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HB1492 • 2026

Students with dependents

Providing early registration for students with dependents.

Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Representative Salahuddin, Representative Davis, Representative Reed, Representative Ramel, Representative Ortiz-Self, Representative Nance, Representative Cortes, Representative Fosse, Representative Ryu, Representative Scott, Representative Pollet, Representative Simmons
Last action
2026-01-12
Official status
H Postsec Ed & W
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Students with dependents

Students with dependents

What This Bill Does

  • Students with dependents

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-12 House

    By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

Official Summary Text

Students with dependents

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
AN ACT Relating to early registration at institutions of higher 1
education for students with dependents; adding a new section to 2
chapter 28B.10 RCW; 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 students who 5
have dependents should have priority registration given their 6
demanding schedules and caregiving responsibilities. Giving students 7
with dependents early registration is just one way the legislature 8
can support families and students.9
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28B.10 10
RCW to read as follows: 11
(1) Beginning in the 2025-26 academic year, institutions of 12
higher education that offer an early course registration period for 13
any segment of the student population must have a process in place to 14
offer students who have dependents early course registration as 15
follows: 16
(a) New students who have dependents and who have completed all 17
of their admission processes must be offered an early course 18
registration period; and 19
H-0687.1
HOUSE BILL 1492
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Salahuddin, Davis, Reed, Ramel, Ortiz-Self, Nance,
Cortes, Fosse, Ryu, Scott, Pollet, and Simmons
Read first time 01/21/25. Referred to Committee on Postsecondary
Education & Workforce.
p. 1 HB 1492
(b) Continuing and returning former students who have dependents 1
and who have met current enrollment requirements must be offered 2
early course registration among continuing students with the same 3
level of class standing or credit as determined by the attending 4
institution and according to institutional policies.5
(2) For purposes of this section, "dependents" are: Children 18 6
years of age or younger who are under the registering student's care; 7
and persons who, because of physical or mental disability or because 8
of extreme advanced age, is dependent upon the registering student to 9
provide the basic necessities of life. 10
--- END ---
p. 2 HB 1492