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Evergreen Ledger

SHB 1343

In Committee

House

Higher ed./loss of aid

Limiting the scope of cause for loss of aid.

This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.

How does a bill become law?
  1. Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
  2. Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
  3. Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
  4. Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
  5. Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
  6. Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
Introduced: February 3, 2025
Last Action: February 19, 2026
Status: H Rules X
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AI Analysis

This analysis was generated by AI and may contain errors. It is not legal advice. Always refer to the official bill text for authoritative information.
People & CommunitiesPeople-leaningCorporate & Wealthy Interests

This bill limits when students can lose state financial aid due to protest-related conduct. Previously, any involvement in disruptive demonstrations could trigger loss of aid; now, aid can only be withheld if the school formally finds the student engaged in specific harmful or illegal behavior, or if the student is convicted of a related felony.

  • A student loses eligibility for state financial aid if the institution formally finds they engaged in or advocated for discriminatory, harassing, or harm-causing conduct during a demonstration, in violation of the school’s code of conduct.
  • A student also loses aid eligibility if convicted of a felony related to the demonstration involving physical harm, threats of physical harm, or property destruction.
  • The law applies only to demonstrations that interfere with or disrupt the normal educational process at the institution.
  • The bill narrows the previous standard—previously, any participation in a 'riot or other activity' could trigger loss of aid; now, specific types of harmful or illegal conduct must be found or proven.

Who is affected

  • College and university students — Students enrolled at Washington's public or private higher education institutions who participate in demonstrations that disrupt campus operations or violate conduct codes may lose eligibility for state financial aid (e.g., Washington College Grant, State Support Grant).
  • Higher education institutions (e.g., UW, WSU, community colleges) — Institutions must investigate and formally determine whether student conduct during demonstrations meets the criteria for loss of aid eligibility, adding administrative responsibility and potential legal review obligations.
  • Students facing criminal charges related to protests — Students who are convicted of certain felonies related to demonstrations (e.g., assault, arson, criminal damage) may be permanently ineligible for state financial aid, regardless of institutional findings.
Effective: July 28, 2025Fiscal impact: The bill could reduce state spending on financial aid by limiting eligibility for some students; however, the exact fiscal impact is unknown due to uncertainty in how many students might lose aid and whether institutions will enforce the provision consistently.
Model: Intel/Qwen3-Coder-Next-int4-AutoRoundGenerated: Mar 19, 2026 at 6:51 PM

Pro/Con Analysis

Potential Benefits (3)

  • The bill significantly narrows the prior overbroad standard—previously allowing aid loss for vague 'riots or other activity'—to require either a formal institutional finding of specific harmful conduct *or* a criminal conviction for serious felonies, protecting students’ access to aid for non-harmful protest participation.

    Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 1, RCW 28B.10.281 (narrowing of standard)

  • By requiring formal institutional findings or criminal convictions before aid loss, the bill prevents arbitrary or politically motivated denial of state financial aid (e.g., Washington College Grant) for peaceful or minor disruptions, supporting equitable access to higher education for student activists.

    EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1, RCW 28B.10.281(1)(a)-(c) & (2)

  • The bill limits aid ineligibility to demonstrations that actually interfere with or disrupt the educational process—preventing overreach into off-campus or non-disruptive protests—preserving students’ ability to engage in civic expression without losing financial support.

    EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1, RCW 28B.10.281 (demonstration scope limitation)
Potential Concerns (4)

  • The bill retains the authority of institutions to deny aid based on formal findings of discriminatory, harassing, or harm-causing conduct, which may chill protected speech and assembly—especially for marginalized students—by creating a chilling effect through institutional disciplinary processes that may lack due process safeguards.

    Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 1, RCW 28B.10.281(1)(a)-(c)

  • Students convicted of certain felonies—even if the conviction is pending appeal, or if the conduct was part of a broader protest movement—face permanent loss of state financial aid, potentially blocking degree completion and increasing student debt burden for those who cannot afford private loans or out-of-pocket costs.

    EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1, RCW 28B.10.281(2)

  • Institutions must invest staff time and legal resources to investigate and adjudicate protest-related conduct under a newly narrowed but still complex standard, diverting有限 resources from academic support and increasing administrative burden on already-stretched Title IX, conduct, and student affairs offices.

    Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 1, RCW 28B.10.281 (triggering standard)

  • While the bill may reduce state aid expenditures, the fiscal impact is uncertain and likely modest; however, if institutions reduce aid disbursement due to enforcement concerns, students may face increased reliance on private loans or drop out—shifting costs to families and potentially increasing public assistance reliance long-term.

    FinancialLean peopleRef: Fiscal Impact section (summary)

Who Is Most Affected

College and university studentsMixed Impact

Students engaged in peaceful or mildly disruptive protest activity are protected from automatic aid loss; however, those accused of or convicted of serious offenses may face permanent aid ineligibility, disproportionately impacting low-income students of color who are overrepresented in campus protest movements and underrepresented in legal support networks.

Higher education institutions (e.g., UW, WSU, community colleges)Mixed Impact

Institutions gain clarity in adjudicating protest-related conduct but face new administrative and legal responsibilities—including due process obligations—that may strain resources, especially at community colleges and smaller campuses with limited staff capacity.

Students facing criminal charges related to protestsNegative Impact

Students facing criminal charges—particularly those without adequate legal representation—risk permanent aid loss even if convictions are appealed or overturned, potentially exacerbating racial and economic disparities in campus disciplinary and criminal justice systems.