This bill creates a new section in chapter 28A.525 RCW that limits how much state funding can be used to pay for architectural and engineering (A/E) services on school district construction and modernization projects. It requires districts to select A/E consultants under chapter 39.80 RCW and to negotiate contracts with the most qualified consultants at fair and reasonable prices per RCW 39.80.050. The bill ties the state maximum allowable cost for A/E services to the latest edition of the American Institute of Architects' Handbook of Professional Practice and sets a graduated schedule of allowable A/E fees as a percentage of construction cost based on total square footage for new construction (ranging from 5.0% for the smallest projects down to 3.0% for projects 183,500 sq. ft. and above). For modernization projects, the state funding limit is set at 1.5 times the calculated amount for new construction, and for projects that combine new construction and modernization the state participation limit must be prorated according to those rules. The change is a funding and procedural limit (not a new crime or penalty) that affects school districts, A/E consultants, and state funding calculations. The bill text does not specify an exact section number beyond "Sec. 1," does not explain how future updates to the AIA Handbook will be dated or incorporated, and does not define terms such as "construction cost" or how square footage is to be measured. The bill was prefiled 12/08/25, read for the first time 01/12/26, and referred to the Committee on Ways & Means.

If enacted, the state will cap how much it will pay toward architectural and engineering fees on school construction projects, with reimbursement rates that scale down as project size grows (roughly about 5% for very small projects to about 3% for the largest new-builds) and allow up to 1.5 times that amount for modernization work; projects that mix new and modernization work will have state participation prorated. School districts still must pick and negotiate with the most qualified consultants under existing procurement rules, but districts will likely face more out-of-pocket risk if they agree to consultant fees above the state maximums, and consultants may face pressure to keep proposals within the capped percentages. The people most affected are school districts (their budgeting and local funding obligations may increase), architectural and engineering firms (pricing negotiations and competitiveness may change), and the state (which gains clearer, size-based limits on its share of A/E costs). Key implementation details are unclear from the text provided: it does not define how "construction cost" or square footage are measured, and it does not explain how future editions of the AIA Handbook will be fixed into calculations, so agencies or districts will likely need additional guidance to apply the caps consistently.