Being a parent is nonstop hard work, which makes following all the news happening in city, state, and U.S. decision-making circles challenging. Here are highlights of Washington political news from last week (April 28 to May 4) and a hint at what’s up this week.
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The 90 days from January 13 to April 27 may have felt like forever to some of us — moreso because of its paralleling the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s second term — but the 2025 session of the Washington State Legislature did, indeed, end last week. Facing a state operating budget deficit of more than $16 billion and then being barraged with federal funding threats, it was never going to be a slam dunk for the Democrats, despite their control of both the state Senate and House of Representatives. In the end, there were significant losses. However, there were also a few crucial wins (although most are still awaiting Gov. Bob Ferguson’s signature to become law). Here’s a recap of Washington political news from the session:
One step away from special education victory
The legislature approved removing the 16% limit on special education funding – a law that limited what the state covers for special education services to 16% of a district’s student population. Under current law, districts with special education populations larger than that percentage have been forced to foot the bill for the remainder of services needed to serve all kids, leading many districts into debt.
In the two-year, $78 billion final state operating budget approved by lawmakers on April 27, the special education funding formula increased, while the safety-net threshold for high-cost students shrank. The budget bill also extends special education services to provide early support for infants and toddlers and, students up to age 22. Overall, special education received a nearly $900 million investment.
“Just one of these changes would be a significant legislative win,” said Arik Korman, CEO of the education advocacy group League of Education Voters, “but together, they will better support districts in meeting the special education needs of students and ensure they can access their right to basic education. Historically, funding for special education has never reflected the actual needs of students and families trying to access additional support and services.”
As of May 2, 2025, Gov. Bob Ferguson had not yet signed the 2025-27 biennial budget approved by the legislature. His aides say Ferguson will take his time to review the document line by line. Ferguson has 20 days to act on bills delivered to his desk fewer than five days before the end of a session, so until mid-to-late May.
How did education fair overall?
What other wins (and losses) did the session bring to education? The League of Education Voters has tracked all legislation about education throughout the session. Find out where each proposal ended up on the league’s tracker.
Most of the education debate this year was about maintaining or expanding funding to districts to meet the state’s obligation to provide a fully funded education to every child. Beyond addressing the special education funding formula, “This session won’t be about adding new programs,” Korman said at the beginning of the session.
In the end, education emerged from as a top priority. Washington public schools received significant funding increases in spite of the deficit.
Other key education investments
- K–12 Education: Overall, schools received a 7% increase from the previous biennium for a 2025-27 budget of $33.6 billion, which includes teacher and salary increases and the special education boost.
- Materials and Operations: The budget approved by the legislature also includes an allocation of $213 million for materials, supplies, and operating costs ($1,614 per student).
- Higher Education received a $130 million increase in funding.
For a full reckoning, look at the League of Education Voters 2025-27 Biennial Budget Summary.
Feisty parental rights debate ends
Of all the bills that moved through the legislature this year, changes to the state’s “Parental Bill of Rights” were perhaps the most controversial bits of Washington political news.
This year’s legislation was meant to clarify what many parents considered the confusing language of the citizen initiative lawmakers approved last year, which codified a parent’s right to easy access to education materials, curriculum, student academic and medical records, and timely alerts if a child is contacted by law enforcement. After a long and contentious debate, lawmakers approved a bill that clarified the rights of parents and added a bill for students’ rights. Check out Washington State Standard’s coverage for all the details on the final list of rights: “Parental rights overhaul gains final approval in WA Legislature.”
“This bill creates that clarity to make sure that it’s not just some voices, but all voices are heard,” said Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, D-Mukilteo. The bill sits on Gov. Ferguson’s desk awaiting his signature, although Ferguson declined to join the debate throughout the session.
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7% rent cap approved by the legislature
A 7% cap on rent increases approved by the legislature will be a relief to the many families who rent their homes in Washington. But here again, Gov. Ferguson was slow to weigh in on the measure publicly. Still, according to a report by Washington State Standard, Ferguson quietly supported the bill as it moved through the legislative process. Bill authors hope to see his signature soon.
