WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION SHB 2594

HB 2594: Unhoused children/education

Ensuring that unhoused children and youths in Washington have equal access to free, appropriate public education.

Summary

  • Establishes state requirements for ensuring that homeless children and youths have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education as is provided to other children and youths.
  • Provides that actions of the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and school districts that meet requirements of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act also satisfy equivalent requirements established in the bill.

From the Substitute House Bill Report (SHB 2594), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 201, Laws of 2026
  1. IntroducedJan 20, 2026
  2. Out of committeeFeb 4, 2026
  3. Passed HouseFeb 12, 2026
  4. Passed SenateMar 6, 2026
  5. GovernorMar 24, 2026
  6. LawMar 24, 2026
Prime sponsor
Kristine Reeves (D-30)
Introduced
January 20, 2026 in the House
Last action
March 24, 2026
Session law
Chapter 201, Laws of 2026
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
HB 2594, SHB 2594

AN ACT Relating to ensuring that unhoused children and youths in Washington have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education that is provided to other children and youths;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Kristine Reeves (D-30)

4 co-sponsors (3 Democrats, 1 Republican)

Joel McEntire R-19Mari Leavitt D-28Gerry Pollet D-46Shaun Scott D-43

Votes

House · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed February 12, 2026
Version voted on: SHB 2594
94 Yea 1 Nay 0 Absent 3 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat57002
Republican37101
How each member voted

Yea (94)

Nay (1)

Excused (3)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Passed March 6, 2026
Version voted on: SHB 2594
48 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat30000
Republican18001
How each member voted

Yea (48)

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Passed March 11, 2026
Version voted on: SHB 2594
95 Yea 1 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat58001
Republican37101
How each member voted

Yea (95)

Nay (1)

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 6/11/2026. (SHB 2594)
  2. Chapter 201, 2026 Laws. (SHB 2594)
  3. Governor signed. (SHB 2594)
  4. Speaker signed. (SHB 2594)
  5. Delivered to Governor. (SHB 2594)
  6. President signed. (SHB 2594)
  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 95; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 2. (SHB 2594)
  8. House concurred in Senate amendments. (SHB 2594)
  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1. (SHB 2594)
  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (SHB 2594)
  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments. (SHB 2594)
  12. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (SHB 2594)
  13. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (SHB 2594)
  14. Minority; without recommendation. (SHB 2594)
  15. WM - Majority; do pass with amendment(s) by Early Learning & K-12 Education. (SHB 2594)
  16. Referred to Ways & Means. (SHB 2594)
  17. And refer to Ways & Means. (SHB 2594)
  18. EDU - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (SHB 2594)
  19. First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education. (SHB 2594)
  20. Third reading, passed; yeas, 94; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 3. (SHB 2594)
  21. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (SHB 2594)
  22. 1st substitute bill substituted. (SHB 2594)
  23. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  24. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (SHB 2594)
  25. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
  26. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (SHB 2594)
  27. Referred to Rules 2 Review.
  28. ED - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SHB 2594)
  29. ED - Executive action taken by committee.
  30. ED - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  31. First reading, referred to Education.

HB 2594 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

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