March 14, 2025—This legislative session passed the “house of origin cut-off” on March 12, which means that measures that didn’t make it through their chamber are likely dead for the year. This week we said farewell to expanding eligibility for the Washington College Grant (SB 5402), the most important state scholarship available.  HB 1557, which would have guaranteed public college admission to every qualified student in the state and SB 5164, which would have added more college counselors in Washington high schools, also did not make the cut. 

In terms of revenue for higher education, SB 5785 arrived on the scene March 7, penned by Senate Ways and Means Chair June Robinson (D-Everett). The first draft of this bill allows public four-year colleges a one-time make-up opportunity to raise tuition another 5% above the normal cap of 3.3% in the 2026-27 academic year. The decision to raise tuition and by how much is one which ultimately belongs to the regents and trustees at the state’s universities and colleges.  

This bill would also reduce the Washington College Grant scholarship, which currently provides full grants to those students whose families earn 65% or below of the maximum family income ($131,000 for a family of four), and partial grants up to 100% MFI. 

Under SB 5785, the levels would drop to giving full awards only to those at 25% MFI and partial up to 65% MFI. About 20% of students on the grant would lose all aid while a much larger majority would lose thousands from their current grant.  This recent article from King 5 explains some of the bill.

The negative reaction to the bill has been sharp and swift. Higher education advocates accept the need to find revenue but believe the hardship this bill would inflict on students is unacceptable. The state’s six four-year public institutions state in their fiscal note analysis that cuts in in the college grant program will depress enrollment. 

Senator Robinson has indicated she will consider softening the college grant reductions in future versions of the bill. However, she has also made it clear that without new revenue options, there must be cuts in what the state spends on higher education.

A new state revenue forecast will be released by March 20, informing the last bits of work on proposed operating budgets soon to emerge from House and Senate budget leaders.