SB 5872

CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT
  ENGROSSED SENATE BILL 5872
  Chapter 51, Laws of 2026
  69th Legislature
  2026 Regular Session
  PREK PROMISE ACCOUNT
EFFECTIVE DATE: March 14, 2026—Except for section 3, which takes
  effect July 1, 2030.
Passed by the Senate February 11,  CERTIFICATE
2026
  Yeas 46 Nays 3  I, Sarah Bannister, Secretary of
  the   Senate   of   the   State  of
  Washington, do hereby certify that
  DENNY HECK  the attached is ENGROSSED SENATE
President of the Senate  BILL 5872 as passed by the Senate
  and the House of Representatives on
  the dates hereon set forth.
Passed by the House March 4, 2026
  Yeas 97 Nays 0  SARAH BANNISTER
  Secretary
  LAURIE JINKINS
Speaker of the House of
Representatives
Approved March 14, 2026 11:43 AM  FILED
  March 16, 2026
  Secretary of State
  BOB FERGUSON  State of Washington
Governor of the State of Washington
  ENGROSSED SENATE BILL 5872
  Passed Legislature - 2026 Regular Session
State of Washington  69th Legislature  2026 Regular Session
By Senators C. Wilson, Bateman, Conway, Dhingra, Liias, Nobles,
Pedersen, Riccelli, Robinson, Shewmake, and Wellman; by request of
Governor Ferguson
Prefiled 12/11/25.    Read first time 01/12/26.     Referred to Committee
on Ways & Means.
1      AN ACT Relating to establishing the preK promise account;
2  reenacting and amending RCW 43.79A.040 and 43.79A.040; adding a new
3  section to chapter 43.216 RCW; providing an effective date; providing
4  an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.
5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
6     NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 43.216
7 RCW under the subchapter heading "early childhood education and
8 assistance" to read as follows:
9     (1) The preK promise account is created in the custody of the
10 state treasurer to be used solely and exclusively for the early
11 childhood education and assistance program established in RCW
12 43.216.510. All receipts from any gifts, grants, or donations
13 received by the secretary for the preK promise account must be
14 deposited into the account. Only the secretary may authorize
15 expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment
16 procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not
17 required for expenditures.
18     (2) The department shall track funds received through gifts,
19 grants, or donations separately for each organization or entity that
20 deposits funds into the account. Expenditures from the account may be
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1  used only to support children in the early childhood education and
2  assistance program established in chapter 43.216 RCW.
3      (3) Any residue in the account must be accumulated and may not
4  revert to the general fund at the end of the biennium.
5     Sec. 2. RCW 43.79A.040 and 2025 c 399 s 13 and 2025 c 190 s 3
6 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
7     (1) Money in the treasurer's trust fund may be deposited,
8 invested, and reinvested by the state treasurer in accordance with
9 RCW 43.84.080 in the same manner and to the same extent as if the
10 money were in the state treasury, and may be commingled with moneys
11 in the state treasury for cash management and cash balance purposes.
12     (2) All income received from investment of the treasurer's trust
13 fund must be set aside in an account in the treasury trust fund to be
14 known as the investment income account.
15     (3) The investment income account may be utilized for the payment
16 of purchased banking services on behalf of treasurer's trust funds
17 including,   but   not  limited   to,  depository,  safekeeping,  and
18 disbursement functions for the state treasurer or affected state
19 agencies. The investment income account is subject in all respects to
20 chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for payments to
21 financial institutions. Payments must occur prior to distribution of
22 earnings set forth in subsection (4) of this section.
23     (4)(a) Monthly, the state treasurer must distribute the earnings
24 credited to the investment income account to the state general fund
25 except under (b), (c), and (d) of this subsection.
26     (b) The following accounts and funds must receive their
27 proportionate share of earnings based upon each account's or fund's
28 average daily balance for the period: The 24/7 sobriety account, the
29 Washington promise scholarship account, the Gina Grant Bull memorial
30 legislative page scholarship account, the Rosa Franklin legislative
31 internship program scholarship account, the Washington advanced
32 college tuition payment program account, the Washington college
33 savings program account, the preK promise account, the accessible
34 communities   account,  the   Washington  achieving   a  better  life
35 experience program account, the Washington career and college
36 pathways innovation challenge program account, the community and
37 technical college innovation account, the agricultural local fund,
38 the American Indian scholarship endowment fund, the behavioral health
39 loan repayment and scholarship program account, the Billy Frank Jr.
