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WashingtonSB 55432025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Providing equity in eligibility for the college bound scholarship.

Sponsored By: Matt Boehnke (Republican)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Scholarship covers tuition gap and books

The scholarship pays the gap between your public college tuition and fees and any state grants you get. It also adds $500 each year for books and materials. At private four‑year colleges, your award matches at least the average award at Washington’s public research universities (using the current or 2014–15 average, whichever is higher). At private career schools, your award matches at least the average at public community and technical colleges (current or 2014–15, whichever is higher). Colleges must first give you all need‑ and merit‑based aid you qualify for. Your scholarship then replaces unmet need and loans, and can replace work‑study if you want, before other grants are cut.

Who qualifies and how you’re enrolled

You qualify if you get free or reduced‑price lunch. If you qualified in 7th or 8th grade, you stay eligible even if the lunch benefit later ends. Starting in 2019–20, 9th graders who newly qualify also get in. Foster youth in grades 7–12, and ages 18–21 without a diploma who were dependents, are eligible. Certain adopted youth keep eligibility if their adoption agreement says so. You must finish high school, earn an equivalency certificate, or complete approved home‑based instruction. You must have no felony convictions and be a Washington resident student. Some noncitizen resident students must sign an affidavit showing plans to seek permanent residency and engage in citizenship activities. Your family income at graduation must be at or below 65% of the state median. OSFA automatically enrolls eligible students and notifies families; schools get outreach materials.

C average needed for four-year admission

If you first start college in 2023–24 or later, you need at least a C average in high school to be considered for direct admission to a public or private four‑year college. Students below a C average may not be considered for direct admission.

When your award locks in and ends

Your right to the scholarship vests when you enroll in the program and meet the rules in place at that time. You must start college by the fall term of the school year after you graduate high school. Your eligibility ends after six years or 150% of your program’s published length, whichever comes first. You have a property right in the award, but the state keeps legal ownership of tuition units until you use them. If you leave school mid‑year, any unused tuition units go back to the program.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Matt Boehnke

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Bill Ramos

    Democratic • Senate

  • Bob Hasegawa

    Democratic • Senate

  • Claire Wilson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Javier Valdez

    Democratic • Senate

  • T'wina Nobles

    Democratic • Senate

  • Member 27504

    House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 138 • No: 5

House vote • 4/10/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 89 • No: 5 • Other: 4

Senate vote • 3/7/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 49 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025.

    5/15/2025Senate

  2. Chapter 288, 2025 Laws.

    5/15/2025Senate

  3. Governor signed.

    5/15/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/22/2025legislature

  5. Speaker signed.

    4/18/2025legislature

  6. President signed.

    4/16/2025legislature

  7. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/10/2025Senate

  8. Third reading, passed; yeas, 89; nays, 5; absent, 0; excused, 4.

    4/10/2025Senate

  9. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

    4/10/2025Senate

  10. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    4/8/2025Senate

  11. Minority; without recommendation.

    4/5/2025Senate

  12. Minority; do not pass.

    4/5/2025Senate

  13. APP - Majority; do pass.

    4/5/2025Senate

  14. APP - Executive action taken by committee.

    4/5/2025Senate

  15. Referred to Appropriations.

    3/28/2025Senate

  16. Minority; without recommendation.

    3/26/2025Senate

  17. Minority; do not pass.

    3/26/2025Senate

  18. PEW - Majority; do pass.

    3/26/2025Senate

  19. PEW - Executive action taken by committee.

    3/26/2025Senate

  20. First reading, referred to Postsecondary Education & Workforce.

    3/9/2025Senate

  21. Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    3/7/2025Senate

  22. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/7/2025Senate

  23. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    3/5/2025Senate

  24. WM - Majority; do pass.

    2/28/2025Senate

  25. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    2/28/2025Senate

Bill Text

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