Washington joins the re-fund AmeriCorps pack
Young people need a leg up, and nonprofits need energetic, compassionate workers to build strong communities, which is why AmeriCorps is a win for Washington and every state in the nation. Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown made that point this week as he joined a multi-state lawsuit to fight a Trump executive order terminating AmeriCorps grants. The order led to an 85% workforce reduction for the program that connects 200,000 American volunteers with community agencies, programs, and projects that need them. In other words, the order shut down AmeriCorps.
“AmeriCorps provides hope and belonging in American communities nationwide. It gives inspiration and purpose to the young people who join its ranks annually,” Brown said in a release. “But the president thinks public programs and public dollars are his to do with what he will, snatching them up through the same scheming that federal courts have already said is likely illegal.”
All I can say is “Go, Nick!”
But wait, before that lawsuit …
The AmeriCorps lawsuit sign-on followed on the heels of another Nick Brown move on behalf of Washington residents, in political news. The A.G. joined 18 other states in challenging the U.S. Department of Education’s threat against state and local agencies that refuse to drop their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Washington’s Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction has been steadfast in its DEI commitment and stands to lose more than a billion education dollars in support of students from low-income families and students with disabilities if the federal education department pulls funding.
In a statement about the lawsuit, Brown said: “A complete education depends on students learning in a safe and inclusive environment. Washington state’s policies put students first, and I will not let the Trump administration roll that back.” Check out the full story in The Seattle Times.
Another round of applause for a our lawsuit-slinging attorney general willing to push back against the punitive approach of an administration bent on crushing DEI efforts in every aspect of government.
Washington has sued the Trump administration 13 times in president’s first 100 days in office. Wonder how the attorney general decides when to start or join a suit. The Seattle Times reporter David Gutman’s interview with Nick Brown this week offers insights.
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A ray of hope for Head Start, but families will be ‘terribly’ impacted
Also in Washington political news: this week, a coalition of parents and Head Start providers filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s attempt to break down the federal Head Start program, a move that would have devastating consequences for families and kids. The suit alleges that the administration defies Congress’s mandate to fund Head Start services.
“Since taking office, the Trump administration has tried to destabilize, paralyze, and sow chaos in Head Start. They have frozen funding, conducted mass layoffs at the federal HHS regional offices, slow-walked grants — which led to 400 families scrambling to find childcare — and now are proposing to eliminate Head Start completely,” Joel Ryan, executive director of Washington State Head Start & Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, said in a release. “If we want to preserve Head Start for the children currently being served and uphold its commitment to ensuring that all children are ready for school — regardless of their background, income, race, ethnicity, or zip code — we must stand up to the unlawful actions this administration has taken to kneecap Head Start.”
Ryan was more optimistic last Friday when the Trump administration released its “skinny budget”. A more detailed federal budget proposal is expected in coming weeks.
“While I’m encouraged that the budget does not seek to eliminate Head Start, we still need more information to evaluate what’s being proposed,” Ryan said. “This hopefully will come in a more detailed final budget proposal from the White House in the coming weeks so we can have confirmation that they have in fact reversed course.
He added: “But we need to be honest here — the budget being presented today is cruel. It targets critical education, health, and social services that directly impact Head Start families and children. The budget seeks significant cuts to Title I, Medicaid, housing assistance, and Community Action Agencies. While the budget does not explicitly call for wiping out Head Start, if enacted, the impacts would be terrible for the families enrolled in Head Start.”
One more, crucial, win in Washington political news
While leadership in the other Washington leans into anti-gun violence legislation rollbacks, leaders in this Washington continued their commitment to protecting kids and families. Before adjourning the 2025 legislative session, lawmakers passed the “permit-to-purchase bill,” requiring rigorous, fingerprint-based background checks and safety training before someone can buy a gun. According to the state advocacy group Alliance for Gun Responsibility, such laws have been proven to lower gun trafficking, reduce firearm suicides and homicides, and even decrease fatal mass shootings.
“Permit-to-purchase laws work,” the Alliance announced in its weekly email update. “They make it harder for dangerous individuals to access firearms while ensuring responsible gun ownership — just like we require driver’s licenses for road safety. And despite what critics say, this small, reasonable cost pales in comparison to the $10.5 billion a year gun violence costs Washington.”
Are you listening, Congress? It’s time to stand up to the administration and, at a minimum, protect the federal advances in gun control that have been made.
