HB 1485 modifies existing law and adds a new legislative findings section. It amends RCW 28B.15.069 to change how certain student fees are set and to permit higher annual increases for services and activities fees. This is a statutory amendment and procedural change to fee-setting authority; it does not create a new crime or change penalties. Key changes: the office of financial management must calculate the building fee each academic year as a percentage of total tuition based on 1994–95 percentages rounded up to the nearest half percent, and after October 9, 2015 the dollar value of the building fee may not be reduced below the 2014–15 level adjusted for “inflation” (as defined in RCW 28B.15.066(2)). Governing boards are required to charge a services and activities fee and may increase it annually by up to six percent (replacing a prior four percent limit). Community and technical college boards may increase their services and activities fee annually by no more than the annual percentage increase in resident undergraduate tuition (excluding portions committed to bonded debt). The services and activities fee committee may initiate requests for fee increases. The state board for community and technical colleges is directed to set summer school tuition and fees consistent with the bill unless another statute applies, boards may set fees for certain noncredit and self-supporting courses subject to existing limits and state board rules, and colleges offering applied baccalaureate or specified bachelor of science programs may charge tuition above the associate level consistent with state board rules and not to exceed regional university tuition rates. Affected entities include the Office of Financial Management, governing boards of higher education institutions, the services and activities fee committee, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, community and technical colleges, and students. The bill was first read on 01/21/25. The precise definition of “inflation” and the full procedural details depend on cited statutes (RCW 28B.15.066(2), 28B.15.045, 28B.15.515, 28B.15.910, 28B.50.810, and 28B.50.825), which are not included here, and no legislative effective date for these amendments is provided in the extracted text.

If enacted, colleges and their governing boards will have more ability to raise student services and activities fees and will likely do so: the annual cap on increases rises from four to six percent, and community and technical colleges can instead raise those fees by up to the same percentage their resident undergraduate tuition increases (except the portion for bonded debt). Students can expect higher out‑of‑pocket fees over time, and college budgets will have a somewhat larger, more predictable revenue stream for student services. The office that handles budget calculations will also set the building fee as a percentage of tuition using a 1994–95 baseline and must keep the building fee’s dollar value from falling below the 2014–15 level adjusted for inflation, which reduces the chance that that particular fee will shrink in real terms. The parties most affected are students (higher fees), governing boards and college administrations (greater authority and responsibility to raise and manage fees), the services and activities fee committees (more active role in initiating and judging increases), and the Office of Financial Management (new calculation duties). Key details are unclear from the provided text—most importantly the exact definition of “inflation” and how other referenced procedures and rules will interact—so the timing and precise mechanics of increases and limits depend on those outside provisions.