SHB 2048
In CommitteeHouse
Leadership board
Eliminating the Washington state leadership board.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill eliminates the Washington state leadership board and its associated programs, including the sports mentoring program and Washington world fellows program, by repealing the statutes that created them. Remaining funds in its accounts are transferred to the state general fund, and the lieutenant governor is removed from the board’s membership. The legislative youth advisory council continues but no longer collaborates with the leadership board, and special license plate fees are redirected to other youth and civic programs.
- Repeals RCW 43.388.010 through 43.388.040, which established the Washington state leadership board, its accounts, use of the state flag, and the sports mentoring program.
- Transfers any remaining funds in the Washington state leadership board account and special license plate account to the state general fund.
- Removes the lieutenant governor’s appointment to the Washington state leadership board from the list of boards and committees they serve on.
- Amends the legislative youth advisory council provisions to remove references to collaboration with the leadership board and retains its structure, duties, and funding sources (including from Seattle Storm license plates).
- Reenacts and amends RCW 46.68.420 to redirect special license plate proceeds away from the leadership board and toward other programs (e.g., 4-H, Fred Hutch, Seattle NHL foundation, Seattle Sounders FC, Seattle Mariners, Seattle Storm, and others).
Who is affected
- Washington state leadership board and its programs — The Washington state leadership board and its programs (including the sports mentoring program and Washington world fellows program) are eliminated, ending their operations and funding.
- Legislative youth advisory council members and participants — The legislative youth advisory council continues to operate, but will no longer collaborate with the Washington state leadership board; it receives dedicated funding from the Seattle Storm special license plate fees.
- Special license plate purchasers and donors — Special license plate buyers and donors will no longer contribute funds to the Washington state leadership board; instead, proceeds will flow to other designated programs (e.g., 4-H, Fred Hutch, Seattle NHL foundation).
- Nonprofit organizations previously funded by the leadership board — Nonprofit organizations that previously received funds through the Washington state leadership board (e.g., for sports mentoring or Washington world fellows) will no longer receive those funds.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for concerns
Potential Benefits (3)
Reduces administrative overhead by eliminating a small, underutilized state board and consolidating residual funds into the general fund, allowing the legislature to reprioritize spending across broader state needs.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 2 (transfer of residual funds to general fund); Sec. 3 (removal of lieutenant governor from leadership board)Redirects special license plate proceeds to a broader set of youth-serving nonprofits—including 4-H, Fred Hutch, and Seattle sports foundations—potentially increasing program diversity and local impact, though this is offset by loss of centralized coordination.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 5 (redirected special license plate proceeds to 4-H, Fred Hutch, etc.); Sec. 2 (transfer of funds to general fund)Preserves the legislative youth advisory council’s core functions, including youth representation, legislative advising, and access to Storm plate funding—ensuring continued youth voice in state policy despite structural changes.
EducationRef: Sec. 4 (retention of legislative youth advisory council structure and Storm plate funding)
Potential Concerns (5)
Eliminates the sports mentoring program and Washington world fellows program, which provided targeted youth development, academic support, and civic engagement opportunities—particularly for economically disadvantaged youth, students with disabilities, and girls/women—reducing access to structured mentorship and enrichment.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1 (repeal of RCW 43.388.040 and related provisions); Sec. 2 (transfer of residual funds to general fund)Redirects special license plate proceeds away from programs that directly supported youth employment, sports access, and nonprofit service delivery (e.g., Seattle Sounders FC mentoring grants, 4-H, Fred Hutch cancer research), reducing funding for programs that create volunteer, internship, and job-training pathways for young people and support small nonprofit operations.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 5 (amended RCW 46.68.420); Sec. 2 (transfer of special license plate funds to general fund)Isolates the legislative youth advisory council from institutional support structures it previously shared with the leadership board, potentially weakening its capacity to coordinate with state agencies and deliver effective youth policy recommendations—though the council retains its statutory duties and Storm plate funding.
EducationLean peopleRef: Sec. 4 (removal of collaboration clause with Washington state leadership board); Sec. 2 (funds transferred to general fund)Removes dedicated funding for programs like Law Enforcement Memorial, Lighthouse environmental education, and Ski & Ride Washington, which support community safety, environmental stewardship, and recreation access—especially for low-income and rural youth.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 2 (transfer of residual funds to general fund); Sec. 5 (elimination of dedicated accounts for specific youth/civic programs)Eliminates a state-level coordination mechanism for youth civic engagement and international relations projects, reducing state-level support for local youth councils, school partnerships, and regional civic initiatives that rely on leadership board grants.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 1 (repeal of RCW 43.388.010–040); Sec. 2 (transfer of funds to general fund)
Who Is Most Affected
Youth participants—especially low-income, rural, or disabled youth—who relied on sports mentoring, international fellowships, or civic engagement opportunities through the leadership board will lose access to targeted support programs. This disproportionately affects students facing systemic barriers to enrichment and leadership development.
Small and mid-sized nonprofits that received leadership board grants (e.g., for mentoring, lighthouse preservation, or youth sports) will lose dedicated funding streams, reducing their capacity to serve youth and communities—especially those in underserved areas.
The council retains its structure and Storm plate funding, preserving youth representation—but loses the administrative and programmatic synergy it had with the leadership board, potentially weakening its reach and influence.
License plate purchasers and donors will no longer direct funds to specific youth/civic programs via the leadership board, but may see their contributions redirected to other youth-serving nonprofits—though with less transparency about how funds are allocated.