The bill establishes a new statewide capital facility grant program aimed at expanding and improving outdoor learning opportunities for students enrolled in public schools in Washington. It recognizes the success of the outdoor school initiative enacted in 2022, which has provided outdoor education experiences to numerous students and supports career-connected learning in various fields. The program will prioritize projects that enhance access to outdoor education, particularly for underserved communities, by acquiring, constructing, or rehabilitating facilities used for these purposes.

The bill outlines a competitive process for grant applications, requiring projects to demonstrate their potential to increase student participation in outdoor education or improve infrastructure to remove barriers for underserved students. Eligible projects may include renovations to increase capacity, energy efficiency improvements, and upgrades to essential facilities. Grant recipients can include tribes, local governments, state and federal agencies, and nonprofits. Additionally, the bill mandates that grant-funded improvements be maintained for a specified period and stipulates repayment conditions for non-compliance, with interest calculated based on state general obligation bond rates.