SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5872
As of January 16, 2026
Title: An act relating to establishing the preK promise account.
Brief Description: Establishing the preK promise account.
Sponsors: Senators Wilson, C., Bateman, Conway, Dhingra, Liias, Nobles, Pedersen, Riccelli, Robinson, Shewmake and Wellman; by request of Governor Ferguson.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 1/19/26.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Creates the PreK Promise Account to receive any gifts, grants, or donations made exclusively to support the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) program.
  • Requires that expenditures may only be used for the ECEAP program.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS
Staff:

Josh Hinman (786-7281)
Background:

Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program.  The Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) is a voluntary preschool and family support program administered by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). Children are eligible for ECEAP when they are between the ages of three and five, and are from families with incomes at or below 36 percent of the State Median Income (SMI). Families may also be eligible under certain other criteria, including children eligible for special education due to a disability, and certain other risk factors.

 

In the 2025-27 biennium, ECEAP is funded to serve 14,278 children in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 and 14,528 children in FY 2027.

 

In the 2030-31 school year, ECEAP will become an entitlement and income eligibility will increase to 50 percent SMI.
Summary of Bill:

The PreK Promise Account is created for the purposes of receiving any gifts, grants, or donations made for the ECEAP program. All expenditures may be used solely to support the ECEAP program.

 

DCYF must track receipts separately for each organization or entity that deposits funds into the account.

 

The account does not require an appropriation, while expenditures must follow the allotment procedures under the State Budgeting, Account, and Reporting System of the Revised Code of Washington. Only the DCYF secretary may authorize expenditures.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 9, 2026
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.