SENATE BILL REPORT
SSB 6222
As Passed Senate, February 11, 2026
Title: An act relating to supporting public school students by improving their access to surplus technology hardware.
Brief Description: Supporting public school students by improving their access to surplus technology hardware.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education (originally sponsored by Senators Hunt, Krishnadasan, Conway, Hasegawa, Liias, Nobles, Saldaña, Shewmake, Valdez and Wilson, C.).
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 1/28/26, 2/04/26 [DPS].
Floor Activity: Passed Senate: 2/11/26, 49-0.
Brief Summary of First Substitute Bill
  • Allows school districts and educational service districts to sell surplus computer laptops, tablets, and other electronic devices or equipment at depreciated cost to public school students.
  • Allows school districts and educational service districts to grant this surplus technology hardware at no cost to public school students from low-income families.
  • Requires public school students from low-income families to have priority for receiving surplus technology hardware.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6222 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Wellman, Chair; Nobles, Vice Chair; Wilson, C., Vice Chair; Harris, Ranking Member; Cortes, Dozier, Hansen, Krishnadasan and McCune.
Staff: Ailey Kato (786-7434)
Background:

Current state law sets out a process for school districts and any other state and local governmental agencies concerned with education when texts and other books, equipment, materials or relocatable facilities are deemed surplus. These entities must publish written notice in a newspaper and to public and private schools requesting such notice that these items are for sale, rent, or lease at depreciated cost or fair market value, whichever is greater. Students wishing to purchase texts have priority. These items may not be sold, rented, or leased until at least 30 days following publication of the notice.

 

Alternatively, school districts and educational service districts (ESDs) may elect to grant surplus personal property to a federal, state, or local governmental entity, or to indigent persons, at no cost on the condition the property be used for preschool through 12th grade educational purposes.

 

School districts and ESDs may also loan to a nonreligious, nonsectarian private entity on the condition the property be used for the preschool through 12th grade education of members of the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.
Summary of First Substitute Bill:

School districts and ESDs may also:

  • sell surplus technology hardware at depreciated cost to public school students; and
  • grant surplus technology hardware at no cost to public school students who are from low-income families.

 

The sale or grant of surplus technology hardware must be recorded in an agreement between the parties that indicates the surplus technology hardware's depreciated cost if any.

 

Public school students from low-income families must have priority for receiving surplus technology hardware.

 

The following definitions are provided:

  • low-income families mean families with students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals or families with an income at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level at the time of the grant;
  • public school students include recent graduates and persons who were enrolled in a public school at any time during the 12 months preceding a sale or grant; and
  • surplus technology hardware means computer laptops, tablets, and other electronic devices or equipment issued by the public school to students for their use during a school year.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 21, 2026.
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 on First Substitute:

PRO: Many students once they graduate do not have access to computers or tablets. Under this bill, students who are in need can access these computers and have priority to this technology. This bill addresses a problem that school districts have been quietly struggling with for years. Oftentimes these devices get auctioned off instead of giving this technology to students who are most in need. This technology is not a luxury; it is required for homework, communication, job applications, research, and career exploration. When students don't have access to this technology, opportunity gaps widen quickly. Students need this technology for their postsecondary education, but they will often not be provided this technology, and some families cannot afford to buy on their own. Access to these devices can open doors for students.
Persons Testifying:

PRO: Senator Victoria Hunt, Prime Sponsor; Jason Golec, Issaquah School District; Oliver Jungles; Sachi Seno.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.