SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5918
As of January 16, 2026
Title: An act relating to funding for school materials, supplies, and operating costs.
Brief Description: Providing funding for school materials, supplies, and operating costs.
Sponsors: Senators Wellman, Conway, Hasegawa, Nobles, Riccelli, Slatter, Stanford and Wilson, C.; by request of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 1/21/26.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Increases allocations for materials, supplies, and operating costs by $100 per student or $100,000 per school district, whichever is greater, beginning in the 2026-27 school year.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION
Staff: Alex Fairfortune (786-7416)
Background:

The prototypical school model includes allocations per annual average full-time equivalent student for materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC), which are adjusted annually for inflation. In the 2026-27 school year the allocations will be $1,614.28 per student in grades K-12 and an additional $214.84 per student in grades 9-12.

 

Recent increases to MSOC allocations were designated to address growing materials, supplies, and operating costs and cannot be expended for any other purpose.
Summary of Bill:

Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, in addition to MSOC amounts already provided, each school district must receive an additional MSOC allocation of $100 per full-time equivalent student.

 

If the additional allocation of $100 per student provides less than $100,000 in additional MSOC funding, then a school district must receive additional amounts to bring the total additional MSOC funding to $100,000. Such additional amounts may not be included in base allocation calculations for statutory funding formulas for special education, early intervention, or transition to kindergarten programs.

 

All newly added MSOC allocation values must be adjusted annually for inflation from the 2026-27 school year.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 13, 2026.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.