Workforce Board Legislative Agenda 2027

The Workforce Board supports legislative policies and proposals that:

• • Increase the ability of Washington residents to obtain and retain high-skill, high-wage jobs that support economic mobility and long-term self-sufficiency.
  • Increase the educational attainment of Washington’s population to fuel a thriving economy.

1. Prepare youth for success in college and careers:

• • Support initiatives to increase financial aid completion rates and maintain funding sources for state financial aid such as the WA Grant.
    – The Workforce Board endorses Governor Ferguson’s proposal to make completion of the FAFSA or WASFA – with a clear and accessible opt-out process – a graduation requirement.
  • Retain one credit of CTE as a core High School Graduation requirement.

2. Support proposals that create pathways to self-sufficiency for Washington’s workforce by reducing the economic mobility gap for Washington’s most vulnerable populations and disadvantaged communities.

• • Retain investments in programs that prevent students from dropping out of high school, emphasize work-based learning, and increase credential attainment for youth and adults.
  • Support integrated service delivery in workforce and social services to assist individual receiving basic food and health benefits to meet federal work requirement and more easily access education and training services to obtain good-paying jobs.
  • Continue the investment in programs that support pathways to work such as Economic Security for All (EcSA) and the Community Reinvestment Program (CRP) that have shown to increase the economic mobility and self-sufficiency of individuals served. Leverage federal funding, where possible, to expand capacity.

3. Promote policies that give Washington workers the skills and training needed to drive a thriving state economy.

• • Maintain or expand capacity in workforce programs to meet student, worker, and employer needs. These programs include: CTE in middle schools, high schools, and skills centers, community and technical college professional technical programs, associate and bachelor’s degree programs, traditional and non-traditional registered apprenticeships, and incumbent worker training, such as the Job Skills Program.
  • Identify models and industry sector partnerships where labor and business can more directly inform workforce, education, and training partners, reducing redundancies and encouraging stronger alignment of education and training programs with employer needs.
  • The Workforce Board will continue advising and supporting development of implementation of Workforce Pell in Washington to enable federal financial assistance for short-term training and credentialing opportunities, allowing easy access for workers to upskill or reskill in high-wage, high-demand industries and occupations.

4. Analyze policy proposals on workforce impacts of AI for Washington students, workers, and businesses — specific to training for responsible use, evolving job competencies, working conditions, and education and training system readiness.

Download the Workforce Board’s Legislative Agenda 2027

The Workforce Board has submitted our 2027 budget requests to the Office of Financial Management for review.

Decision Package Highlight: Long-Term Care Workforce Funding Reduction

Decision Package

The Workforce Board proposes a 20 percent funding reduction for the Long-Term Care (LTC) Workforce Collaborative. This action addresses budget constraints while aiming to sustain essential components. Washington’s LTC staffing shortages are expected to worsen as the labor pool shrinks and the population over age 65 grows by 14 percent by 2030—exceeding 1.7 million residents—and as more individuals with disabilities or traumatic injuries require care. This request aims to continue work to relieve shortage issues while providing an avenue to pause on certain research components.

Decision Package Highlight: Tuition Recovery Trust Fund Shift for Consumer Protection

Decision Package

The Workforce Board is recommending a fund shift to the Tuition Recovery Trust Fund of up to $400,000 for two years (FY28-29) of GF-S agency operations for private vocational school licensing, technical assistance, regulation, and non-reimbursable federal education program oversight and approval for veterans.  

Maintenance Request: Retirement Buyout Costs

Decision Package

The Workforce Board has two long-time employees separating from state service in FY27. Due to limited budget availability, the agency is requesting funds for a one-time separation buyout of annual and sick leave accruals. The agency’s budget is unable to accommodate these costs without additional funding. 

Jan. 21, 2026: House Postsecondary Education and Workforce 

Health and Social Policy Associate Renee Fullerton testifies on House Bill 2286, which is focused on alternative routes to social worker licensure.

Jan. 21, 2026: House Labor and Workplace Standards

Deputy Executive Director Nova Gattman testifies on House Bill 2492, which requires state registered apprentice programs to provide two hours of behavioral health and wellness training.

Jan. 16, 2026: Senate Environment, Energy and Technology

Clean Energy Technology Workforce Policy Manager Ilene Munk testifies on Senate Bill 5821, which is focused on integrating advanced nuclear energy into the state’s energy strategy.

Jan. 13, 2026: House Environment and Energy

Clean Energy Technology Workforce Policy Manager Ilene Munk testifies on House Bill 2090, which is focused on integrating advanced nuclear energy into the state’s energy strategy.

Archive 

View archived legislative presentations here.