  p. 2  ESB 5872.SL
1 national statuary hall collection fund, the foster care scholarship
2 endowment fund, the foster care endowed scholarship trust fund, the
3 contract harvesting revolving account, the Washington state combined
4 fund drive account, the county 911 excise tax account, the county
5 road administration board emergency loan account, the toll collection
6 account, the developmental disabilities endowment trust fund, the
7 energy account, the energy facility site evaluation council account,
8 the fair fund, the family and medical leave insurance account, the
9 Fern Lodge maintenance account, the fish and wildlife federal lands
10 revolving account, the natural resources federal lands revolving
11 account, the food animal veterinarian conditional scholarship
12 account, the forest health revolving account, the fruit and vegetable
13 inspection account, the educator conditional scholarship account, the
14 game farm alternative account, the GET ready for math and science
15 scholarship account, the Washington global health technologies and
16 product development account, the grain inspection revolving fund, the
17 Washington history day account, the industrial insurance rainy day
18 fund, the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' plan 2 expense
19 fund, the local tourism promotion account, the low-income home
20 rehabilitation account, the medication for people living with HIV
21 rebate   revenue  account,  the   homeowner  recovery   account,  the
22 multiagency permitting team account, the northeast Washington wolf-
23 livestock management account, the pollution liability insurance
24 program trust account, the public use general aviation airport loan
25 revolving account, the regional transportation investment district
26 account, the rural rehabilitation account, the Washington sexual
27 assault kit account, the stadium and exhibition center account, the
28 youth athletic facility account, the self-insurance revolving fund,
29 the children's trust fund, the Washington horse racing commission
30 Washington bred owners' bonus fund and breeder awards account, the
31 Washington horse racing commission class C purse fund account, the
32 individual development account program account, the Washington horse
33 racing commission operating account, the life sciences discovery
34 fund, the Washington state library-archives building account, the
35 reduced cigarette ignition propensity account, the center for deaf
36 and hard of hearing youth account, the school for the blind account,
37 the public employees' and retirees' insurance reserve fund, the
38 school employees' benefits board insurance reserve fund, the public
39 employees' and retirees' insurance account, the school employees'
40 insurance account, the long-term services and supports trust account,
  p. 3  ESB 5872.SL
1 the   radiation  perpetual   maintenance  fund,   the  Indian  health
2 improvement reinvestment account, the department of licensing tuition
3 recovery trust fund, the student achievement council tuition recovery
4 trust fund, the tuition recovery trust fund, the industrial insurance
5 premium refund account, the mobile home park relocation fund, the
6 natural resources deposit fund, the Washington state health insurance
7 pool account, the federal forest revolving account, the Washington
8 saves administrative trust account, and the library operations
9 account.
10     (c) The following accounts and funds must receive 80 percent of
11 their proportionate share of earnings based upon each account's or
12 fund's average daily balance for the period: The advance right-of-way
13 revolving fund, the advanced environmental mitigation revolving
14 account, the federal narcotics asset forfeitures account, the high
15 occupancy vehicle account, the local rail service assistance account,
16 and the miscellaneous transportation programs account.
17     (d) Any state agency that has independent authority over accounts
18 or funds not statutorily required to be held in the custody of the
19 state treasurer that deposits funds into a fund or account in the
20 custody of the state treasurer pursuant to an agreement with the
21 office of the state treasurer shall receive its proportionate share
22 of earnings based upon each account's or fund's average daily balance
23 for the period.
24     (5) In conformance with Article II, section 37 of the state
25 Constitution, no trust accounts or funds shall be allocated earnings
26 without the specific affirmative directive of this section.
27     Sec. 3. RCW 43.79A.040 and 2025 c 399 s 14 and 2025 c 190 s 4
28 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
29     (1) Money in the treasurer's trust fund may be deposited,
30 invested, and reinvested by the state treasurer in accordance with
31 RCW 43.84.080 in the same manner and to the same extent as if the
32 money were in the state treasury, and may be commingled with moneys
33 in the state treasury for cash management and cash balance purposes.
34     (2) All income received from investment of the treasurer's trust
35 fund must be set aside in an account in the treasury trust fund to be
36 known as the investment income account.
37     (3) The investment income account may be utilized for the payment
38 of purchased banking services on behalf of treasurer's trust funds
39 including,   but  not   limited  to,   depository,  safekeeping,   and
  p. 4  ESB 5872.SL
1 disbursement functions for the state treasurer or affected state
2 agencies. The investment income account is subject in all respects to
3 chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is required for payments to
4 financial institutions. Payments must occur prior to distribution of
5 earnings set forth in subsection (4) of this section.
6     (4)(a) Monthly, the state treasurer must distribute the earnings
7 credited to the investment income account to the state general fund
8 except under (b), (c), and (d) of this subsection.
