001Okay, happy February 20th um everyone. Welcome to WASDA in session live. We are at the end of week six of the legislative session. Um got some good updates for you today. Um before we dive in and get started, just want to remind everyone um that you can use the Q&A question and answer box um to jump in with any questions that you might have for us throughout the time. um we will be watching and monitoring that space. Um and we'll either um answer questions live if we've got the answers for you um and if we don't, we'll make sure to take those down um and follow up with you after the fact. But um please use that box if you have anything you want to contribute. Um per usual, um we will spend our time
002sort of diving into week six, um things that happened and things we learned this week. Um, we'll then spend some time talking about what we know about week seven. Um, we'll share some updated resources with you at the end and um, have some suggested action items for you to bring back to your school board and district teams at the local level. So, thinking about week six, um, there were a couple of things um, that happened this week. Um we spent some time both sort of on the floor um with legislators as House and Senate um full chambers, full bodies um were debating bills um to advance at the beginning of the week on Monday and Tuesday. Um on Tuesday, February 17th, we had the House of Origin floor cut off. And essentially um what that
003means um is that any bill that is not directly tied to the budget that did not advance um with a vote of either the full house or the full senate um did not continue through the process. That meant um a number of bills um were removed from our bill watch list. We're going to get into sort of some key bills that are still in play um and some key bills that did not advance after the February 17th cutoff. Um, but want to let you know first and foremost that we have 40 bills that remain on our bill watch list. Some of the bills that are still in play, these are sort of the bills that we are most closely watching and working on um that are continuing through this session. Um there are a couple
004of them that touch on sales tax exemptions um for K through2 um as a result of last year's Senate Bill 5814 um the new taxes that have come down um on you all around um temporary staffing and live presentations. Um jumping in Debbie we can absolutely send out a copy of the PowerPoint. Um yes we can. Um so there are a couple of bills that remain in play here. Um the one that is currently sort of the best language um and the preference um of WASDA as an organization is the first one listed here, House Bill 2257. Um the reason why we believe that is the best uh proposal is that there's a specific section, it's sections 22 and 23 of the bill that um very directly call out full exemption from any tax included
005in the original Senate Bill 5814 from last year for elementary and secondary school buildings, school districts, and educational service districts. Um, we believe that definition sort of has the breadth and depth um that we need to feel confident about a full K12 exemption. Um, Senate Bill 6351 is um a newer bill um that was heard in the Senate Ways and Means Committee last night. Um, we testified on that bill in support asking for a slight amendment. The way that that bill reads right now is that it currently suggests that uh the taxes are exempt for elementary and secondary school buildings. Um it does not say explicitly school districts and ESDs. Um but in talking with the bill sponsor and um the finance lead, Senator Frame, um as well as our partners, um we do understand
006that the full K12 exemption was the intent of that bill. Um, we asked for essentially that language that I just told you about that's in the House bill, um, to be amended onto this bill. Um, and it sounds like they are planning to do that. Um, they heard our testimony and said they hear us and they're working on it. Um, the other bill that I want to call out for you, um, that does is not titled sales tax exemptions, but is now connected, um, is, uh, the millionaire's tax, um, proposed by the Democrats, which is Senate Bill, um, 6314, 6346, excuse me. Um, and the reason why that bill is now sort of connected is before that one passed off of the Senate floor earlier this week, um, there was an amendment made that would
007essentially repeal all aspects of Senate Bill 5814, these sales taxes from all sectors um, that were included as a part of this bill. And because that exemption is not industry specific, for example, we're talking here about K12 exemptions. Um and because that that repeal is sort of all-incclusive um we just sort of wonder how much attention um that will gain especially from sectors that might not have um sector specific exemptions still in play. Um but the reason why we don't think that is the best approach um is because um our concern um thanks to Dan Steele and Tom Ahern um who helped us understand this earlier this week um should the tax on millionaires be passed by the legislature um and then sort of wind itself up into a lawsuit um or in the hands
008of the Supreme Court um and should this court decide to strike that tax down the whole entire bill would get stricken down with it to include um the exemption that's currently in there or the repeal, excuse me, of the sales taxes in Senate Bill 5814. Um meaning those taxes should the millionaire's tax be rejected um would pop right back up um onto school districts and others. So our preferred language at this point is that that exists in House Bill 2257. Um and we will continue to keep you all apprised as to how these bills continue to move. Additionally, House Bill 1795, that's the isolation and restraint bill, um is still sort of in play. Um there was a hearing on that bill earlier this week. Um it has now made its way over to the
009Senate um early learning and K12 education committee. Um we testified in support of that bill. Um essentially saying three things. Um first um we acknowledge all of the work um that has gone into this issue and this bill over the years and the importance of that work. Um two we acknowledge that this bill is um pretty sort of laser focused, direct and narrow this session. Um and that given sort of the agreement between all the stakeholders that have been working on it, we ask that it be maintained that way and advance in its current form. And then sort of finally calling out the position that you all have adopted um within WASDA. There's a legislative position and a permanent position um that exists on this topic um essentially calling for the ongoing work to um
