Legislative Update for Feb. 20, 2026

“The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller. The storyteller sets the vision, values, and agenda of an entire generation that is to come.” – Steve Jobs

Today, we greeted almost 100 high school students who traveled to Olympia for the inaugural AWSL Education Advocacy Summit! This was the vision of two amazing students, Gavin Cruz and Aanchal Batwara, who worked with AWSL Student Voice Network members over the past few months to plan this event. Students heard from numerous guest speakers, including legislators and legislative staff. They wrote their own bills for a mock bill competition, and they toured the Capitol while networking with one another. Tomorrow, we will hold the virtual option and try to replicate some of these same activities. Seeing these students in action makes it clear that the future is bright, and we are excited to continue supporting the work of bringing civics to life for the next generation of engaged and informed leaders.

The revenue forecast was released at the beginning of this week, and there is a bit of good news. According to the Office of Financial Management, “Washington’s projected general fund revenue collections through 2029 increased by more than $1.8 billion from the November 2025 forecast, according to estimates released by the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council. ($827 million through 2027, another $1 billion through 2029) The changes in the forecast are primarily the result of an improved economic outlook since the November forecast, as well as higher personal income and employment, according to the ERFC.” Senator June Robinson said the revenue forecast, “is absolutely good news,” in this article by the Washington State Standard.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal continues to appeal to legislators to focus on improved funding for basic education. In a recent bulletin, Reykdal wrote, “I am asking lawmakers to finally prioritize basic education and education services that are not part of the state’s constitutional obligations but provide essential services, and to do no harm to community partners and local governments that offer the vital services that some families rely on to support their children and our state’s learners.”

The House and Senate will release their supplemental budgets on Sunday afternoon. Both the Appropriations and Ways and Means Committees will hold hearings on these budget bills (HB 2289/ SB 5998) on Monday, 2/23.

Tuesday, 2/17 marked the House of Origin cutoff, and many bills fell by the wayside after failing to pass off the floor of either the House or the Senate by that deadline. Policy committees are now working on a tight schedule to hear bills from the opposite chamber and must pass them out of committee by Wednesday, 2/25. With budget hearings underway and the next cutoff looming next week, the final weeks of the legislative session are expected to move very quickly.

Here is a link to my (even shorter than last week) bill tracking list.

Help Us Advocate for You: AWSP Member Survey

Your voice matters—and so does your experience. This 10-minute survey helps us understand what it’s really like to lead a school in Washington right now: workload, staffing, safety, compensation, support systems, and what would most improve the role. We use these results to advocate for principals and assistant principals with state leaders and education agencies. Your responses also help us track trends over time and strengthen our case with credible, long-term data. Take the survey by April 30. Five respondents will win a $50 Amazon gift card!

Bills Heard This Week

Wednesday 2/18

House Education Committee
SSB 5240 Concerning anaphylaxis medications in schools
SSB 5346 Addressing student use of mobile devices in public schools
SSB 5841 Concerning the completion of postsecondary financial aid applications.
SSB 5956 Addressing artificial intelligence, student discipline, and surveillance in public schools.
SSB 6268 Maintaining an online record of special education complaint decisions.
SB 6278 Concerning the ongoing review of approved teacher and principal preparation programs. 

Senate Early Learning & K12 Education
HB 1796 Concerning school districts’ authority to contract indebtedness for school construction.
EHB 2317 Concerning early learning program licensing requirements
SHB 2594 Ensuring that unhoused children and youths in Washington have equal access to free, appropriate public education.
ESHB 2557 Providing parental access to special education evaluation reports.

Executive Session
SHB 2360 Expanding access to albuterol in public and private schools.
ESHB 2534 Promoting educational stability for children of military families. 

Thursday, 2/19

House Education
SSB 5956 Addressing artificial intelligence, student discipline, and surveillance in public schools
SSB 6222 Supporting public school students by improving their access to surplus technology hardware.
ESSB 6247 Concerning school district financial management.

Senate Early Learning and K12 Education
ESHB 1795 Addressing restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs.
ESHB 2219 Enhancing the operational efficiency of child care providers

Bills Being Heard Next Week

Senate Education 2/24
ESHB 1295 Using evidence-based instructional practices in reading and writing literacy for public elementary students. 
E2SHB 2636 Requiring reviews of the performance, operations, and funding of the state’s public education system. 
E3SHB 1634 Providing school districts and public schools with assistance to coordinate comprehensive behavioral health supports for students. 

AWSP and WSPEF Legislative Priorities

The AWSP and WSPEF Legislative Priorities document was developed over the past several months through conversations with members, partners, and stakeholders, as well as participation in multiple workgroups. This year, for the first time, we intentionally named the “bookends” of leadership by placing both AWSP and the Washington School Principals’ Education Foundation (WSPEF) at the top of the document—anchored by students at the center of everything we do.

Your Voice

Our job is to keep telling our stories about what our students and educators need to create successful learning environments. There are many ways to have your voice heard. Check out the “Important Links” below to find out how to contact your own legislators. They care very much about hearing directly from their constituents. When we weigh in as an association, it is helpful and important, but having many of you reach out directly with a short email to legislators can be much more powerful.  Find your legislator and email them here if you have any thoughts to share.

Action Alerts

Two Action Alerts for this session are live. One is related to increased funding for MSOC and one is related to maintaining funding for Transition to Kindergarten programs. It’s still important to keep messaging to legislators that basic education is being underfunded. Click here to find the Action Alerts and scroll down to the “Take Action” button. You’ll enter your mailing address and then see your Senator, two Representatives, and a message that will be sent to them. Feel free to edit the message if you’d like.

Get Involved

Many thanks for all that you do for students and staff. If you have questions or comments or want to get involved, please reach out to me.

Thank you so much!

Roz Thompson, Government Relations and Advocacy Director, AWSP

Retirement & Health Benefits

Retirement, Health Benefits, & Beyond for Feb. 19, 2026

Fred Yancey, The Nexus Group

Legislative committees are currently holding hearings for possible executive action on bills they have received from the opposite house. Meanwhile, all parties—legislators and the public—are awaiting the release of the budgets. The House budget (SHB 2289) will be released to the public on Feb. 22 at 4:00 PM with a hearing on Feb. 25 at 4:00 PM; the Senate budget ( SSB 5998 ) at 3:00 PM on Feb. 22 with a hearing on Feb. 23 at 4:00 PM.

A few bills of note although any bill deemed ‘necessary to implement the budget’ (NTIB) may well reappear. Read more.