HB 1001: Relating to funding education first

HB 1001 reflects the state supreme court’s order that the state constitutional provision requiring the state to amply provide for the education of all Washington children must be the state’s first and highest priority before any other state programs or operations. The bill would require that, the legislature will pass all appropriations for K-12 basic education and other K-12 education programs as separate legislation by both houses and delivered to the governor by specified dates for biennial and supplemental appropriations during the regular legislative session. In addition, the governor’s budget proposal must include separate budget documents for K-12 basic education and other K-12 purposes. Full funding of these appropriations must come from existing revenue sources, and not rely on new revenue or tax sources.