The bill amends several sections of Washington state law to introduce a workforce education investment surcharge on select advanced computing businesses, effective from April 1, 2020. The surcharge will be 1.22 percent of gross income for the period from April 1, 2020, to December 31, 2025, and will increase to 7.5 percent starting January 1, 2026. The bill also includes provisions for reporting and payment of the surcharge, penalties for non-compliance, and definitions related to advanced computing. Additionally, revenues from this surcharge will be directed to the workforce education investment account, and starting in fiscal year 2028, additional enrollments in computer science and engineering programs will be funded if demand exceeds available spots.

Furthermore, the bill modifies eligibility criteria for the Washington college grant, increasing the income threshold for maximum grant eligibility from 60 percent to 100 percent of the state median family income, effective from the 2026-27 academic year. It also introduces a tiered grant system for students with incomes between 101 and 150 percent of the state median family income. Additionally, the bill mandates a 10 percent reduction in tuition operating fees for resident undergraduates from the 2027-28 to the 2029-30 academic years, with future increases capped at the average annual growth rate of median hourly wages.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 28B.92.205, 28B.15.067