Committee hears bill to let districts sell or grant surplus laptops to students

The Early Learning & K‑12 Education Committee on Tuesday considered a substitute to Senate Bill 6,222 that would let school districts and educational service districts sell surplus technology — laptops, tablets and similar devices — at depreciated cost and grant them at no cost to students from low‑income families.

Committee staff member Eileen Cotto said the substitute preserves existing surplus processes while adding explicit authority to prioritize public school students and to grant devices without charge to students who qualify for free and reduced‑price meals or whose family income is at or below 185% of the federal poverty level.

Senator Victoria Hunt, the bill’s prime sponsor, said the idea came from constituents and aims to keep useful devices in students’ hands after graduation. “Many students when they leave our public school system, they don't have access to the same sort of computer equipment that they've gotten used to during their time in school,” Hunt said. She added the change would be optional for districts that already transfer surplus equipment under existing procedures.

Jason Golic, chief information and technology officer for Issaquah School District, told the committee districts routinely retire devices that are still functional for home use but under current surplus processes often end up auctioned to outside buyers. “The students who most need the access to the technology are often the least likely to receive it. This bill can change that outcome,” he said, urging support.

Student witnesses said retaining a laptop after graduation can ease the transition to college, career and other post‑secondary steps. Oliver Jungles, a senior at Lake Washington High School, said the cost of new laptops creates a barrier for many families. Sachi Seno, another student, described how having reliable access to a laptop is critical for scholarship applications and online course work.

A fiscal note was requested but not yet available during the hearing. Staff said districts that currently transfer surplus to other districts under established procedures could continue to do so; the substitute adds the additional option of sale or grant directly to students.

The Chair closed the record on SB 6,222 after testimony and moved to the next agenda item.