010address um educator training that is fully funded um to expand to eventually get to sort of the full meat and potatoes of the isolation and restraint work that the legislature has been attempting for quite some time. Um, House Bill 1795 did have an amendment put on it um to essentially add some intent language that the legislature intends to come back to this issue in future sessions and sort of address the bigger piece to include um educator training by 2031. Um Jim Kalcowski asks does 1795 fund any professional development for isolation and restraint? Um Jim, the answer is not at this time. Um this bill in this session um is narrow and particularly focused on a couple of definitions as it relates to restraint. Um and again sort of that work to include PD that is
011funded etc. um is work that um the legislature intends to do in future sessions. House Bill 2636 is continuing to move. Um, for any of you that attended our legislative conference at the beginning of session, um, I think you heard us talking about this one, um, on the stage with Representative RDE, um, back when it was just an idea. Um but this bill um would essentially create um a commission or I think it's now called a steering committee within the bill um that would be comprised of a number of K through2 stakeholders at all levels of sort of building and district uh leadership um as well as legislators and some of our state agency partners to essentially take a look at the 28A section of RCW that's all the things that are in K12 education
012um to essentially um think through and make suggestions around which pieces of education law are unor underfunded mandates um and which ones might sort of be ripe for um amendments or repeal etc. So this commission would get together, take a look at that and make some suggestions and then those suggestions would go off to um a group called JARK um which is essentially the end the independent nonpartisan research arm of sort of the legislature and the state. It's called the joint legislative audit and review committee. Um, and that group would essentially prepare a research report for the legislature that would dig into each of those uh, mandates that were suggested by the commission and sort of their viability to um, be repealed or amended, how they're sort of being implemented in schools right now, what
013sort of the funding status would be. Um, so essentially corelling all of the information that the legislature would need to make decisions around um, what they might want to take off of the plate of K12. Um, we have been supportive of that bill. Um, you have heard and maybe some of you have participated in attempts to do work like that within WASDA over the years. Um, we've attempted to work with some of our education partners um, on this kind of stuff over the years um, essentially to no avail. So, um, we believe that a commission that sort of pulls in all parties to include legislators from the very beginning, um, could be helpful in, uh, you know, working towards some meaningful progress in this area. Um, if you are interested in this bill, um, House
014Bill 2636, it is up for a public hearing on Tuesday next week in the Senate Early Learning and K- through2 Education Committee. Um I will be there testifying in support. Um Senate Bill 6247 um this is the Senator Doure bill concerning school district financial management um continues. Um this bill had a hearing um earlier this week. Uh that was yesterday um in the House Education Committee. Um I testified as other um alongside my colleagues at the Washington Association for School Administrators, Marissa Wthbone and um Flip Henderson, who is an ESD superintendent um testifying for the Association for ESDs. Um there was quite a bit of conversation um yesterday during the House Education Committee hearing. Um and so um I think what I would take away from that hearing is that um the education committee uh
015this is my take as of this moment um intends to move some sort of policy um that is either what's in the bill right now or something aligned with uh maybe House Bill 2593 that was another bill that was um sort of similarly intentioned that they heard a couple of weeks ago. Um there will be ongoing work over the weekend um between legislators to determine what moves forward there. But uh my take is that some version of this bill will continue its way through the legislative process. Um finally want to flag Senate Bill 6260. Um this bill is titled uh efficiencies and programming changes in public education. Um this is the bill that among other things would hold 1.9% of a couple of uh funding streams um from districts to the state um to pay
016for the online high school and beyond plan. And then sort of most specifically and recently, there was a striking amendment that was heard on this bill last night that would change the way that state funding works for transition to kindergarten. Um the original bill would have capped uh would have capped TTK enrollment. Um and essentially now what that bill would propose is that state funding would only be allocated um to students who are at or below the free and reduced price lunch um sort of rate which is 185% of the federal poverty rate. um for districts to serve any students or families who are at or above that threshold, they would have to do that either by paying for it out of their local levies or charging families tuition. Um we, as you can anticipate,
017testified con um on that bill. Um a school director from Central Kids School District named Denise Tracy um gave some great testimony um really speaking to um the transition to kindergarten aspect of that bill. um we will um see over the coming days and weeks um what happens to that. Um obviously knowing that a lot of what's in that bill um will also be tied to House and Senate proposed budgets um which is another slide that we've got for you um later on in the deck. Um we're not going to dive into each of these in as much detail as I just did with those that are still moving. Um but did want to sort of give you a list of this isn't every bill that has stalled through the legislative process, but just a
