Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 6 D · 2 R cosponsors

HB 2309 — Reducing barriers to state employment by eliminating postgraduate degree requirements that are unnecessary.

Last action — Effective date 6/11/2026.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 07, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Bob Ferguson (Democratic) on March 14, 2026.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 98% · high confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 8 sponsors

    1 primary, 7 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (6 D · 2 R) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

3 added · 23 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of Bill HB 2309, a few lines were added, but a significant amount of administrative language regarding the bill's certification by the House and Senate was removed. This change streamlines the bill by eliminating unnecessary text, making it easier to read and understand. Simplifying the document helps ensure that the focus remains on the essential aspects of the legislation, which can facilitate better communication with the public and stakeholders. Overall, this makes the bill more accessible and efficient for its intended purpose.

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Latest
CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT HOUSE BILL 2309 69th Legislature Regular Session Passed by the House January 29, 2026 CERTIFICATE Yeas 97 Nays 0 I, Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby Speaker of the House of certify that the attached is HOUSE BILL 2309 as passed by the House of Representatives Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.
Z-0593.1 HOUSE BILL 2309 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By Representatives Leavitt, Rude, Reed, Zahn, Kloba, Doglio, Ormsby, and Jacobsen;
Passed by the Senate March 4, 2026 Yeas 48 Nays 0 Chief Clerk President of the Senate Approved FILED Secretary of State State of Washington Governor of the State of Washington HOUSE BILL 2309 Passed Legislature - 2026 Regular Session State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By Representatives Leavitt, Rude, Reed, Zahn, Kloba, Doglio, Ormsby, and Jacobsen;
1 HB 2309.PL (g) Not require a two-year ((or)), four-year, or postgraduate college degree as the only way to demonstrate qualifications for the role unless that degree is required by law for an employee to perform the essential functions of a classification;
1 HB 2309 (g) Not require a two-year ((or)), four-year, or postgraduate college degree as the only way to demonstrate qualifications for the role unless that degree is required by law for an employee to perform the essential functions of a classification;
2 HB 2309.PL
2 HB 2309
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Action History

  1. Effective date 6/11/2026.

  2. Chapter 38, 2026 Laws.

  3. Governor signed.

  4. Delivered to Governor.

  5. President signed.

  6. Speaker signed.

  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.

  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

  9. Placed on second reading consent calendar.

  10. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

  11. SGTE - Majority; do pass.

  12. Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections at 1:30 PM.

  13. Public hearing in the Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections at 8:30 AM.

  14. First reading, referred to State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections.

  15. Third reading, passed; yeas, 97; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.

  16. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

  17. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

  18. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

  19. SGOV - Majority; do pass.

  20. Executive action taken in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations at 1:30 PM.

  21. Public hearing in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations at 8:00 AM.

  22. First reading, referred to State Government & Tribal Relations.

  23. Prefiled for introduction.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 7 co-sponsors · 143 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (7)

Not signed on (143)

143 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 143 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

3rd Reading & Final Passage (#6)

Passed 48 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 29001
Republican 19000
Total 48001
% of votes cast 98%0%0%2%
How each member voted (49)
Member Party Vote
Adrian Cortes Democrat Yea
Annette Cleveland Democrat Yea
Bob Hasegawa Democrat Yea
Claire Wilson Democrat Yea
Claudia Kauffman Democrat Not Voting
Deborah Krishnadasan Democrat Yea
Derek Stanford Democrat Yea
Drew Hansen Democrat Yea
Emily Alvarado Democrat Yea
Jamie Pedersen Democrat Yea
Javier Valdez Democrat Yea
Jesse Salomon Democrat Yea
Jessica Bateman Democrat Yea
John Lovick Democrat Yea
June Robinson Democrat Yea
Lisa Wellman Democrat Yea
Liz Lovelett Democrat Yea
Manka Dhingra Democrat Yea
Marcus Riccelli Democrat Yea
Marko Liias Democrat Yea
Mike Chapman Democrat Yea
Noel Frame Democrat Yea
Rebecca Saldaña Democrat Yea
Sharon Shewmake Democrat Yea
Steve Conway Democrat Yea
T'wina Nobles Democrat Yea
Tina Orwall Democrat Yea
Vandana Slatter Democrat Yea
Victoria Hunt Democrat Yea
Yasmin Trudeau Democrat Yea
Chris Gildon Republican Yea
Curtis King Republican Yea
Drew MacEwen Republican Yea
Jeff Holy Republican Yea
Jeff Wilson Republican Yea
Jim McCune Republican Yea
John Braun Republican Yea
Judy Warnick Republican Yea
Keith Goehner Republican Yea
Keith Wagoner Republican Yea
Leonard Christian Republican Yea
Mark Schoesler Republican Yea
Matt Boehnke Republican Yea
Nikki Torres Republican Yea
Paul Harris Republican Yea
Perry Dozier Republican Yea
Phil Fortunato Republican Yea
Ron Muzzall Republican Yea
Shelly Short Republican Yea

