Today, a bill that would reduce higher ed assistance to vulnerable populations has now cleared both chambers of the legislature.
Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, opposed the bill, along with Senate Republicans. The bill received 28 yays and 20 nays and heads to the governor for a signature.
Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate
OLYMPIA… On April 10, the state House of Representatives approved legislation from Sen. Matt Boehnke that is intended to make college or a technical school more accessible for Washington students. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk for further consideration.
Senate Bill 5543 would extend eligibility for College Bound scholarships to students with a high school-equivalency certificate. Currently, only students with a high-school diploma are eligible.
Boehnke, R-Kennewick, who serves on the Senate Higher Education Committee, issued this statement about his legislation:
“This bill is about opportunity and fairness. By expanding College Bound Scholarship eligibility to students with a high school-equivalency certificate, we recognize that not all students follow the same path, which shouldn’t limit their future. Every student willing to work to pursue higher education deserves the chance to access the financial support that makes it possible.”
“Many students who earn an equivalency certificate have overcome significant personal, academic, or economic obstacles. Senate Bill 5443 would ensure those students aren’t left behind simply because they didn’t earn a traditional diploma. By opening the door to financial aid, we’re helping them take the next step toward a brighter future and a better career.”
“Supporting non-traditional learners is just good policy. When we make college more accessible for all students, no matter how they completed high school, we invest in a stronger, more skilled workforce. This bill would promote educational equity, strengthen our economy, and help close opportunity gaps across Washington.”
The 105-day legislative session began Jan. 13 and is scheduled to conclude on April 27.
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Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate
OLYMPIA… Today, two of Sen. Matt Boehnke’s bills, which would create more financial opportunities for students in Washington to attend college or a technical school, came one step closer to a vote by the full House of Representatives.
Senate Bill 5542 and Senate Bill 5543 were endorsed by the House Committee on Postsecondary Education and Workforce, with the former gaining unanimous support. Both are now before the committee that determines which legislation will be placed on the voting calendar.
SB 5542 would eliminate the requirement that a student be 19 years of age or older to be eligible for a tuition and fee waiver for a high school completion program.
“Education should never have an expiration date, and by removing the age restriction on high school diploma and certificate course fee waivers, this bill opens the door for more Washingtonians to pursue their education, regardless of their stage in life,” said Boehnke, R-Kennewick. “This bill is about breaking down barriers to opportunity. No one should be denied the chance to earn a diploma or certification simply because they don’t meet an arbitrary age requirement. By expanding access to fee waivers, we’re ensuring that more students, especially those facing financial hardship, can get the education they need to build a better future.”
SB 5543 would extend eligibility for College Bound Scholarships to students who have received a high school-equivalency certificate. Currently, only students with a high-school diploma are eligible.
“Every student deserves a fair shot at higher education, regardless of how they completed high school. Expanding this scholarship to include those with a high school-equivalency certificate removes an unnecessary barrier and opens doors for more students to pursue their dreams. This bill recognizes that success doesn’t follow a single path, and it ensures that financial aid is available to those willing to work for a brighter future.”
The measures have bipartisan sponsorship and were introduced in cooperation with the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.
Boehnke expects the bills will come up for a vote on the House floor ahead of the April 16 voting deadline. They were passed unanimously by the Senate during the first week of March.
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Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick and Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco/Credit: Washington State Senate
OLYMPIA… Today brought the deadline for the state Senate to pass legislation across to the House of Representatives, and the list of bills heading to the Legislature’s other chamber includes two of Sen. Matt Boehnke’s pro-education bills.
Senate Bill 5542 and Senate Bill 5543, both of which passed unanimously, would create more financial opportunities for students in Washington to attend college or a technical school.
SB 5542 would eliminate the requirement that a student be 19 years of age or older to be eligible for a high school completion program tuition and fee waiver.
“This is a transformative education bill,” said Boehnke, R-Kennewick. “While it may not solve every challenge, it will significantly reduce barriers for individuals over 19 seeking financial resources for community or technical college. By expanding access, we can increase enrollment and graduation rates, ultimately delivering more skilled workers to our local workforce.”
SB 5543 would extend eligibility for College Bound Scholarships to students who have received a high school-equivalency certificate. Currently, only students with a high-school diploma are eligible.
“Many college-bound kids before the pandemic did not get their high school diploma, for one reason or another, and went on to get an equivalency certificate. This bill opens up more financial resources for these kids and their families and brings a sense of pride. We want to inspire the future for all our kids, and this bill does that.”
Both measures have bipartisan sponsorship and were introduced in cooperation with the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.
Boehnke’s bills have been referred to the House Postsecondary Education and Workforce Committee.
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Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate
OLYMPIA… Two of Sen. Matt Boehnke’s pro-education bills have cleared the first deadline for legislation to move forward from policy committees in the Senate.
“Both of these bills will allow our higher-education system to accommodate more students to be successful as they move beyond the K-12 level,” Boehnke said. “They will remove barriers for these students to access the top-quality higher education our institutions offer.”
Senate Bill 5542 is about accommodating more enrollment in high-school completion programs at community and technical colleges. The bill, passed by the Senate’s higher-education committee, would expand tuition waivers for high school completers at community and technical colleges by removing the requirement that students be 19 years of age or older to qualify. The Senate Rules Committee now will decide if SB 5422 is eligible for a vote by the full Senate.
The second bill, Senate Bill 5543, would extend eligibility for College Bound Scholarships to students who have received a high school-equivalency certificate. Following its passage by the Senate education committee, the bill is now being considered by the Senate Ways and Means Committee because it would require a budget appropriation.
“These bills will bring a new level of fairness and equity for students across Washington to continue their education journey,” said Boehnke. “We know that more opportunities for students will lead to more success in their adult lives. Earning a degree or taking college-level classes will lead to a more educated workforce.”
Both measures have bipartisan sponsorship and were introduced in cooperation with the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.
“Not every student learns the same way, and a lot of kids find success in different types of learning environments. Smaller classes, a more fluid learning pace, and online access work really well for some students, and these bills will give kids better access to more scholarships and financial resources to be successful as adults.”
The next deadlines for action on legislation are this Friday, the “cutoff” for bills with financial implications to be moved out of fiscal committees, and March 12, the “house of origin” cutoff, meaning bills must be passed in their originating chamber to remain active.
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Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate
OLYMPIA … Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, has been elevated to Ranking Member on the Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee (ENET) for the 2025 legislative session.
He will continue on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and is joining the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee as well as the powerful Rules Committee.
Boehnke, who served on the ENET committee during the Legislature’s 2023-24 term, said he is honored to move up to the committee’s top Republican position.
“The work of the ENET committee lines up well with the 8th District’s interests. I am particularly focused on pursuing advances in nuclear power, hydrogen, and emergency technologies that support grid reliability, energy supply, and energy conservation, as those are important not only here but statewide,” said Boehnke.
“Having a larger role on this committee will also help me in reaching across the aisle and collaborating with the chair and the majority party to address the serious issues impacting our state.”
As a member of Ways and Means, Boehnke will be involved in developing the next state budget, and with the WSU Tri-Cities campus in his district, the new higher-education assignment is a good fit.
The Rules Committee serves as a gatekeeper, determining which of the bills approved at the committee level will be eligible for consideration by the full Senate.
More information about Boehnke is at mattboehnke.src.wastateleg.org. The 2025 Legislative Session begins Jan. 13, 2024,
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