018couple of um seemingly important ones or ones that we've talked about on these calls over the last couple couple of weeks um that have not made their way through the process. Specifically, both the House and Senate proposals for school director districtricting and elections. It's House Bill 1683 and Senate Bill 5861. Um both of those bills did not make their way um off of their respective floors um this week alongside Senate Bill 5860. Um that's the bill um that addressed schoolboard compensation and required training. Um a couple of others um the public records task force bill did not make it. Um the accounting budgeting and reporting requirements bill, that's House Bill 2593, um did not advance. But I think what the House Education Committee is considering as it relates to uh Senate Bill 6247 that we
019talked about on the last slide is sort of which pieces from the Senate bill or this House Bill 2593 might they choose to advance um over the coming days. So, it's possible that some parts of House Bill 2593 could um come back in some way, shape, or form uh through proposed amendments um next week. Um and then a couple of other bills related to um public bid limits, um selling property to restore financial stability in school districts, um and then the civics education um signature bill um are just a couple of other ones that did not make their way um out of their floor of origin. Couple of other big things happened this week. Um on February 16th, which was Monday, um the state released the updated revenue forecast. Um as a reminder, this is
020something that we knew was going to be happening during this week and was sort of the final step or indicator um that our legislators were waiting for um before releasing their official budgets. During um the revenue forecast that came out this week, um the legislature actually received um surprisingly good news in my opinion. Um and that is that projected state revenue through 2029 is up by $1.8 billion as compared to November's forecast. Um in response to that revenue forecast, um WASDA signed on to a letter um alongside of our other association colleagues um labeled on the slide here. um essentially asking the legislature in light of this news to make sure that they're doing everything in their power to protect K through 12 in this budget cycle. Um you can click that link um in
021the slide deck. Um it'll come out to you following this call. Um it'll also be linked in in session later today. Um but in summary, some of what we asked for in that letter was to keep transition to kindergarten funding where it is. Please continue on their path uh to alleviate the local effort assistance cliff for districts that's coming in 2028. and uh maybe they should consider funding MSOC um at $und00 million like the budget that we had been uh the bill that we had been pushing for in the early weeks of session was suggesting. Okay, I'm seeing a question about uh the November forecast being down $1.9 billion. Um so basically they're back to roughly where they were at the end of last year's session in terms of projected revenue. Um Lisa, we will
022follow up in in session today to share sort of the current status of where they are. My understanding is that the 4-year hole um or budget gap, if you will, that the legislature is facing has been partially closed by seeing this $1.8 billion sort of projected increase, but I don't believe that it is fully closed. Um I just don't have that specific number um off the top of my head um in this moment. So, um, check in session later today and we'll be sure to reference that, um, in our section about the revenue forecast. Thank you for asking that question. Um, that is an important number for all of us to know. Um, additionally, um, we're going to get to this in a second, but budget proposals, um, will be coming out very soon and,
023um, WASDA signed on to a letter, um, alongside a number of associations, um, to include your typ typical Alphabet Soup, plus the Rural Education Center, plus the League of Education voters, um, and 150 approximately 150 school districts. um essentially asking the legislature to please not cut transition to kindergarten um funding and programming. Um that letter will also be linked in this slide deck um and will be sent out in in session later today. Okay. It's clearly been a busy and full week um for us in Olympia and we um really appreciate the work that you all are doing to respond to questions and calls for action. Um as again um we could not do any of this work um especially during these really busy and hectic weeks without your um ongoing involvement and action. So,
024just want to say thank you for all your support in helping us to navigate this um and represent uh the needs of you all on school boards and in school districts um as best as we can. All right. So, looking ahead to um week seven um coming up soon, there's a couple of things that we're anticipating. First and foremost is um we're anticipating a pretty significant shift of attention um to focus on the House and Senate budget proposals um as during the course of week seven um those budget proposals will have public hearings and are scheduled for executive session to move out of their budget committees all this week. Um so it'll be excuse me it'll be another busy one for us. Um, additionally, the um legislature will navigate their next self-imposed cutoff deadline of
025um Wednesday, February 25th. That'd be next Wednesday as that will be their um house opposite house policy committee cutoff. meaning that for example um any Senate bills that are in the House Education Committee for example or any other policy committee um that are not passed through executive session um will no longer continue through the process. So, for any of those bills that I was listing earlier, um that are still sort of key bills in play that are in policy committees um that were heard this week, for example, like the school district financial management bill, like the isolation restraint bill, etc. Those will need to be scheduled for executive session and voted out of committee by Wednesday in order to remain in action. Finally, uh, next week after Wednesday, we anticipate significant activity in the fiscal
