This bill amends RCW 28B.77.850 to authorize (subject to amounts appropriated) each Washington public four-year institution of higher education and public tribal colleges that are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education–recognized accreditor to implement a "students experiencing homelessness and foster youth" program. The provision is a modification of existing law that creates an authorized program and procedural reporting requirements rather than creating a new crime or changing penalties. The statute lists required program accommodations that participating institutions may provide, including access to laundry, storage, locker room and shower facilities, reduced-price meals or meal plans and access to food banks, access to technology, short-term housing or housing assistance (especially during seasonal breaks), and case management services. Institutions may also develop surplus property for affordable housing and must leverage community resources by providing students information from nonprofit organizations, local housing authorities, and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Homeless Youth. Participating institutions are required to submit an annual joint report to the appropriate legislative committees under RCW 43.01.036, beginning December 1, 2023, with specified data and recommendations; data collection on how many students experiencing homelessness or food insecurity attend participating institutions is voluntary and is to be coordinated by "the council." The text supplied leaves some uncertainties: the identity or formal name of "the council" responsible for coordinating data collection is not defined in this section; the source, amount, or authorization process for the appropriations that make implementation subject to funding is not provided; it is unclear whether references to "a public tribal college" mean a single tribal college or multiple tribal colleges; and the report start date predates the bill text without explanation.

Eligible public four‑year colleges and accredited public tribal colleges could start programs that give homeless students and students who left foster care practical help—things like laundry, showers, storage, reduced‑price meals, tech access, short‑term housing during breaks, and case management—and could pursue turning surplus property into affordable student housing. Those students would likely see improved access to basic needs and housing supports, but actual services will only appear where the Legislature provides money, so rollout and scale will depend on future appropriations. Colleges that opt in will take on new planning, reporting, and partnership duties: they must coordinate with local nonprofits, housing authorities, and the state office for homeless youth, collect and report specified data to the Legislature each year, and may face costs for facilities, staffing, and housing projects. The law leaves open who exactly coordinates data collection (the bill header references the Student Achievement Council but the section itself says simply “the council”), does not identify funding amounts or sources, and includes a reporting start date that the text does not explain, so timing and oversight details remain uncertain.