The bill adds new sections to chapter 28A.525 RCW to require public schools to notify the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) before starting construction of certain large new school buildings and, subject to available appropriations and grant awards, to install solar photovoltaic systems on those buildings. It creates a new OSPI-administered grant program to reimburse schools for installation costs (reimbursement basis only), requires OSPI to provide technical assistance and to perform a cost-benefit analysis over at least 25 years, and makes the act effective July 1, 2025 as an emergency measure. This is a new statutory program and procedural requirement, not a change in criminal penalties. Key requirements and definitions in the bill: "commencement of construction" is the date a building permit is issued; a "qualifying school building" is a public school building that must provide solar zones under the building code adopted under RCW 19.27.031 and is larger than 50,000 gross square feet; "qualifying solar energy systems" are photovoltaic panels sized to maximize on-site generation up to the campus's anticipated electrical consumption. Schools that begin construction on or after June 1, 2028 must notify OSPI before starting and, if awarded a grant and construction starts on or after that date, must install qualifying systems before occupancy. Schools that begin construction between June 1, 2025 and June 1, 2028 may notify OSPI to seek grant awards and, if awarded a grant and construction began before June 1, 2028, installation after occupancy is permitted at OSPI’s discretion. OSPI may only award grants for projects that have a positive net present value over the period analyzed, must request legislative appropriations by September 30, 2026 and before each fiscal biennium thereafter, and will award grants only as funds are appropriated. The grant program and installation requirements are expressly subject to the availability of appropriated funds. The text provided does not specify appropriation amounts or funding sources, does not include the building code language that defines "solar zones," does not set detailed timelines or application and prioritization procedures for notifications and grants, and does not define the method for calculating "positive net present value."

If enacted, large new public school buildings (those over 50,000 gross square feet and subject to the state building code’s “solar zone” requirement) will have to engage the state education office about adding rooftop or site solar before starting construction for projects begun June 1, 2028 or later, and those starting between June 1, 2025 and June 1, 2028 can seek state grant reimbursement. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) must run a reimbursement grant program that only funds projects showing a positive net present value over at least 25 years, provide technical help and cost‑benefit analyses, and request legislative funding by September 30, 2026 and each biennium thereafter; if a grant is awarded, installation timing is tied to when construction begins (mandatory before occupancy after June 1, 2028). The most affected parties are public school districts, OSPI, and the Legislature. Districts may face new planning requirements and potential installation obligations for major new buildings and will depend on the Legislature to appropriate money to cover installation costs; if funds aren’t appropriated, districts could still have the obligation to notify but may lack reimbursement and face upfront costs or delayed installations. OSPI will need to create and administer the grant and analysis process, but key details are unclear from the text provided—exact appropriation amounts, the building code definition of “solar zones,” how positive net present value is calculated, and specific application and timing procedures are not specified.