WashingtonSchool districts may borrow for projects without a debt vote
For certain school facility projects, districts may borrow without a vote on the borrowing if voters approve a repayment levy and the district meets other conditions.
What it does
School districts may borrow for listed purposes without a vote on the borrowing. For certain school facility projects, voters must approve a levy that fully repays the debt, and the district must meet other financial conditions.
For nonvoted bonds over $250,000, districts must announce the plan and hold a public hearing where people may comment. This rule does not apply when districts refinance or repay outstanding bonds.
Argument forDistricts that meet the conditions could borrow for certain school projects without holding a separate vote on the borrowing.
Argument againstDistricts using this option for certain school projects may wait two years to receive state aid, which could make it harder to line up project funding.
More detail
A school district may borrow for listed purposes without a vote on the borrowing. This covers school districts borrowing for purposes listed in RCW 28A.530.010, including certain school facility projects. For projects under RCW 28A.530.010(3), voters must approve a levy that will fully repay the debt. The district must not have been under binding financial conditions in the prior three years and must agree to delay state aid for the project. For qualifying projects, the district must delay state aid for two years.
Before issuing more than $250,000 in nonvoted bonds, a school district must publish notice and hold a public hearing. This applies to school districts issuing nonvoted bonds over $250,000. The notice must give the hearing details, the bonds’ purpose, amount, terms, and repayment method, and say that people may speak. The district must publish notice once a week for two weeks; the last notice must appear no later than seven days before the hearing. These notice and hearing rules do not apply when the district refinances or refunds outstanding bonds. The final notice must be published no later than seven days before the hearing.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 24Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 24Chapter 170, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 24Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 12President signed.Major
- Mar 12Speaker signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 11Passed final passage; yeas, 95; nays, 2; absent, 0; excused, 1.Passed House
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#27). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11House concurred in Senate amendments.
- Mar 11Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 5Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 18; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#19). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 5Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.
- Mar 3Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Mar 2Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Mar 2Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Mar 2Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Mar 2WM - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).Minor
- Mar 2Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 27Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 2:30 PM.
- Feb 25Referred to Ways & Means.Minor
- Feb 24Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 24And refer to Ways & Means.Minor
- Feb 24EDU - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).Minor
- Feb 24Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 8:00 AM.
- Feb 18Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 16First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education.Minor
- Jan 15Third reading, passed; yeas, 78; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#5). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 15Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Jan 13Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on third reading.Minor
- Jan 12By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
- 2025
- Apr 27By resolution, returned to House Rules Committee for third reading.
- Apr 8Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Apr 8Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Apr 8WM - Majority; do pass with amendment(s) by Early Learning & K-12 Education.Minor
- Apr 8Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.
- Mar 28Referred to Ways & Means.Minor
- Mar 27And refer to Ways & Means.Minor
- Mar 27Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Mar 27EDU - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).Minor
- Mar 27Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 10:30 AM.
- Mar 19Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 1:30 PM.
- Mar 12First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education.Minor
- Mar 10Third reading, passed; yeas, 85; nays, 10; absent, 0; excused, 3.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#8). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 10Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 9Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 21Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 20Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 20Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 20CB - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 20Executive action taken in the House Committee on Capital Budget at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 13Public hearing in the House Committee on Capital Budget at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 3First reading, referred to Capital Budget.Introduced
EducationTaxes & Budget