﻿<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><CertifiedBill type="pl" xmlns="http://leg.wa.gov/2012/document"><EnrollingCertificate xmlns="http://leg.wa.gov/2012/document" type="hBill"><Table align="center" pubwidth="wide" width="504.0pt" fontFamily="Courier New"><Col width="252.0pt" /><Col width="228.0pt" /><TR><TDEnroll><Passage><PassedBy chamber="h"><PassedDate>February 12, 2026</PassedDate><Yeas>96</Yeas><Nays>0</Nays><Signer /></PassedBy><PassedBy chamber="s"><PassedDate>February 28, 2026</PassedDate><Yeas>48</Yeas><Nays>0</Nays><Signer /></PassedBy></Passage></TDEnroll><TDEnroll><Certificate><P><TextRun>I, Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is </TextRun><TextRun fontWeight="bold">ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2534</TextRun><TextRun> as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.</TextRun></P><Certifier /><CertifierPosition>Chief Clerk</CertifierPosition></Certificate></TDEnroll></TR><TR><TDEnroll><ApprovedDate /></TDEnroll><TDEnroll><FiledDate /></TDEnroll></TR><TR><TDEnroll><Governor /></TDEnroll><TDEnroll><P textAlign="center"><TextRun fontWeight="bold">Secretary of State</TextRun></P><P textAlign="center"><TextRun fontWeight="bold"> State of Washington</TextRun></P></TDEnroll></TR></Table></EnrollingCertificate><Bill type="bill" xmlns="http://leg.wa.gov/2012/document"><BillHeading><ShortBillId>ESHB 2534.PL</ShortBillId><LongBillId>ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2534</LongBillId><PLMessage><Message>Passed Legislature</Message><PLSession>2026 Regular Session</PLSession></PLMessage><Legislature>69th Legislature</Legislature><Session>2026 Regular Session</Session><Sponsors>House Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Shavers, McEntire, Barnard, Leavitt, and Nance)</Sponsors><BillHistory><ReadDate>READ FIRST TIME 02/04/26.</ReadDate></BillHistory><BriefDescription>Promoting educational stability for children of military families.</BriefDescription></BillHeading>

<BillBody>
<BillTitle>AN ACT Relating to promoting educational stability for children of military families; and amending RCW 28A.225.216.</BillTitle>
<EnactedClause />
<BillSection type="amendatory" action="amend">
<BillSectionHeader><BillSectionNumber><TextRun>Sec. </TextRun><Value>1</Value><TextRun>.  </TextRun></BillSectionNumber><SectionCite><TextRun>RCW </TextRun><TitleNumber>28A</TitleNumber><TextRun>.</TextRun><ChapterNumber>225</ChapterNumber><TextRun>.</TextRun><SectionNumber>216</SectionNumber></SectionCite> and 2019 c 72 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:<Caption>Children of military families<TextRun fontFamily="Times New Roman">—</TextRun>Residency.</Caption></BillSectionHeader>
<P>(1)(a) A child of a military family complies with the residency requirements for enrollment in a school district if <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">a parent of the child is transferred to, or is</TextRun><TextRun amendingStyle="add">, as a result of a parent's active duty status, call to active duty, or notification of an impending call or order to active duty, the child relocates to Washington and the child's military parent is:</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(i) Transferred to, or has received official notice of a</TextRun> pending transfer to, a military installation <TextRun amendingStyle="add">located</TextRun> within the state <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">while on active duty pursuant to official military orders</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">of Washington;</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(ii) Transferred to, or has received official notice of a pending transfer to, a military installation located in a state bordering Washington; or</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(iii) Relocating due to a military exigency, for example overseas deployment, sea duty, or other mobilization</TextRun>.</P>
<P>(b) <TextRun amendingStyle="add">A parent of the child must provide the school district with a copy of official military orders or other documentation issued by the appropriate military authority confirming the directed move.</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(c)</TextRun> A parent of the child must provide to the school district proof of <TextRun amendingStyle="add">the child's</TextRun> residence in the school district within <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">fourteen</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">90 calendar</TextRun> days of <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">the arrival date provided on official military documentation</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">enrollment</TextRun>. The parent may use the address of any of the following as proof of residence in the school district:</P>
<P>(i) A temporary <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">on-base billeting facility</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">lodging within the school district where the military family is expecting to obtain permanent housing</TextRun>;</P>
<P>(ii) A purchased or leased residence, or a signed purchase and sale agreement or lease agreement for a residence; or</P>
<P>(iii) Any federal government housing or off-base military housing, including off<Hyphen type="nobreak" />base military housing that may be provided through a public<Hyphen type="nobreak" />private venture.</P>
<P>(2)<TextRun amendingStyle="add">(a)</TextRun> A school district shall accept, on a conditional basis, an application for enrollment and course registration, including enrollment in a specific school or program within the school district, <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">by electronic means for children of military families who meet the requirements of subsection (1)(a) of this section</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">from a child of a military family who meets the requirements of subsection (1)(a) of this section, prior to the child arriving in Washington or a bordering state. A school district shall accept applications submitted by any reasonable means, including electronic transmission or mail. School districts must provide military families with the maximum flexibility practicable in the method of application submission, consistent with verification, privacy, and administrative requirements</TextRun>.</P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(b)</TextRun> Upon <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">satisfaction of</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">verification that</TextRun> the requirements of subsection (1)(b) <TextRun amendingStyle="add">and (c)</TextRun> of this section <TextRun amendingStyle="add">have been satisfied</TextRun>, the school district shall finalize the enrollment of <TextRun amendingStyle="strike">children of military families</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">the child of a military family</TextRun>.</P>
<P>(3) <TextRun amendingStyle="add">In the case of a child of a military family who had an individualized education program or plan developed under section 504 of the federal rehabilitation act of 1973 in effect in another state, the school district shall:</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(a) Take the necessary steps to accept the transfer of the child's educational records, including any prior evaluations;</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(b) Upon enrollment, provide the child with appropriate services and accommodations without unreasonable delay, including services comparable to those described in the child's previously held individualized education program or section 504 plan; and</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(c) If the school district determines that an evaluation is necessary, take reasonable steps to conduct the evaluation as expeditiously as practicable, consistent with applicable federal and state law.</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(4) A nonresident school district is not required to provide a child of a military family with transportation to and from the resident school district unless otherwise required by state or federal law.</TextRun></P>
<P><TextRun amendingStyle="add">(5)</TextRun> The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.</P>
<P>(a) "Active duty" has the same meaning as in RCW 28A.705.010.</P>
<P>(b) "Child of a military family" and "<TextRun amendingStyle="strike">children of military families</TextRun> <TextRun amendingStyle="add">child</TextRun>" have the same meaning as "children of military families" in RCW 28A.705.010.</P>
<P>(c) "Military installation" has the same meaning as in RCW 28A.705.010.</P>
<P>(d) "Parent" means a parent, guardian, or other person or entity having legal custody of a child of a military family.</P>
<History>2019 c 72 s 1.</History>
</BillSection>
</BillBody>
</Bill></CertifiedBill>