Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a slew of bills while visiting the Tri-City Development Council in Kennewick on May 15, including one that expands the College Bound scholarship program and was sponsored by a Kennewick Republican. 

Senate Bill 5543 will lead to eligible students being automatically enrolled for the College Bound scholarship without requiring families navigate an application process, according to a release. The College Bound Scholarship covers tuition and fees at Washington’s public colleges and universities and provides a stipend for books.  

The bill also clarifies eligibility for students who have experienced foster care or adoption and aligns more closely with the Washington College Grant to provide a stronger safety net for low-income students. 

The law was sponsored by state Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick. It was unanimously approved by the Senate and had bipartisan support in the House, including from Boehnke’s colleagues in the 8th Legislative District. 

“This isn’t just a bill – it’s a promise to every seventh-grader in Washington that if you work hard and graduate, we’ve got your back,” Boehnke said in a statement. “We’re investing in the next generation of nurses, teachers, technicians and entrepreneurs. This is a smart investment in our workforce and communities’ future.” 

There are still a number of bills left for Ferguson to sign from the recently ended legislative session, most notably the various budget bills and the tax bills that fund those budgets. He has until May 20 to sign them. Pressed by the Washington State Standard on whether lawmakers should be planning to return in summer to deal with his decisions, Ferguson smiled. “I can’t give anything away. I want to keep people guessing,” he said. 

The other bills signed in Kennewick:

Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1912: Relating to the exemption for fuels used for agricultural purposes in the climate commitment act. Primary sponsor: Rep. Tom Dent.

Substitute House Bill No. 1253: Relating to expanding the ability of consumer-owned utilities to enter into joint use agreements. Primary sponsor: Rep. Alex Ybarra.

Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1258: Relating to providing funding for municipalities participating in the regional 911 emergency communications system. Primary sponsor: Rep. Timm Ormsby.

Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1648: Relating to child care provider qualifications. Primary sponsor: Rep. Tom Dent.

House Bill No. 1934: Relating to the disclosure of information pertaining to complainants, accusers, and witnesses in an employment investigation. Primary sponsor: Rep. Rob Chase.

House Bill No. 1936: Relating to extending the expiration of certain school employee postretirement employment restrictions. Primary sponsor: Rep. Rob Chase.

Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 5303: Relating to extending the water supply milestone for the Yakima river basin integrated plan to 2035. Primary sponsor: Sen. Judy Warnick.

Substitute Senate Bill No. 5323: Relating to the penalties for theft and possession of stolen property from first responders. Primary sponsor: Sen. Judy Warnick

Senate Bill No. 5485: Relating to livestock identification. Primary sponsor: Sen. Judy Warnick

Senate Bill No. 5543: Relating to equity in eligibility for the college bound scholarship. Primary sponsor: Sen. Matt Boehnke.

Senate Bill No. 5682: Relating to the Washington customized employment training program. Primary sponsor: Rep. Judy Warnick.