Official roll call →

3rd Reading & Final Passage (#5)

Passed 97 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 38000
Democrat 59001
Total 97001
% of votes cast 99%0%0%1%
How each member voted (98)
Member Party Vote
Adam Bernbaum Democrat Yea
Adison Richards Democrat Yea
Adrian Cortes Democrat Yea
Alex Ramel Democrat Yea
Alicia Rule Democrat Yea
Amy Walen Democrat Yea
April Berg Democrat Yea
Beth Doglio Democrat Yea
Brandy Donaghy Democrat Yea
Brianna Thomas Democrat Yea
Chipalo Street Democrat Yea
Chris Stearns Democrat Yea
Cindy Ryu Democrat Yea
Clyde Shavers Democrat Yea
Dan Bronoske Democrat Yea
Darya Farivar Democrat Yea
Dave Paul Democrat Yea
David Hackney Democrat Yea
Davina Duerr Democrat Yea
Debra Entenman Democrat Yea
Debra Lekanoff Democrat Yea
Edwin Obras Democrat Yea
Gerry Pollet Democrat Yea
Greg Nance Democrat Yea
Jake Fey Democrat Yea
Jamila Taylor Democrat Yea
Janice Zahn Democrat Yea
Javier Valdez Democrat Yea
Joe Fitzgibbon Democrat Yea
Joe Timmons Democrat Yea
Julia Reed Democrat Yea
Kristine Reeves Democrat Yea
Larry Springer Democrat Yea
Lauren Davis Democrat Yea
Laurie Jinkins Democrat Yea
Lillian Ortiz-Self Democrat Yea
Lisa Callan Democrat Yea
Lisa Parshley Democrat Yea
Liz Berry Democrat Yea
Mari Leavitt Democrat Yea
Mary Fosse Democrat Yea
Melanie Morgan Democrat Yea
Mia Gregerson Democrat Yea
Monica Jurado Stonier Democrat Yea
My-Linh Thai Democrat Yea
Natasha Hill Democrat Yea
Nicole Macri Democrat Yea
Osman Salahuddin Democrat Yea
Roger Goodman Democrat Yea
Sharlett Mena Democrat Yea
Sharon Tomiko Santos Democrat Yea
Sharon Wylie Democrat Yea
Shaun Scott Democrat Yea
Shelley Kloba Democrat Yea
Steve Bergquist Democrat Yea
Steve Tharinger Democrat Not Voting
Strom Peterson Democrat Yea
Tarra Simmons Democrat Yea
Timm Ormsby Democrat Yea
Zach Hall Democrat Yea
Alex Ybarra Republican Yea
Andrew Barkis Republican Yea
Andrew Engell Republican Yea
April Connors Republican Yea
Brian Burnett Republican Yea
Carolyn Eslick Republican Yea
Chris Corry Republican Yea
Cyndy Jacobsen Republican Yea
Dan Griffey Republican Yea
David Stuebe Republican Yea
Deb Manjarrez Republican Yea
Drew Stokesbary Republican Yea
Ed Orcutt Republican Yea
Gloria Mendoza Republican Yea
Hunter Abell Republican Yea
Jenny Graham Republican Yea
Jeremie Dufault Republican Yea
Jim Walsh Republican Yea
Joe Schmick Republican Yea
Joel McEntire Republican Yea
John Ley Republican Yea
Joshua Penner Republican Yea
Kevin Waters Republican Yea
Mark Klicker Republican Yea
Mary Dye Republican Yea
Matt Marshall Republican Yea
Michael Keaton Republican Yea
Mike Steele Republican Yea
Mike Volz Republican Yea
Peter Abbarno Republican Yea
Rob Chase Republican Yea
Sam Low Republican Yea
Skyler Rude Republican Yea
Stephanie Barnard Republican Yea
Stephanie McClintock Republican Yea
Suzanne Schmidt Republican Yea
Tom Dent Republican Yea
Travis Couture Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

labor education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 2309?
HB 2309 is sponsored by Cyndy Jacobsen (Republican), Timm Ormsby (Democrat), Beth Doglio (Democrat), Shelley Kloba (Democrat), Janice Zahn (Democrat), Julia Reed (Democrat), Skyler Rude (Republican), and Mari Leavitt (Democrat).
What is the current status of HB 2309?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 07, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 2309?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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