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Bill to force students to repay state aid after court-ordered damage draws mixed reaction
Summary
Senate Bill 6259 would make students who a court finds caused significant damage to public institutions immediately ineligible for state aid and require repayment of awards; sponsors say it targets major vandalism, while student representatives warned of inequitable consequences for low-income students.
Senate Bill 6259 was presented to the committee on Jan. 29. Staff described the bill as creating a repayment and ineligibility requirement for any student who is found by a court to have caused significant monetary damage to a public institution of higher education; the provision would require repayment of current and previously awarded state grants and scholarships to the awarding agency.
Senator Matt Behnke, who introduced the bill, said it was prompted by vandalism at the University of Washington and framed the proposal as a narrow response focused on "major incidents" with a high court-determined threshold. "This is a very high threshold and is only focused on major incidents," Behnke said, adding the bill is intended to ensure accountability while preserving First Amendment rights.
Bhargav Iyer, director of legislative affairs for the Associated Students of Washington State University, testified in opposition. Iyer said students support free expression and assembly but argued the penalty could disproportionately harm students from low-income backgrounds who rely on state aid. "Leveling a penalty that has these unfair implications for an exclusive stratum of students does not sit well with us," he said, and urged sponsors to consult students on alternatives.
Why it matters: The bill ties criminal/civil findings to loss of state financial aid, raising legal and equity questions about proportionality, due process, and disparate impact on recipients of need-based aid.
What’s next: The committee heard testimony and closed the hearing; further deliberation and any amendments would occur as the bill moves through committee processes.
