This bill, House Bill 2671 (H-3158.1) of the 69th Legislature, 2026 Regular Session, amends RCW 28B.92.030 to redefine certain terms used in chapter 28B.92 and to set or change maximum Washington college grant amounts and how those maximums may change over time. It is a modification of existing law governing student financial aid and grant maximums, not a creation of a new criminal or civil offense. The bill specifies 2019–20 baseline maximum grant amounts for different institution types (private four‑year not‑for‑profit $9,739; private two‑year not‑for‑profit $3,694; private four‑year for‑profit $8,517; private two‑year for‑profit $2,823; Western Governors University–Washington $5,619), with those amounts allowed to increase each year by no more than a defined "tuition growth factor" through certain dates. For public two‑ and four‑year institutions the maximum is set at tuition and estimated fees for 15 quarter credits or the equivalent as determined by the Office of Student Financial Assistance. Beginning in the 2026–27 academic year the private four‑year not‑for‑profit maximum becomes 50 percent of the average of awards granted to students at Washington public research institutions; Western Governors University–Washington’s maximum is set at $4,150 with annual increases capped by the tuition growth factor; and approved apprenticeship program awards change to 50 percent of the two‑year institution maximum (previously equal to the full two‑year maximum through 2025–26). The tuition growth factor is limited to no more than the average annual percentage growth rate of Washington’s median hourly wage for the prior 14 years as determined by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bill affects the Student Achievement Council, the Office of Student Financial Assistance, public and private postsecondary institutions in Washington, approved apprenticeship programs, and cites related statutes (RCW 28B.10.016; 28B.92.150; 28B.85.040(3)(b); 28B.77.240). The text supplied omits the specific administrative rules that will define "financial need," the full definitions from the referenced RCWs, and other implementing rules or formulas, so those procedural details are not available here.

If enacted, the bill changes how maximum Washington college grant awards are set for different types of institutions and years, which will directly affect how much aid students can expect. Students at Western Governors University–Washington are likely to see a smaller maximum award beginning 2026-27 (a set $4,150, down from the earlier $5,619 baseline with capped increases), and students in approved apprenticeship programs will likely see their grant support drop to half of the two‑year institution maximum starting 2026-27, reducing available funds for tuition, supplies, and equipment. Private four‑year colleges move to a new formula in 2026-27 tying their maximum to 50 percent of the average award at public research universities, which will change private students’ expected grant amounts depending on those public averages; students at public two‑ and four‑year institutions continue to be covered up to tuition and estimated fees for 15 quarter credits as determined by the office. The Student Achievement Council and the Office of Student Financial Assistance will need to apply the new definitions, calculate the “tuition growth factor” using 14 years of Washington median wage data from the BLS, and adopt any implementing rules, so their administrative workload and rulemaking obligations increase. Some important implementation details are missing from the provided text—how the office will define “financial need,” the full definition of public institutions cited elsewhere, and other program rule cross‑references—so the precise timing and magnitude of impacts for certain students and institutions remain uncertain.