The proposed bill establishes a college promise pilot program in Washington State, set to begin in the 2025-26 academic year, aimed at providing financial assistance to students in a 10-county region in eastern Washington. The program will select a minimum of 100 eligible students annually to receive up to $5,000 for tuition and fees, contingent upon their graduation from a local high school, enrollment in a postsecondary program, and meeting specific income and application criteria. Additionally, a high school promise pilot program will be created under the college promise initiative, offering full tuition for two years of community college to selected graduating high school students from specific schools in the region.

Funding for the college promise pilot program will come from a combination of private grants and state matching funds, with the state committing to match private contributions dollar-for-dollar. The bill also establishes a dedicated account for managing these funds and requires the registered 501(c)(3) organization administering the program to report on student outcomes by December 1, 2028. The bill includes appropriations of $500,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and $1,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, to support the implementation of the program. All sections of the bill will expire on August 1, 2029.