WashingtonWashington agencies coordinate behavioral health help for public schools
Washington's education agencies must develop a framework to help schools coordinate student behavioral health services, while school districts keep their existing legal duties.
What it does
The state superintendent's office and educational service districts must develop a framework to help schools coordinate behavioral health services, training, and community resources for students and families.
The state superintendent's office must report to legislative committees on the framework's development.
Argument forSchools may find it easier to connect students and families with behavioral health help when agencies coordinate training, resources, and referrals.
Argument againstSchools may have to wait for coordinated guidance while agencies develop the framework, though schools keep their existing legal duties.
More detail
The state superintendent's office and educational service districts must develop a framework to help schools coordinate student behavioral health support. The framework is for Washington school districts and public schools serving children and youth and their families. The framework must support coordination among state, regional, and local agencies and community partners. The agencies must plan to coordinate current and future state, federal, and private funding for the framework and related assistance. School districts and public schools keep their existing legal duties while the framework is developed; this section adds no duties for them. After the framework is developed, the agencies must use it to improve coordination and access to available services, support, and funding.
The state superintendent's office must update the appropriate legislative committees on the framework's development. The update goes to the appropriate committees of the Washington Legislature. The update is due by November 1, 2027.
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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 23Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 23Chapter 129, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 23Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 11President signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 11Speaker signed.Passed House
- Mar 6Third reading, passed; yeas, 47; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#36). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 6Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 27Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 25Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 25Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 25Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 25EDU - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 25Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 24Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 8:00 AM.
- Feb 19First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education.Minor
- Feb 17Third reading, passed; yeas, 95; nays, 2; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#11). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 17Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 17Floor amendment(s) adopted.
- Feb 173rd substitute bill substituted (APP 26).Major
- Feb 14Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 9Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 9Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 9APP - Majority; 3rd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Feb 9Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 6Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 26Referred to Appropriations.Minor
- Jan 22Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Jan 22Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Jan 22ED - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Jan 22Executive action taken in the House Committee on Education at 8:00 AM.
- Jan 13Public hearing in the House Committee on Education at 4:00 PM.
- Jan 12Referred to Education.Minor
- Jan 12Committee relieved of further consideration.
- Jan 12By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
- 2025
- Feb 21Referred to Appropriations.Minor
- Feb 20Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 20Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 20ED - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Feb 20Executive action taken in the House Committee on Education at 8:00 AM.
- Feb 17Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Education at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 10Public hearing in the House Committee on Education at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 28First reading, referred to Education.Introduced
EducationMental Health