{"id":3226,"date":"2025-01-16T14:07:29","date_gmt":"2025-01-16T21:07:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/Krishnadasan\/?p=3226"},"modified":"2025-01-16T14:08:31","modified_gmt":"2025-01-16T21:08:31","slug":"krishnadasan-bill-to-lower-school-bond-threshold-heard-in-committee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/Krishnadasan\/2025\/01\/16\/krishnadasan-bill-to-lower-school-bond-threshold-heard-in-committee\/","title":{"rendered":"Krishnadasan bill to lower school bond threshold heard in committee"},"content":{"rendered":"

OLYMPIA<\/span> \u2014<\/span> Legislation<\/span><\/a> 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.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Senate Bill 5186<\/span><\/a> 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.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs Washington residents, we take great pride in our commitment to education and the long-term positive impact it has on our society,\u201d Krishnadasan said. \u201cWe 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.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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major capital projects, such as constructing new buildings, improving safety and seismic readiness, and upgrading outdated infrastructure.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.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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 \u2014 just shy of the 60% threshold.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis 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.\u201d Krishnadasan said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If enacted, Senate Bill 5186 would only take effect if voters approve <\/span>Senate Joint Resolution 8200<\/span><\/a>, 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\u2019s progress <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

OLYMPIA \u2014 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.\u00a0\u00a0 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.\u00a0 This supermajority requirement has been in place for nearly 80 years and is particularly challenging for smaller, rural districts to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":3227,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-release"],"yoast_head":"\nKrishnadasan bill to lower school bond threshold heard in committee - Sen. 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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.\u00a0 This supermajority requirement has been in place for nearly 80 years and is particularly challenging for smaller, rural districts to...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/Krishnadasan\/2025\/01\/16\/krishnadasan-bill-to-lower-school-bond-threshold-heard-in-committee\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Sen. 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