Services and activities fees

AN ACT Relating to increasing the annual limit of services and 1
activities fees at institutions of higher education; amending RCW 2
28B.15.069; and creating a new section. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that institutions of 5
higher education, specifically in more urban areas of our state, 6
often face rising costs for maintaining and expanding essential 7
services and activities, such as student health services, counseling, 8
recreation facilities, student clubs, cultural events, and academic 9
support programs. An increase in the annual limit of services and 10
activities fees would help offset inflationary pressures and ensure 11
these services can continue to operate effectively. Therefore, the 12
legislature intends to provide the opportunity for students to raise 13
the services and activities fees while keeping the fee process for 14
approval the same.15
Sec. 2. RCW 28B.15.069 and 2018 c 202 s 1 are each amended to 16
read as follows: 17
(1) The building fee for each academic year shall be a percentage 18
of total tuition fees. This percentage shall be calculated by the 19
office of financial management and be based on the actual percentage 20
H-0688.1
HOUSE BILL 1485
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Salahuddin, Pollet, Reed, Parshley, Nance, and
Scott
Read first time 01/21/25. Referred to Committee on Postsecondary
Education & Workforce.
p. 1 HB 1485
the building fee is of total tuition for each tuition category in the 1
1994-95 academic year, rounded up to the nearest half percent. After 2
October 9, 2015, the dollar value of the building fee shall not be 3
reduced below the level in the 2014-15 academic year adjusted for 4
inflation. As used in this subsection, "inflation" has the meaning in 5
RCW 28B.15.066(2). 6
(2) The governing boards of each institution of higher education 7
shall charge to and collect from each student a services and 8
activities fee. A governing board may increase the existing fee 9
annually, consistent with budgeting procedures set forth in RCW 10
28B.15.045, by amounts that shall not exceed ((four)) six percent per 11
year, judged reasonable and necessary by the services and activities 12
fee committee and the governing board. The governing boards of the 13
community and technical colleges may increase the existing student 14
and activities fee annually, consistent with budgeting procedures set 15
forth in RCW 28B.15.045, by a percentage not to exceed the annual 16
percentage increase in student tuition fees for resident 17
undergraduate students: PROVIDED, That such percentage increase shall 18
not apply to that portion of the services and activities fee 19
previously committed to the repayment of bonded debt. These rate 20
adjustments may exceed the fiscal growth factor. The services and 21
activities fee committee provided for in RCW 28B.15.045 may initiate 22
a request to the governing board for a fee increase.23
(3) Tuition and services and activities fees consistent with 24
subsection (2) of this section shall be set by the state board for 25
community and technical colleges for community and technical college 26
summer school students unless the college charges fees in accordance 27
with RCW 28B.15.515. 28
(4) Subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.15.910, each governing 29
board of a community or technical college may charge such fees for 30
ungraded courses, noncredit courses, community services courses, and 31
self-supporting courses as it, in its discretion, may determine, 32
consistent with the rules of the state board for community and 33
technical colleges. 34
(5) The governing board of a college offering an applied 35
baccalaureate degree program under RCW 28B.50.810 or a bachelor of 36
science degree program described in RCW 28B.50.825 may charge tuition 37
fees for those courses above the associate degree level at rates 38
consistent with rules adopted by the state board for community and 39
p. 2 HB 1485
technical colleges, not to exceed tuition fee rates at the regional 1
universities. 2
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p. 3 HB 1485