Higher ed./damage by student

AN ACT Relating to establishing that students are no longer 1
eligible for state aid and must repay grants, scholarships, and other 2
financial aid immediately upon determination of significant monetary 3
damage to a public institution of higher education; adding a new 4
section to chapter 28B.10 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28B.92 5
RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28B.118 RCW; and creating a new 6
section. 7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:8
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that an increased 9
threat of damage to the physical assets of our state's institutions 10
of higher education exists by students committing violent acts. Under 11
the guise of political speech, acts of vandalism and violence have 12
occurred, straining already limited budgets, damaging valuable 13
equipment and property, and impeding the ability of other students to 14
use that same equipment or property in furtherance of their 15
education. While the legislature strongly supports First Amendment 16
activities, these actions go well beyond that. As a first step in 17
making injured institutions of higher education whole, the 18
legislature intends to recover costs spent supporting the education 19
of students who engage in extensive acts of vandalism and violence, 20
S-4022.1
SENATE BILL 6259
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Boehnke and Dozier
Read first time 01/21/26. Referred to Committee on Higher Education
& Workforce Development.
p. 1 SB 6259
including all state grants, scholarships, or other financial aid 1
previously awarded to students who engage in these destructive acts.2
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28B.10 3
RCW to read as follows: 4
(1) As determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, any 5
student at an institution of higher education who causes damage to 6
the physical assets of any institution of higher education in an 7
amount equal to or greater than the cost of the current full academic 8
year's tuition and fees for one residential student at that 9
institution, is immediately ineligible for all state grants, 10
scholarships, and other financial aid awards. The court shall order 11
the student to immediately repay all current and previously awarded 12
state grants, scholarships, and other financial aid awards to the 13
awarding state agency. 14
(2) The student achievement council may adopt rules to implement 15
this section. 16
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 28B.92 17
RCW to read as follows: 18
All current and previously awarded state grants, scholarships, 19
and other financial aid awards under this chapter are immediately 20
repayable to the awarding state agency where a student is under court 21
order to repay those awards as specified under section 2 of this act.22
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 28B.118 23
RCW to read as follows: 24
Where a student is ordered to repay state grants, scholarships, 25
and other financial aid awards as specified under section 2 of this 26
act, all property rights in the awards under this chapter immediately 27
revert to the state, and all current and previously awarded financial 28
aid under this chapter is immediately repayable to the awarding state 29
agency. 30
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p. 2 SB 6259