OLYMPIA — Legislation sponsored by Sen. Deb Krishnadasan (D-Gig Harbor) to lower the threshold required for school bonds to pass from 60% to 55% was heard in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee Thursday.
Under current Washington law, school bonds must receive a supermajority of 60% to pass. Washington is now one of only seven states that still requires this threshold for school bonds. In contrast, 40 states only require a simple majority of 50%+1 for similar measures.
This supermajority requirement has been in place for nearly 80 years and is particularly challenging for smaller, rural districts to pass bonds for critical school construction and infrastructure.
Senate Bill 5186 seeks to modernize this standard by lowering the threshold to 55%. The proposed change reflects the growing needs of Washington communities, such as maintaining safe, functional school facilities, accommodating population growth, and addressing aging infrastructure.
“As Washington residents, we take great pride in our commitment to education and the long-term positive impact it has on our society,” Krishnadasan said. “We know providing a world-class education system is one of the most important investments we can make in the future of our communities. Every student deserves to learn in a safe, modern school building, but in far too many districts, that promise is not being fulfilled.”
School bonds are a critical tool for raising funds to support major capital projects, such as constructing new buildings, improving safety and seismic readiness, and upgrading outdated infrastructure. Under the current 60% supermajority requirement, a minority of just 40% of voters can effectively block these critical investments.
In February 2021, only 33% of school bond measures on the ballot passed despite many receiving majority support from voters. In some cases, bonds failed with as much as 59.9% voter approval — just shy of the 60% threshold.
“This bill is a thoughtful compromise that will ensure our schools can meet the needs of our students and teachers while still reflecting the will of the majority of voters.” Krishnadasan said.
If enacted, Senate Bill 5186 would only take effect if voters approve Senate Joint Resolution 8200, a constitutional amendment required to implement the new policy. If passed by the Legislature, the amendment would appear on the November 2025 ballot for voter approval. Follow the bill’s progress here.
