Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington HB2070: WWU state funding parity
Status: In committee, February 25, 2026
Providing state funding parity for Western Washington University.
What the bill says
An act Relating to state funding parity for Western Washington University; adding a new section to chapter 28B.35 RCW; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT Relating to state funding parity for Western Washington University; adding a new section to chapter 28B.35 RCW; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes that Western Washington University has received the lowest funding on a per-student basis for much of the last three decades. Despite strong enrollment, retention, and graduation rates, students at Western Washington University bear the greatest cost of their education compared with students at other public universities and community and technical colleges in Washington. The legislature finds that Washington has a postsecondary educational attainment crisis, with less than half of graduating high school seniors participating in postsecondary education. The majority, percent, of family-wage jobs in Washington require a bachelor's degree and this trend is projected to continue. Over the next decade, Washington will need nearly 300,000 more workers with bachelor's degrees. The legislature recognizes the important role of regional comprehensive universities in supporting the education of Washington residents and seeks to rectify the historical per-student funding disparity. NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28B.35 RCW to read as follows: (1) Beginning with the 2029-2031 biennium omnibus appropriations act, the legislature shall appropriate to Western Washington University an amount for state funding parity, according to the methodology calculated in subsection (2) of this section. (2)(a) The …
Sponsors
- Joe Timmons (D) · primary sponsor
- Debra Lekanoff (D)
- Alex Ramel (D)
- Alicia Rule (D)
- Lisa Parshley (D)
- Shaun Scott (D)
- Gerry Pollet (D)
Latest actions
- : Public hearing in the House Committee on Postsecondary Education & Workforce at 1:30 PM.
- : By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
- : First reading, referred to Postsecondary Education & Workforce.
Subjects: COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
Common questions
- What is HB2070?
- HB2070 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): WWU state funding parity.
- What does HB2070 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to state funding parity for Western Washington University; adding a new section to chapter 28B.35 RCW; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION.
- What is the status of HB2070?
- In committee as of February 25, 2026. Latest action: Public hearing in the House Committee on Postsecondary Education & Workforce at 1:30 PM. (February 25, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB2070?
- Joe Timmons (D), with 6 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB2070?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2070&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.