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Evergreen Ledger

SHB 1360

In Committee

House

Quantum economic development

Concerning advancement of quantum economic development.

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: January 30, 2025
Last Action: January 12, 2026
Status: H Approps
Companion Bill:
View Bill Text (HTML) (opens in new tab)View Bill Text (PDF) (opens in new tab)

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 & CommunitiesBalancedCorporate & Wealthy Interests

This bill creates an advisory committee and a grant program to help Washington compete in the emerging quantum technology industry. The committee will advise on economic development and workforce needs, while the grant program will assist local applicants in winning federal quantum-related funding.

  • Establishes an advisory committee to promote Washington’s quantum technology sector, with members appointed by the Department of Commerce (including state officials, university reps, quantum and aerospace companies, and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory).
  • Requires the advisory committee to meet at least quarterly, starting by August 1, 2025, and produce an annual report with recommendations and a workforce development plan for the state.
  • Creates a grant program to help Washington-based applicants secure federal quantum technology funding, administered by the Department of Commerce in partnership with a qualified university.
  • Sets a sunset date of June 30, 2027, for both the advisory committee and the grant program unless extended by future legislation.
  • Authorizes the Department of Commerce to adopt rules to implement the grant program.

Who is affected

  • State government agencies (e.g., Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness, Department of Commerce) — State government staff and leadership in the Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness and the Department of Commerce will be responsible for staffing, managing, and overseeing the advisory committee and grant program.
  • Institutions of higher education (e.g., University of Washington, Washington State University) — Universities and colleges in Washington with quantum-related research programs will be key partners in supporting the grant program and advising on workforce development.
  • Technology and quantum companies (e.g., startups, established firms with HQ or operations in Washington) — Private companies in Washington—especially those in quantum computing, aerospace, and tech—will help shape policy and may apply for grant support to pursue federal funding.
  • Quantum workforce and students — Researchers, engineers, and students in quantum science may benefit from workforce development initiatives and new job opportunities tied to the state’s quantum ecosystem.
Effective: July 1, 2025Fiscal impact: The bill authorizes a grant program subject to appropriation, meaning funding depends on future legislative budget decisions. No specific dollar amount is identified, but administrative costs (e.g., staff time, committee support) will be covered by existing department resources unless additional funding is allocated.
Model: Intel/Qwen3-Coder-Next-int4-AutoRoundGenerated: Mar 19, 2026 at 6:52 PM

Pro/Con Analysis

Stronger case for benefits

Potential Benefits (5)

  • The grant program’s requirement to partner with a university with quantum research capacity and consult with local quantum firms could help Washington-based startups and researchers access federal funding they otherwise couldn’t navigate alone—potentially creating high-skill jobs and attracting talent to the state.

    Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 2(2) & (3)

  • The required workforce development plan—produced in collaboration with universities, national labs, and industry—could help align K–12, community college, and university curricula with quantum industry needs, improving long-term career pathways for Washington students.

    EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(5)(d)

  • Inclusion of higher education and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory representatives ensures that public research institutions—key drivers of STEM talent—have a formal voice in shaping state strategy, helping align economic development with public research missions.

    EducationLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(d), (h)

  • The annual report to the legislature with recommendations to 'competitively promote a quantum technology ecosystem' could lead to future policy changes that improve Washington’s standing in emerging tech—potentially attracting more private investment and high-wage jobs over time.

    Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(5)(c)

  • By requiring representation from quantum computer builders and aerospace firms with in-state operations, the bill may help preserve and expand high-tech manufacturing and R&D jobs in Washington—though the benefit is concentrated among large employers.

    Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(e)-(g)
Potential Concerns (5)

  • The bill authorizes a grant program but explicitly states funding is 'subject to the availability of amounts appropriated,' meaning no guaranteed public investment—this creates uncertainty and delays in tangible benefits, potentially wasting state staff time on programs that never materialize.

    FinancialRef: Sec. 2(1)

  • The grant program is designed to help Washington applicants win *federal* funding—not to create direct state investment—so it functions as a match or facilitation service, meaning most economic benefits accrue only if federal grants are won, and success is not guaranteed.

    Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 2(1)

  • The workforce development plan is advisory and non-binding; without statutory funding or enforcement mechanisms, it may result in generic recommendations that do not translate into concrete training or job placement for Washington residents.

    EducationRef: Sec. 1(5)(d)

  • The advisory committee includes only two representatives from tech companies headquartered in Washington, one aerospace manufacturer with a factory in-state, and one quantum computer builder—groups that are overwhelmingly large, well-resourced firms, not small startups or local tech shops.

    Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 1(1)(e)-(g)

  • The sunset date of June 30, 2027, without automatic renewal or long-term funding commitment, risks turning this into a short-term, symbolic initiative that fails to build sustained infrastructure—wasting initial planning effort and potentially undermining long-term economic development credibility.

    Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 1(6)

Who Is Most Affected

Large technology and aerospace firmsPositive Impact

Large tech and aerospace firms with Washington HQs or operations (e.g., Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, Quantum startups with venture backing) are well-represented on the advisory committee and most likely to apply for and benefit from grant facilitation services—potentially gaining competitive advantage in federal contracts.

Public higher education and national labsMixed Impact

Public universities (UW, WSU) and PNNL gain formal advisory roles and potential partnership opportunities, strengthening their research-to-economic-development pipeline—but may face added administrative burden without new dedicated funding.

Small quantum and tech startupsMixed Impact

Small quantum tech startups and local tech shops may benefit indirectly if the state’s efforts attract federal attention and private capital—but they lack direct representation and may not qualify for or be able to absorb the administrative overhead of grant applications.

Students and early-career STEM workersPositive Impact

Students and early-career researchers in STEM fields may benefit from improved curriculum alignment and new internship/job pipelines—if the workforce plan translates into real training and hiring, but the bill lacks enforceable job placement or equity targets.

State government agenciesMixed Impact

State agencies (Commerce, EDC) gain new responsibilities and visibility but face added workload without new staffing or funding—potentially diverting resources from other economic development priorities.