided in RCW 18.64.046.
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The department shall establish and operate a program to deliver, dispense, and distribute abortion medications described in this section. In circumstances in which the department is selling, delivering, or distributing abortion medications to a health care provider or health care entity, it may only sell, distribute, or deliver abortion medications to health care providers and health care entities that will only use the medications for the purposes of providing abortion care or medical management of early pregnancy loss.
Except as provided in (c) of this subsection, any abortion medications sold, resold, delivered, dispensed, or distributed whether individually or wholesale shall be conducted at cost not to exceed list price, plus a fee of $5 per dose to offset the cost of secure storage and delivery of medication. Revenues generated pursuant to chapter 195, Laws of 2023 shall be deposited to the general fund.
During the 2025 fiscal year, any abortion medications sold, resold, delivered, dispensed, or distributed whether individually or wholesale shall be conducted at cost not to exceed list price.
Nothing in this section shall diminish any existing authority of the department.
For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
"Abortion medications" means substances used in the course of medical treatment intended to induce the termination of a pregnancy including, but not limited to, mifepristone.
"Deliver" has the same meaning as in RCW 18.64.011.
"Dispense" has the same meaning as in RCW 18.64.011.
"Distribute" has the same meaning as in RCW 18.64.011.
"Health care entity" means a hospital, clinic, pharmacy, office, or similar setting where a health care provider provides health care to patients.
"Health care provider" has the same meaning as in RCW 70.02.010.
"Person" has the same meaning as in RCW 18.64.011.
"Practice of pharmacy" has the same meaning as in RCW 18.64.011.
There is created in the state treasury a public service revolving fund. Regulatory fees payable by all types of public service companies shall be deposited to the credit of the public service revolving fund. Except for expenses payable out of the pipeline safety account, all expense of operation of the Washington utilities and transportation commission shall be payable out of the public service revolving fund. During the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to transfer money in the public service revolving fund to the state general fund.
Section 929 of this act takes effect January 1, 2026.
Section 934 of this act expires January 1, 2026.
Except for section 929 of this act, this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.