SB 5639
In CommitteeSenate
Children of murdered parents
Providing tuition and fee waivers at public institutions of higher education for children of murdered parents.
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 extends tuition and fee waivers to children of homicide victims who were Washington residents at the time of the parent’s death and later entered dependency proceedings. It also adds reporting and research requirements to evaluate the long-term impact of the benefit, and sets an expiration date for those provisions.
- Expands existing tuition and fee waivers to include children of homicide victims who were residents of Washington at the time of the parent’s death and were subject to dependency proceedings afterward.
- Grants up to six academic years of full tuition and fee waivers at public universities and community/technical colleges for eligible children of homicide victims.
- Adds reporting requirements to track and report the annual cost of waived tuition and fees for surviving spouses and children under the expanded program.
- Requires the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to study and report on the long-term educational, health, and legal outcomes of children affected by parental homicide, with a final report due by December 1, 2035.
- Includes a sunset clause: the new study and reporting requirements expire on July 1, 2036.
Who is affected
- Children of homicide victims — Children under dependency court proceedings (under chapter 13.34 RCW) after their parent was killed in a homicide, if they were Washington residents at the time of the homicide. They become eligible for full tuition and fee waivers at public colleges and universities for up to six academic years.
- Surviving spouses of first responders and highway workers — Surviving spouses of law enforcement officers, firefighters, highway workers, or Washington State Patrol officers who died or became totally disabled in the line of duty, or of highway workers on transportation projects. They may receive full tuition and fee waivers at public higher education institutions.
- Children of first responders and highway workers who died or were disabled in line of duty — Children of law enforcement officers, firefighters, or Washington State Patrol officers who died or became totally disabled in the line of duty, or of highway workers on transportation projects. They may receive full tuition and fee waivers if they start college within 10 years of high school graduation.
- Public higher education institutions — Community and technical colleges and state universities, which must implement and report on the new tuition waivers, and may incur additional administrative costs.
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (5)
Directly addresses educational inequity by removing tuition barriers for children who experienced profound trauma and system involvement (dependency court); these students are disproportionately low-income, racially marginalized, and at high risk of disengagement from education. The waiver aligns with evidence that trauma-informed academic support improves long-term outcomes.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(b) and Sec. 2(2)(a)(ii)The WSIPP study will generate high-quality, longitudinal data on how trauma and institutional support affect legal system contact — knowledge that could guide state investments in child welfare, mental health, and juvenile justice diversion, potentially reducing future incarceration costs.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: New Sec. 3Extends the tuition waiver to surviving spouses of first responders, many of whom are women with limited labor market power and may be raising children alone — though the benefit is less targeted to children than the homicide-victim provision.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2) and Sec. 2(2)(a)(iii)Reinforces a long-standing policy recognizing the state’s moral obligation to support families of first responders who died or were disabled in service — a policy with bipartisan support and strong public backing.
EducationLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(a) and Sec. 2(2)(a)(i)May indirectly support workforce development by enabling surviving spouses to re-enter or advance in the labor market through education — though the effect is likely modest and concentrated among those already near median income.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(2) and Sec. 2(2)(a)(iii)
Potential Concerns (5)
Provides up to six academic years of full tuition and fee waivers at public institutions for children of homicide victims who entered dependency proceedings — a high-need population with elevated risks of educational disruption, poverty, and system involvement. The benefit directly reduces financial barriers to higher education for a group that otherwise faces steep odds in college access and completion.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(b) and Sec. 2(2)(a)(ii)Mandates a rigorous, multi-year study by WSIPP on long-term legal outcomes (e.g., arrests, incarceration) for children affected by parental homicide — a population at significantly elevated risk of justice system involvement. This research could inform future prevention and intervention policies, potentially reducing future crime and recidivism.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: New Sec. 3Expands existing tuition waivers to surviving spouses of first responders and highway workers who died or were disabled in the line of duty — a group that often includes widowed parents with limited earning capacity and dependent children, though the spouse-only benefit is narrower and less directly tied to child welfare.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2) and Sec. 2(2)(a)(iii)Maintains and formalizes existing waivers for children of first responders and highway workers who died or were disabled in the line of duty — a well-established policy that recognizes societal obligation to support families who sacrificed for public safety.
EducationLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(a) and Sec. 2(2)(a)(i)Includes a 2036 sunset for the research provisions, ensuring periodic legislative review but limiting long-term institutional learning unless renewed — a neutral fiscal and administrative safeguard.
Local GovernmentRef: New Sec. 3(3)
Who Is Most Affected
Children of homicide victims in dependency proceedings are the primary intended beneficiaries. They face high rates of poverty, educational disruption, and trauma. The waiver directly improves access to higher education — a key determinant of long-term economic stability — and the WSIPP study may yield evidence-based support strategies. Impact is strongly positive.
Surviving spouses of first responders and highway workers gain access to tuition waivers, which may help them re-enter the workforce or upskill. However, the benefit is narrower than for children and does not automatically extend to the children of the deceased worker unless they meet the homicide/dependency criteria. Impact is positive but less comprehensive than for the children of homicide victims.
Children of first responders and highway workers who died or were disabled in the line of duty continue to receive tuition waivers under existing law (now codified in both university and community college systems). The bill does not alter eligibility but adds reporting and research. Impact is positive but largely maintenance of status quo.
Public higher education institutions must implement the new waivers and report costs annually. While the state budget covers waived tuition, institutions may face administrative burdens (e.g., verifying eligibility, tracking dependency records). Costs are likely offset by state funding, but capacity constraints could arise in smaller colleges. Impact is mixed but net neutral or slightly negative.
State and local governments benefit from potential long-term reductions in public spending on social services, corrections, and health systems if the WSIPP study leads to better early interventions. However, the state bears immediate fiscal costs for waived tuition and research. Impact is mixed but net negative in the short term, potentially positive long-term.