Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington HB2617: Higher education procedures
Status: In committee, February 25, 2026
Enhancing higher education procedures.
What the bill says
An act Relating to enhancing higher education procedures by modifying higher education funding for increases in compensation and central services and identifying essential student services; adding a new section to chapter 28B.10 RCW; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date. NEW SECTION.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT Relating to enhancing higher education procedures by modifying higher education funding for increases in compensation and central services and identifying essential student services; adding a new section to chapter 28B.10 RCW; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1)(a) The legislature finds that the current higher education funding methodology relies on a budget assumption, commonly known as the "fund split," which attributes a portion of incremental increases to compensation costs and central services that are paid by appropriated state funds and tuition. This assumption creates structural inequities and financial instability for Washington's public colleges and universities that undermine their ability to provide quality education, retain talented faculty, and serve as economic engines for the state. (b) The legislature finds that under this fund split methodology, when approving collective bargaining agreements with the employees of higher education institutions, authorizing salary increases for nonrepresented employees, approving changes to benefits costs, including health care, and assigning central service charges between state agencies, the legislature does not fully fund compensation increases for compensation costs paid with appropriated state funds and tuition with state funds. This effectively amounts to repeated budget cuts for the state's institutions of higher education. (2) The legislature further finds (b) Beginning in the 2015-17 biennium, the legislature implemented a funding methodology that assumes …
Sponsors
- Gerry Pollet (D) · primary sponsor
- Leavitt, Mari (D)
- Alicia Rule (D)
- Cindy Ryu (D)
- Hall, Zach (D)
- Joe Timmons (D)
- Suzanne Schmidt (R)
- Lisa Parshley (D)
- Greg Nance (D)
- Edwin Obras (D)
- Roger Goodman (D)
- Jamila Taylor (D)
Latest actions
- : Public hearing in the House Committee on Postsecondary Education & Workforce at 1:30 PM.
- : First reading, referred to Postsecondary Education & Workforce.
Subjects: COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES, STUDIES
Common questions
- What is HB2617?
- HB2617 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Higher education procedures.
- What does HB2617 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to enhancing higher education procedures by modifying higher education funding for increases in compensation and central services and identifying essential student services; adding a new section to chapter 28B.10 RCW; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date. NEW SECTION.
- What is the status of HB2617?
- 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 HB2617?
- Gerry Pollet (D), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB2617?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2617&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.