SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1540
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Higher Education & Workforce Development, March 13, 2025
Ways & Means, March 24, 2025
Title: An act relating to expanding eligibility for the students experiencing homelessness and foster youth program to an accredited tribal college.
Brief Description: Expanding eligibility for the students experiencing homelessness and foster youth program to an accredited tribal college.
Sponsors: Representatives Timmons, Eslick, Ortiz-Self, Ramel, Reed, Duerr, Kloba, Macri, Callan, Zahn, Ormsby, Pollet, Scott, Doglio, Hill and Simmons; by request of Student Achievement Council.
Brief History: Passed House: 2/20/25, 62-33.
Committee Activity: Higher Education & Workforce Development: 3/13/25 [DP-WM].
Ways & Means: 3/24/25 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Expands participation in the Students Experiencing Homelessness and Foster Youth Program to a public tribal college. 
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.
Signed by Senators Nobles, Chair; Hansen, Vice Chair; Warnick, Ranking Member; Boehnke and Slatter.
Staff: Kellee Gunn (786-7429)
SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Robinson, Chair; Stanford, Vice Chair, Operating; Trudeau, Vice Chair, Capital; Frame, Vice Chair, Finance; Gildon, Ranking Member, Operating; Torres, Assistant Ranking Member, Operating; Schoesler, Ranking Member, Capital; Dozier, Assistant Ranking Member, Capital; Boehnke, Braun, Cleveland, Conway, Dhingra, Hansen, Hasegawa, Kauffman, Muzzall, Pedersen, Riccelli, Saldaña, Wagoner, Wellman and Wilson, C..
Staff: Michele Alishahi (786-7433)
Background:

Students Experiencing Homelessness and Foster Youth Program.  In 2019, the Legislature established pilot programs to provide assistance and accommodations to students experiencing homelessness and to students who were in foster care when they graduated from high school.

 

The participating community and technical colleges (CTCs) and four-year institutions provided accommodations to homeless students and students who were in foster care at high school graduation. The accommodations included:

  • access to laundry facilities, storage, locker rooms and showers, and technology;
  • reduced-price meals or meal plans;
  • access to short-term housing or housing assistance, especially during seasonal breaks; and
  • case management services.

 

In 2021 and 2022, the Students Experiencing Homelessness and Foster Youth Program (program) expanded to additional CTCs and public baccalaureate institutions, for a total of eight CTC institutions and four baccalaureates. In 2023, the program became permanent and made it so all CTCs and public four-year institutions could participate in the program subject to appropriations.

 

Northwest Indian College. Northwest Indian College's main campus is located on the Lummi Indian Reservation in Washington State, 20 miles south of the Canadian border. It is the only accredited tribal college serving the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. It is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
Summary of Bill:

The program is expanded to include participation from a public tribal college. The tribal college must be located in Washington and be accredited by NWCCU or another accrediting association recognized by the United States Department of Education.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Higher Education & Workforce Development):

No public hearing was held.
Persons Testifying (Higher Education & Workforce Development):

N/A
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Higher Education & Workforce Development):

N/A
Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Ways & Means):

No public hearing was held.
Persons Testifying (Ways & Means):

N/A
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Ways & Means):

N/A