Bill
SB 5167
Enacts Washington's 2025-27 operating budget, providing two-year funding for state agencies, K-12, higher ed, health and more, with provisos; partially vetoed.
Status: Enacted (Chapter 424, 2025 Laws PV). Delivered to governor 4/28/2025; governor partially vetoed 5/20/2025. Effective date: 5/20/2025 (emergency provisions).
Purpose
- SB 5167 is Washington State’s 2025–2027 biennial operating budget (with supplemental adjustments to the 2023–2025 budget). It establishes appropriations for state agencies, K–12 and higher education, health and human services, natural resources, public safety, and other state programs for the two‑year fiscal biennium beginning July 1, 2025 and ending June 30, 2027.
Overall budget totals (reported in companion documents)
- Near General Fund‑Outlook (NGF‑O): roughly $77.8–$78.5 billion for 2025–27 (different committee/engrossed versions report slightly different NGF‑O totals).
- Total budgeted funds (state, federal, and other): approximately $150.2–$150.4 billion for 2025–27.
Key structural features
- The act adopts appropriations organized by agency/part and includes many line‑item and proviso riders (including “provided solely” language tying some appropriations to enactment of related bills).
- The bill includes both ongoing and one‑time appropriations, fund shifts, and transfers among accounts (including NGF‑O accounts). It also contains statutory changes and technical amendments across many RCWs referenced in the bill caption.
Notable programmatic and fiscal provisions (selected)
- Legislative auditing work: Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee (JLARC) funding and directed reviews — e.g., $400,000 for a JLARC review of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families’ juvenile rehabilitation programs (report due June 30, 2026); $400,000 for an ignition interlock device evaluation. (Documented in budget provisos.)
- Conditional “provided solely” appropriations tied to enactment of separate bills (examples across amendments): funding contingent on bills such as HB 1108 (House cost task force), HB 1267 (special education), HB 1404 (free school meals), HB 1832 (student performance), HB 1435 (law enforcement hiring grants), SHB 1123 (hospital affordability) and others — many of these include dollar amounts and lapse clauses if the underlying bill is not enacted.
- Health care and Medicaid: multiple amendments address Apple Health (Medicaid) program funding choices, provider rate increases, and nursing facility rebasing; some amendments removed or added funding for Apple Health expansion and Medicaid rate policies. One adopted amendment directs increases in behavioral health/health professionals loan program scholarship dispersal.
- Education: numerous K‑12 and higher education funding changes appear in amendments — e.g., special education enrollment limit funding, READ grants and school staff bonuses tied to a separate student performance bill, funding for free school meals, and changes to per‑pupil items.
- Public employees’ retirement and benefits: provisions/additions to account for pension contribution changes and employer benefit funding tied to other bills (e.g., funding to cover contribution increases related to potential Plan 1 COLAs).
Who is affected
- All state agencies and entities receiving state appropriations (K–12 districts, higher education institutions, health and human services providers, corrections, natural resource agencies, etc.).
- Residents and service recipients of health care, education, juvenile rehabilitation, and other programs funded in the budget.
- Local governments and tribes in areas where provisos require consultation or condition grants (several amendments address local/tribal consultation or local eligibility).
Procedural/timeline notes
- Introduced Jan 8, 2025; passed both houses after conference committee action (Senate and House final passage 4/27/2025). Conference committee reports adopted; enrolled/engrossed and transmitted to governor 4/28/2025. Governor partially vetoed on 5/20/2025; the bill became law (Chapter 424) effective 5/20/2025. Many appropriations include lapsing conditions if linked companion bills are not enacted by June 30, 2025, or other deadlines.
Where to find details
- The bill text contains hundreds of specific line‑item appropriations, provisos, and statutory changes. For agency and line‑item details, consult the enrolled/engrossed bill and the Office of Financial Management/fiscal.wa.gov budget documents that accompany the 2025–27 operating budget.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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