The proposed bill establishes the "Washington 13 Free Guarantee," which will provide eligible students with up to 45 credits of tuition-free education at community or technical colleges beginning in the 2025-26 academic year. Eligibility criteria include recent high school graduation or equivalent certification, enrollment in an eligible program, and completion of financial aid applications. The program will be administered by the Office of Student Financial Assistance and will include support services to help students overcome barriers to completion. To fund this initiative, the bill allocates $300 million from the Washington advanced college tuition payment program account, contingent on maintaining a specific actuarial funded status.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to improve the high school and beyond planning process, ensuring that counselors engage with low-income students about grant options, including the Washington 13 Free Guarantee. It requires school districts to provide comprehensive financial aid information and involve parents in the planning process. The legislation emphasizes the importance of maintaining satisfactory academic progress for recipients and mandates a study on the guarantee's sustainability and its impact on enrollment and student outcomes. The bill also introduces new provisions related to the Washington college grant program and creates a new chapter in Title 28B RCW, officially titled the Washington 13 Free Guarantee Act, which will take effect only upon confirmation from the Internal Revenue Service that it will not disqualify Washington's qualified tuition plan under section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 28A.230.212
Substitute Bill: 28A.230.212