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HB2732 • 2026
Authorizing limited excused absences for civic activities.
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
School absence/civic activ.
First reading, referred to Education.
School absence/civic activ.
AN ACT Relating to limited excused absences for civic activities; 1 amending RCW 28A.225.055; and creating a new section.2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3 NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes that there are 4 reasons beyond sickness and emergencies that are deserving of being 5 excused absences. Therefore, the legislature finds that limited 6 excused absences for civic activities by students must be recognized 7 by school districts as excused absences if the requirements provided 8 in this act are met.9 Sec. 2. RCW 28A.225.055 and 2002 c 214 s 1 are each amended to 10 read as follows: 11 (1) The legislature finds that state-recognized search and rescue 12 activities, as defined in chapter 38.52 RCW and the rules 13 interpreting the chapter, are recognized as activities deserving of 14 excuse from school. Therefore, the legislature strongly encourages 15 that excused absences be granted to students for up to five days each 16 year to participate in search and rescue activities, subject to 17 approval by the student's parent and the principal of the student's 18 school, and provided that the activities do not cause a serious 19 adverse effect upon the student's educational progress.20 H-3335.1 HOUSE BILL 2732 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By Representatives Salahuddin, Nance, and Parshley Read first time 02/06/26. Referred to Committee on Education. p. 1 HB 2732 (2) The legislature also finds that students have an important 1 perspective in their communities and that they and their communities 2 benefit from student participation in civic activities. The 3 legislature recognizes that civic activity fosters learning of the 4 democratic process, exploration of diverse ideas, and a commitment to 5 individual participation in one's community. For these reasons, 6 student participation in civic activities, with certain limits, 7 deserve to be recognized as excused absences.8 (3)(a) Each school district shall grant up to one day each 9 academic term for student participation in civic engagement 10 activities and provide a form to accept requests for these absences. 11 School districts may establish requirements for the requests, but may 12 not deny a request for reasons not described in this section or 13 unrelated to the submittal process.14 (b) Requests for excused absences under this subsection (3) must 15 be signed by a student's parent or legal guardian, describe the 16 nature of the civic engagement activity the student will participate 17 in, and be submitted at least seven days before the planned absence.18 (c) Civic engagement activities for which an excused absence 19 under this subsection (3) may be authorized include legislative 20 visits, organized advocacy days, convention participation, civic 21 leadership events, and meetings with an elected official. The civic 22 engagement activities must be optional to course curriculum and may 23 not be organized by the school district or supervised by school 24 district staff.25 --- END --- p. 2 HB 2732