Committee hears bill to expand driver education to ages 18–24; DOL projects about $8 million annually

House Transportation Committee members heard public testimony and a staff briefing Wednesday on House Bill 1878, a measure to extend driver training requirements to novice drivers between 18 and 24.

For the record, Jennifer Harris, staff to the committee, summarized the bill’s central change: "House Bill 1878 concerns young driver education." Under the bill, the state would phase in driver training requirements beginning Jan. 1, 2027, with the requirements applying to those turning 18 first and expanding each year until the requirement covers all people 18 through 24 by 2033.

Why it matters: Supporters and neutral agencies told the committee that drivers who bypass the driver-education pipeline appear to have higher crash rates after licensure, and proponents said the bill would reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries among older novice drivers. Opponents and some instructors warned the committee about implementation challenges, program quality for online offerings, and the cost and logistics of a voucher program.

The bill’s main provisions outlined to the committee include: - A phased implementation schedule beginning Jan. 1, 2027, moving year-by-year until the requirement applies to people ages 18 through 24 (committee staff described the end year as 2033). - That eligible training may be completed through a DOL-licensed private driver training school, an OSPI-authorized school district…