Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington HB2438: Early education scholarship
Status: In committee, February 19, 2026
Establishing the supporting our early education degree seekers scholarship.
What the bill says
An act Relating to establishing the supporting our early education degree seekers scholarship; adding a new chapter to Title 28B RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date. NEW SECTION.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT Relating to establishing the supporting our early education degree seekers scholarship; adding a new chapter to Title 28B RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds (2) The 2020 child care policy recommendations by the child care collaborative task force recommended full funding for professional development, relationship-based professional development, and financial incentives to support providers in meeting staff qualifications, ongoing continuous quality improvement, and achieving high quality levels in early achievers and school-age quality standards; (3) When the Washington advanced college tuition payment program was enacted, the legislature envisioned that establishing a scholarship for those in financial need would be a permissible use of the moneys from the payment program account; (4) The Washington advanced college tuition payment program account in chapter 28B.95 RCW has a surplus of funding and is funded at a level of approximately 178 percent; (5) In June 2025, the internal revenue service issued an informational letter stating that section 529 of the internal revenue code does not explicitly restrict a state from transferring credit or certificate purchases in a qualified tuition program; and (6) It is an appropriate use of a portion of the surplus from the Washington advanced college tuition payment program account to provide financial aid to students enrolled in eligible early …
Sponsors
- Steve Bergquist (D) · primary sponsor
- Alex Ybarra (R)
- Shaun Scott (D)
- Gerry Pollet (D)
- Julia Reed (D)
- Greg Nance (D)
Latest actions
- : House Rules "X" file.
- : Returned to Rules Committee for second reading.
- : Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
- : Referred to Rules 2 Review.
- : Minority; without recommendation.
- : Minority; do not pass.
- : APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
- : Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.
- : Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM.
- : Referred to Appropriations.
Votes
- House Committee on Appropriations: The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass and do not pass the substitute bill by Committee on Postsecondary Education & Workforce (February 9, 2026): 19 yea, 10 nay, passed
- House Committee on Postsecondary Education & Workforce: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass (February 3, 2026): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: PUBLIC FUNDS AND ACCOUNTS, COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES
Common questions
- What is HB2438?
- HB2438 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Early education scholarship.
- What does HB2438 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to establishing the supporting our early education degree seekers scholarship; adding a new chapter to Title 28B RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date. NEW SECTION.
- What is the status of HB2438?
- In committee as of February 19, 2026. Latest action: House Rules "X" file. (February 19, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB2438?
- Steve Bergquist (D), with 5 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB2438?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2438&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.