9     (b) The following accounts and funds must receive their
10 proportionate share of earnings based upon each account's or fund's
11 average daily balance for the period: The 24/7 sobriety account, the
12 Washington promise scholarship account, the Gina Grant Bull memorial
13 legislative page scholarship account, the Rosa Franklin legislative
14 internship program scholarship account, the Washington advanced
15 college tuition payment program account, the Washington college
16 savings program account, the preK promise account, the accessible
17 communities  account,   the  Washington   achieving  a   better  life
18 experience program account, the Washington career and college
19 pathways innovation challenge program account, the community and
20 technical college innovation account, the agricultural local fund,
21 the American Indian scholarship endowment fund, the behavioral health
22 loan repayment and scholarship program account, the Billy Frank Jr.
23 national statuary hall collection fund, the foster care scholarship
24 endowment fund, the foster care endowed scholarship trust fund, the
25 contract harvesting revolving account, the Washington state combined
26 fund drive account, the county 911 excise tax account, the county
27 road administration board emergency loan account, the toll collection
28 account, the developmental disabilities endowment trust fund, the
29 energy account, the energy facility site evaluation council account,
30 the fair fund, the family and medical leave insurance account, the
31 Fern Lodge maintenance account, the fish and wildlife federal lands
32 revolving account, the natural resources federal lands revolving
33 account, the food animal veterinarian conditional scholarship
34 account, the forest health revolving account, the fruit and vegetable
35 inspection account, the educator conditional scholarship account, the
36 game farm alternative account, the GET ready for math and science
37 scholarship account, the Washington global health technologies and
38 product development account, the grain inspection revolving fund, the
39 Washington history day account, the industrial insurance rainy day
40 fund, the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' plan 2 expense
  p. 5  ESB 5872.SL
1 fund, the local tourism promotion account, the low-income home
2 rehabilitation account, the medication for people living with HIV
3 rebate   revenue  account,  the   homeowner  recovery   account,  the
4 multiagency permitting team account, the northeast Washington wolf-
5 livestock management account, the public use general aviation airport
6 loan revolving account, the regional transportation investment
7 district account, the rural rehabilitation account, the Washington
8 sexual assault kit account, the stadium and exhibition center
9 account, the youth athletic facility account, the self-insurance
10 revolving fund, the children's trust fund, the Washington horse
11 racing commission Washington bred owners' bonus fund and breeder
12 awards account, the Washington horse racing commission class C purse
13 fund account, the individual development account program account, the
14 Washington horse racing commission operating account, the life
15 sciences discovery fund, the Washington state library-archives
16 building account, the reduced cigarette ignition propensity account,
17 the center for deaf and hard of hearing youth account, the school for
18 the blind account, the public employees' and retirees' insurance
19 reserve fund, the school employees' benefits board insurance reserve
20 fund, the public employees' and retirees' insurance account, the
21 school employees' insurance account, the long-term services and
22 supports trust account, the radiation perpetual maintenance fund, the
23 Indian health improvement reinvestment account, the department of
24 licensing tuition recovery trust fund, the student achievement
25 council tuition recovery trust fund, the tuition recovery trust fund,
26 the industrial insurance premium refund account, the mobile home park
27 relocation fund, the natural resources deposit fund, the Washington
28 state health insurance pool account, the federal forest revolving
29 account, the Washington saves administrative trust account, and the
30 library operations account.
31     (c) The following accounts and funds must receive 80 percent of
32 their proportionate share of earnings based upon each account's or
33 fund's average daily balance for the period: The advance right-of-way
34 revolving fund, the advanced environmental mitigation revolving
35 account, the federal narcotics asset forfeitures account, the high
36 occupancy vehicle account, the local rail service assistance account,
37 and the miscellaneous transportation programs account.
38     (d) Any state agency that has independent authority over accounts
39 or funds not statutorily required to be held in the custody of the
40 state treasurer that deposits funds into a fund or account in the
  p. 6  ESB 5872.SL
1 custody of the state treasurer pursuant to an agreement with the
2 office of the state treasurer shall receive its proportionate share
3 of earnings based upon each account's or fund's average daily balance
4 for the period.
5     (5) In conformance with Article II, section 37 of the state
6 Constitution, no trust accounts or funds shall be allocated earnings
7 without the specific affirmative directive of this section.
8     NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. Sections 1 and 2 of this act are necessary
9 for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or
10 safety, or support of the state government and its existing public
11 institutions, and take effect immediately.
12     NEW SECTION.    Sec. 5.     Section 2 of this act expires July 1,
13 2030.
14     NEW SECTION.   Sec. 6.    Section 3 of this act takes effect July 1,
15 2030.
  Passed by the Senate February 11, 2026.
  Passed by the House March 4, 2026.
  Approved by the Governor March 14, 2026.
  Filed in Office of Secretary of State March 16, 2026.
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