Retirement, Health Benefits, and Beyond for March 5, 2026

It has been said that laws are like sausage. It is better not to see them being made. Yet, here we are, rushing to meet the March 6th deadline for legislators to consider opposite house bills. The remainder of the time until Sine Die on March 12th will be spent on working out the differences between what the House and Senate adopted as both houses amend many of the bills. Meanwhile, working on the budgets continues.

Currently, floor action is taking place as both Houses work to clear bills primarily addressing ones from the opposite house.

As this is being written, action is still occurring, so this is only accurate at this moment. To repeat what has been stated previously, bills that are covered below are some of the  ones that will impact operations within a building. They will involve the principal and central office personnel in implementation. In addition, there is a selection of bills that will impact on the fiscal side of schools which, of course, impacts the resources available to the classrooms and buildings.

ESHB 1795 – Addressing restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs. This bill prohibits mechanical restraint, chemical restraint, and physical restraint or physical escort of a student that is life threatening. Specifies that isolation may not be used as a planned behavioral intervention in individualized education programs or 504 plans and allows restraint only under specified circumstances. Prohibits the construction, repurposing, or otherwise establishing any new room or other enclosed area for the primary purpose of student isolation. It is on the Senate calendar awaiting action having passed the House. It has amendments.  

2SHB 2429 – An act relating to supporting children and youth behavioral health. This bill requires the Governor to establish a leadership council to address children and youth health and wellness issues and coordinate efforts to implement Washington Thriving Strategic Plan (WTSP), a strategic plan for children and youth behavioral health. Requires that the Office of the Governor establish and maintain executive coordination for children and youth system of care to help monitor the implementation of WTSP. Requires all agencies to ensure that children and youth behavioral health activities and planning efforts align with WTSP and are implemented in an equitable manner.

ESHB 2534 – Promoting educational stability for children of military families. This bill makes changes to school district requirements for enrolling children of military families, transferring their education records, and providing them with services and accommodations. This bill has passed both chambers and has been sent to the Governor.

ESHB2557 – Providing parental access to special education evaluation reports. This bill requires a school district to provide a student’s parent or guardian with a copy of the special education evaluation report no later than the thirty-fifth school day following receipt of consent to evaluate the student, unless an exception applies or the parent or guardian provides a written waiver. Requires the school district to convene a special education eligibility determination meeting no sooner than five school days after the evaluation report is provided and no later than the fortieth school day following receipt of consent. Provides that, absent a written waiver, a school district’s failure to provide the evaluation report within the required timeline constitutes a procedural violation. This bill has passed both Houses and has been sent to the Governor.

SHB 2594 – Establishes state-based requirements for ensuring that homeless children and youths have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education as is provided to other children and youths. Provides that actions of the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and school districts that meet requirements of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act also satisfy equivalent requirements established in the bill.In Senate Rules awaiting action.

SSB 5346 – Addressing student use of mobile devices in public schools. This bill requires the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to report to the Legislature on policies and procedures adopted by public schools for limiting student use of mobile devices during instructional hours. Requires the OSPI to post research on student use of mobile devices and best-practice strategies for teaching students to use mobile devices responsibly. Modifies the authority of school districts to regulate student possession and use of mobile devices. Passed the House with amendments.

SSB 5862 – Providing a cost-of-living adjustment for plan 1 retirees of the teachers’ retirement system and public employees’ retirement system. A one-time limited COLA for Plans 1 retirees. If successful there will be a slight increase in what districts pay in their surcharge related to the unfunded liability of the plans. Passed Senate and in House Rules awaiting action.

Regarding retirees: The Senate budget assumes funding and passage of this bill. Although it cuts the health care retiree insurance subsidy from the present up to $183 to $150. The House budget does not fund COLA but keeps the subsidy at $183. This will be a bargaining chip for budget negotiators.

ESSB 5906 – An act relating to establishing data and personal safety protections within areas of public accommodation for all Washington residents. Prohibits early learning providers and school district employees from collecting information about the immigration statuses of students or their family members. Prohibits early learning providers, school district employees, health care facilities, adult family homes, higher education institutions, and county auditors’ offices from allowing immigration enforcement officers to enter the nonpublic areas of those locations without a warrant or court order. On Senate calendar with multiple amendments awaiting action.

ESSB 6162 – Concerning property tax reform. An act relating to property tax reform by expanding and streamlining the senior citizen property tax relief program, consolidating the state property tax, and making the use of state property tax revenues more transparent. The current state K-12 tax is 2.097. The proposed one will be in 2026- 2.06021. This bill may offer relief to seniors who then may be supportive of levy requests. But it will also lead to higher taxes as the district overall valuation will decrease. On House calendar awaiting action.

E2SSB 6239 – Requiring arbitration for tort claims against the state of Washington and its subdivisions. Make certain tort claims against the state or any of its subdivisions subject to civil arbitration for any dollar amount prior to being scheduled for trial based on the age of the claim. This is touted as a way to save district dollars in terms of decreasing courtroom time and over the objections of lawyer groups may decrease the settlement amounts. This bill is likely dead.

SSB 6268 – Maintaining an online record of special education complaint decisions. This bill mandates that OSPI maintains an online record of special education complaint decisions. This bill has passed both Houses and has been sent to the Governor.

SB 6278 Concerning the ongoing review of approved teacher and principal preparation programs. Briefly,  PESB must regularly update the components of the ongoing program review to reflect the changing needs of the modern classroom. This bill passed both Houses and has been sent to the Governor.

ESSB 6346 Establishing a tax on millionaires. Among other things, this bill repeals sales taxes on certain specified services including those that impact school districts, which were enacted in 2025 in Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5814 beginning January 1, 2029. This bill is highly contentious. The Governor has indicated he is unsatisfied with it as well. If it is not changed to his liking, it may be vetoed.