5998-S.E AMH KEAT HENR 150

ESSB 5998 - H AMD TO H AMD (H-3714.1/26) 2103

NOT ADOPTED 02/28/2026

On page 479, line 36, increase the general fund-state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 by $100,000

On page 480, line 6, correct the total.

On page 481, after line 25, insert the following:

"(11) (a) $100,000 of the general fund-state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 is provided solely for the council to convene a workgroup to identify and recommend which qualified scholarship granting organizations can provide tax credit scholarships as authorized by H.R. 1, enacted by the 119th United States congress as P.L. 119-21.

(b) The workgroup shall consist of thirteen members, as described in this subsection, and their appointments must be made no later than August 1, 2026:

(i) The president of the senate shall appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate;

(ii) The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives;

(iii) The president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives jointly shall appoint one member representing the charter school commission, two members representing the Washington state school directors' association, and four members representing the Washington federation of independent schools;

(iv) The governor shall appoint one member representing the office of the governor; and

(v) The superintendent of public instruction shall appoint one member representing the office of the superintendent of public instruction.

(c) The council shall consult with the United States department of education and the United States department of the treasury on administrative and legal matters relating to the state opting into the tax credit scholarship program.

(d) The workgroup shall identify which organizations within Washington state may meet the criteria to act as a scholarship granting organization and solicit input from all existing scholarship granting organizations within the state.

(e) The workgroup shall submit a report, pursuant to RCW 43.01.036, to the Governor and appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2026. The report shall include recommendations and other guidance for scholarship granting organizations to administer the tax credit scholarships including:

(i) Identification of potential benefits to Washington state, including but not limited to research on potential impacts to educational outcomes and potential cost savings for the state;

(ii) Anticipated federal funds that would benefit Washington state students as a result of opting into the program; and

(iii) Any other pertinent information that is developed by the workgroup."

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