WashingtonWashington dedicates preK promise account money to its preschool program
Washington directs gifts, grants, and donations in the preK promise account to its Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, keeping unspent money for later use.
What it does
The preK promise account funds only the state preschool program. Spending needs no separate law setting aside money, and unused money stays available beyond each two-year budget period.
The preK promise account receives a monthly share of investment earnings based on its balance, after banking services are paid for.
Argument forKeeping donations and leftover money dedicated to the preschool program could help support participating children over time.
Argument againstAllowing the program secretary to spend account money without a separate law setting aside funds could reduce lawmakers’ control over spending.
More detail
The state treasurer holds the preK promise account, and gifts, grants, and donations received for it must go into that account. Account money may support only children in Washington’s Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program. Only the secretary responsible for the program may approve spending. State budget management rules still apply. State officials must track gifts, grants, and donations separately for each contributing organization or entity. These account rules took effect March 14, 2026.
The state treasurer must give the preK promise account its share of investment earnings each month. The account’s share depends on its average daily balance during the earnings period. Payments for banking services come before earnings are distributed. This rule took effect March 14, 2026. Its current section expires July 1, 2030, when a replacement section continues the rule.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 14Effective date 3/14/2026*.Latest
- Mar 14Chapter 51, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 14Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 9Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 5Speaker signed.Passed House
- Mar 5President signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 4Third reading, passed; yeas, 97; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#1). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 3Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Mar 2Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 27APP - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 27Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 18Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 4:00 PM.
- Feb 14First reading, referred to Appropriations.Minor
- Feb 11Third reading, passed; yeas, 46; nays, 3; absent, 0; excused, 0.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#10). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 11Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 11Floor amendment(s) adopted.
- Feb 6Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 4Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 3Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 3Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 3WM - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 3Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM.
- Jan 19Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM.
- Jan 12First reading, referred to Ways & Means.Minor
- 2025
- Dec 11Prefiled for introduction.Introduced
Education