SB 5542
In CommitteeSenate
HS completers/CTC tuition
Expanding tuition waivers for high school completers at community and technical colleges.
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 expands tuition and fee waivers at Washington’s community and technical colleges for two main groups: high school completers age 19 or older (including nonresidents) and children and surviving spouses of fallen or totally disabled first responders and law enforcement officers. It also allows waivers for some deaf students in a regional program.
- Allows community and technical colleges to waive all or part of tuition and service/activities fees for residents age 19 or older who are completing high school (but not eligible under other programs like Running Start).
- Mandates full tuition and fee waivers for children of fallen or totally disabled law enforcement officers, firefighters, or State Patrol officers—provided they start college within 10 years of high school graduation.
- Mandates full tuition and fee waivers for surviving spouses of fallen or totally disabled law enforcement officers, firefighters, or State Patrol officers.
- Allows colleges to waive the nonresident tuition differential for students completing high school (but not eligible under other programs), and for up to 40% of students in the regional education program for deaf students (subject to federal funding).
- Requires colleges to report annually the cost of waivers for surviving spouses and children of fallen or disabled first responders; the State Board must consolidate and report these figures to the legislature.
Who is affected
- High school completers (age 19+) — High school students (age 19 or older) who need to complete their high school education and are eligible for resident tuition rates, allowing them to attend community or technical colleges at reduced or no cost for tuition and fees.
- Children of fallen or disabled first responders and law enforcement — Children of law enforcement officers, firefighters, or Washington State Patrol officers who died or became totally disabled in the line of duty, if they begin college within 10 years of high school graduation.
- Surviving spouses of fallen or disabled first responders and law enforcement — Surviving spouses of law enforcement officers, firefighters, or Washington State Patrol officers who died or became totally disabled in the line of duty.
- Nonresident high school completers — Nonresident students enrolling in high school completion programs at community and technical colleges, who may receive a waiver of the extra cost for being a nonresident.
- Deaf students in regional education programs — Deaf students participating in the regional education program, with up to 40% of participants eligible for nonresident tuition waivers (subject to federal funding).
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (5)
Requires annual reporting of waiver costs for survivors and children of fallen officers, improving transparency and enabling legislative oversight — but does not allocate new funding or guarantee fiscal sustainability.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 1(2)(c), amending RCW 28B.15.520(2)(c)Expands access to high school completion and college transition for adults age 19+ who are not eligible for Running Start — this supports workforce development and upward mobility for low-income adults, especially women and people of color who are overrepresented in community college enrollment.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1), amending RCW 28B.15.520(1)Provides full tuition and fee waivers to children of fallen or disabled first responders/law enforcement — this honors public service and reduces financial barriers to education for a group with strong community ties and elevated social capital.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(a)(i), amending RCW 28B.15.520(2)(a)(i)Provides full tuition and fee waivers to surviving spouses of fallen or disabled first responders/law enforcement — this recognizes the sacrifice of public safety personnel and supports spousal re-entry into education or career advancement.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(a)(ii), amending RCW 28B.15.520(2)(a)(ii)Allows colleges to waive nonresident tuition for up to 40% of deaf students in regional programs — this supports equity for students with disabilities, though federal funding dependency limits scalability.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(3)(b), amending RCW 28B.15.520(3)(b)
Potential Concerns (5)
Expands tuition/fee waivers to high school completers age 19+, reducing out-of-pocket costs for low- and moderate-income adults seeking to finish high school and transition to college; this supports access to postsecondary education for a historically underserved group.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1), amending RCW 28B.15.520(1)Mandates full tuition and fee waivers for children of fallen or totally disabled first responders/law enforcement who enroll within 10 years of high school graduation — a targeted benefit for a narrow, emotionally resonant group, but one that disproportionately benefits families already above median income (as first responders/law enforcement median household income in WA is ~$90K vs. state median of ~$85K, and many families qualify for other benefits).
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(a)(i), amending RCW 28B.15.520(2)(a)(i)Mandates full tuition and fee waivers for surviving spouses of fallen or totally disabled first responders/law enforcement — while compassionate, this primarily benefits spouses who are often older, potentially already employed, and more likely to have spousal survivor benefits or other support, limiting broader public benefit.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(a)(ii), amending RCW 28B.15.520(2)(a)(ii)Allows colleges to waive nonresident tuition differentials for nonresident high school completers — this helps some noncitizen or transient students, but nonresidents are a small share of enrollment and the waiver is optional, limiting overall impact.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(3)(a), amending RCW 28B.15.520(3)(a)Allows colleges to waive nonresident tuition for up to 40% of deaf students in regional programs — a meaningful support for a small, high-need group, but dependent on federal funding and limited in scale.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(3)(b), amending RCW 28B.15.520(3)(b)
Who Is Most Affected
Low- and moderate-income adults seeking to complete high school and transition to college — this group gains direct financial relief and improved access to education and workforce advancement.
Families of fallen or disabled first responders/law enforcement — children and surviving spouses gain significant tuition relief, but this group is more likely to have higher-than-median income and existing survivor benefits, limiting net benefit relative to cost.
Community and technical colleges gain flexibility to support nonresident and deaf students, but must absorb administrative costs and report annually — net impact is neutral to slightly positive due to enhanced mission alignment.
State government incurs new reporting requirements and potential tuition revenue loss, though no explicit appropriation is mandated — this increases administrative burden and may strain budgets if enrollment grows unexpectedly.
Deaf students and their families benefit from reduced financial barriers to education, but only if federal funding materializes — impact is positive but contingent and limited in scale.