Committee advances four higher-education aid bills; roll calls recorded for three

The House Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee on Feb. 11, 2025, reported out four bills aimed at expanding financial support and access to postsecondary education: House Bills 1554, 1556, substitute 1565 and substitute 1587. The committee held roll-call votes on three bills and adopted amendments to two before reporting the measures to the full House with due-pass recommendations.

The bills move a mix of targeted eligibility changes and program expansions. House Bill 1554 would expand eligibility for the College Bound Scholarship to students who obtained a high school equivalency certificate. House Bill 1556 would remove the age requirement for fee waivers for high school diploma or certificate courses. Substitute House Bill 1565 continues the Washington Dual Enrollment Scholarship and, as amended, limits the scholarship to Running Start students and expands eligibility to additional public assistance programs. Substitute House Bill 1587 establishes local government partner promise scholarship programs within the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship Program and caps state matching funds per local program at $300,000 per fiscal year.

Committee discussion mixed support for expanding access and concerns about maintaining incentives and fiscal impacts. Representative Chris Timmons and Representative Brett McIntyre debated whether changes preserve program standards intended to encourage in-school engagement. Representative Suzanne Schmidt and other members argued for expanding pathways into postsecondary training and reducing out-of-pocket costs for Running Start students. Committee staff confirmed amendments clarifying eligibility and program scope were adopted for substitute HB 1565 and HB 1587.

Votes at a glance:

- House Bill 1554 (College Bound Scholarship eligibility for GED/high school equivalency): Moved by Vice Chair Nance; second not specified. Roll call: 9 ayes, 7 nays, 1 excused. The committee reported the bill out with a due-pass recommendation. (Ayes included Chair Paul, Vice Chair Nance, Representatives Entenmann, Levitt, Paulette, Reid, Salahuddin, Thomas and Timmons; Nays included Representatives McIntyre, Graham, Keaton, Lee, Mendoza, Rood and Schmidt; Representative Ybarra was excused.)

- House Bill 1556 (remove 19-year age limit for fee waivers): Reported out by voice vote; staff announced 16 ayes, 1 excused.

- Substitute House Bill 1565 (Washington Dual Enrollment Scholarship — amendments adopted to limit to Running Start and to expand public-assistance eligibility): Moved and reported out; staff announced 13 ayes, 3 nays, 1 excused.

- Substitute House Bill 1587 (local government partner promise scholarships; $300,000 state match cap per program): Adopted amendment ALI 401 to cap state matching funds; substitute bill reported out with due-pass recommendation; staff announced 13 ayes, 3 nays, 1 excused.

Committee direction and next steps: The committee adopted technical and clarifying amendments on HB 1565 (ALI 402 and ALI 403) and adopted ALI 401 on HB 1587 before advancing the substitute bills. Staff noted that fiscal notes are attached to some bills and members asked staff to follow up on fiscal and IT-implementation questions. No final floor action occurred in the committee; the bills were transmitted to the House calendar for further consideration.

Ending: The committee paused for an executive-session caucus earlier in the meeting and reconvened to take the votes listed above; members requested continued conversations about standards and fiscal impacts as the bills progress to the full House.