026committees because those opposite House fiscal committees um will be facing their cutoff deadline the following Monday on March 2nd. So, things will continue to move for sure. All right. um getting into budget release um which um I've been hinting at. Um we are anticipating both the House and the Senate to um release their budgets this Sunday at 4 p.m. Um, as a reminder, at the beginning of session, you um heard and saw us talking about the governor's proposed budget and um that was one budget proposal that came to both the house and the senate and we could essentially say the same thing to um both sides of the legislature as there was one budget proposal that they both were navigating. At this point in time, um we are anticipating different budget proposals. Um the House
027will have their own proposals, the Senate will have their own proposals. Um and we may have similar or differing feedback um for each of those. Um, all of that's expected to be released this Sunday at 4 pm. On the operating budget side, um, both the House and the Senate will have public hearings on their budget proposals on Monday at 4 p.m. So, we'll have 24 hours um, to see them, review them, um, and figure out what it is we want to say in public hearing um, with both of those operating budget proposals scheduled for executive session um, on Wednesday. So again, short timelines and turnarounds in front of them. Um on the capital budget side, um there will be public hearings on Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. in the House and Tuesday at 400 p.m. in
028the Senate with executive sessions um later in the week to follow. So week seven, like I said, will be pretty focused um on budget releases and budget proposals. And um you know from the releases that come out this Sunday of the House and Senate respectively, the work from now until the end of session will be to help and inform our legislators, specifically our budget writers, as to sort of what they might negotiate in terms of one final budget that they'll have to produce and agree upon um by siny die which is on March 12th just a couple of weeks away. Another thing um you should have on your radar um for um it says week seven, but really it's this weekend um is that many legislators will be at home in district where um across
029the state um hosting town halls this weekend. Um town halls are your time to essentially hear updates from them about what they're working on, what they're prioritizing, how session is going and feeling for them. um and also your opportunity to go ask them questions um and share your feedback um on what they're doing, the policies that they are passing or not um etc. So, it's your time to get together with your legislator in district um to be able to hear updates and ask questions um in this slide deck and in in session. We also sent this out last week as well. Um that link will essentially show you uh the dates, times, and locations for House and Senate Democrat town halls. Um and House and Senate Republican town halls have not yet been scheduled. Um
030so wanted to provide that. Cynthia, I saw you come on camera. Is there anything you want to add? >> Yeah. Um I'm going to add to the town halls. Um, so what we heard from our other education advocates is how it's super important to come to these town halls and to of course hear about the updates, but also be there, be present, ask questions um because um in the past um they've heard that they've there's probably one person that talks about education, specifically K through 12. Um so I would just say that that one person could be you. um and just just to make sure that if you have time to to show up. So, just wanted to plug that in. >> Thanks, Cynthia. I appreciate that. Yeah, please show up to these. Um it
031is important that legislators are hearing from you. Okay, a couple of resources. Um this one is sort of new that we wanted to put on your radar. It's about the Advocacy Action Network. Um the last time we talked about this, we had a number of you sign up to join us um in testimony training, which was really great. Um and so we just want to flag for you that our next advocacy action network meeting will be March 17th um at noon immediately following the end of the legislative session. And um during that time um we'll be facilitating some conversation um about how to navigate the interim. Um the interim as a reminder is sort of that period between legislative sessions. Um and we believe this conversation will be a good one um to help you
032sort of set yourself up for success um and how you navigate a post2026 legisl legislative session um world and um you know begin preparing for 2027. Um, also all of our same and typical links around our bill watch, legislative roster, sign in, etc. Um, are all linked here in case those are helpful to you. Um, our bill watch does continue to be updated um, frequently um, as bills are um, you know, falling off the list um, as we move through the session. Um, so we hope you'll continue to utilize those tools. And then essentially what we want to summarize for you are um three action items that you might consider at this point in time. Um first is think about whether or not you want to or can attend your legislator's town halls. Um with
033most of those happening over the course of this weekend. Um we hope that you will review House and Senate budget details that we'll share early next week. Um we do plan on um sort of a special edition of in session likely on Monday sharing highlights of what we've been able to see as the areas that are most important um for you to have at your attention um in both House and Senate operating budgets. So, we hope you'll take a look at that um and give us any feedback that we might um ask for and then also consider attending our March 17th Advocacy Action Network training to kick off your interim. All right. Um with that, we have hit the end of our update um for today, February 20th. Um, next week, as you can imagine,
034um, we will spend quite a bit of time during this call, um, diving into budget proposals, um, that we will receive on Sunday and testify on on Monday. Um, Cynthia and I'll be working to potentially pull in a couple of special guests um, to help us do some of that unpacking together. Um, but in the meantime, we hope you all have lovely weekends. Thank you again for um becoming and staying engaged with us during this time. Um it feels um just really like a time that we all need to be doing this work. So thank you for doing what you do and we will see you all next week. Take care.