WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION

SB 5812: K-12 education funding

Investing in the state's paramount duty to fund K-12 education and build strong and safe communities.

Summary

  • Changes the 101 percent revenue growth limit for state and local property taxes to 100 percent plus population change and inflation, capped at 103 percent.
  • Increases the maximum per-pupil limit used for school enrichment levies gradually over several years up to $5,035 in the 2031 calendar year.
  • Increases the per-student state Local Effort Assistance (LEA) threshold by $200 above inflation in 2026 and $300 above inflation in 2027.
  • Increases LEA thresholds by an additional $200 per-pupil in 2030 and 2031.
  • Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to convene a kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) funding equity workgroup to analyze options for revising K-12 funding formulas.
  • Removes the funded enrollment limit for special education (SPED) excess cost funding in the 2028-29 school year and requires changes to SPED accounting methodologies for the use of SPED students' general apportionment allocations.

From the Senate Bill Report (SB 5812), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · died in committee
  1. IntroducedApr 16, 2025
  2. Out of committeestopped here
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. Governor
  6. Law
Prime sponsor
Lisa Wellman (D-41)
Introduced
April 16, 2025 in the Senate
Last action
January 12, 2026
Companion bill
HB 2049
Budget
Has a fiscal note

AN ACT Relating to investing in the state's paramount duty to fund K-12 education and build strong and safe communities by modifying the state and local property tax authority and adjusting the school funding formula;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Lisa Wellman (D-41)

7 co-sponsors (7 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Drew Hansen D-23Emily Alvarado D-34Noel Frame D-36T'wina Nobles D-28Jamie Pedersen D-43Javier Valdez D-46Claire Wilson D-30

Votes

No recorded floor votes. This measure never reached a floor vote.

History

  1. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
  2. First reading, referred to Ways & Means.

SB 5812 in other sessions

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

Report wrong or missing information on this page