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WashingtonHB2044indirectPassed House

Addressing unexcused student absences.

  1. Introduced
  2. Passed House
  3. Passed Senate
  4. To Governor
  5. Became Law

Overview

HB2044 addresses unexcused student absences, which typically involves strengthening attendance enforcement mechanisms in public schools. While the bill focuses on public school attendance, compulsory attendance laws can affect homeschooling families because they define what educational alternatives (including homeschooling) satisfy the state's attendance requirements.

Why it matters: Homeschoolers need to understand how absence-related policy changes might intersect with their legal obligations to document instruction and comply with state notice or reporting requirements, especially if the bill tightens attendance definitions or reporting standards.

Topic: compulsory_attendance · classifier confidence 72%

What this changes

Amends existing law

Law today: Washington state currently has compulsory attendance laws that define and penalize unexcused student absences. The bill's title and summary do not provide the specific current statute or its exact requirements.

If passed: Without the full bill text, the exact changes cannot be determined with certainty. However, based on the title, this bill likely modifies how school districts identify, track, or respond to unexcused absences—possibly adjusting definitions, notification procedures, penalties, or intervention processes. The impact on homeschoolers depends on whether the bill applies to home-schooled students or only to traditional public/private schools.

AI-generated from the bill text — verify against the official text.

Should I support this?

Little direct impact

Absent the full bill text, we cannot determine whether this bill affects homeschoolers at all. If it applies only to traditional school attendance, it would not impact homeschooling families. If it expands compulsory-attendance enforcement to homeschools, it could be harmful; if it clarifies exemptions for homeschoolers, it could be helpful. A full reading is necessary to assess the actual effect.

An AI assessment from a Christian-family perspective — religious freedom, parental rights, and freedom in education — not legal or voting advice.

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Official summary

Addressing unexcused student absences.

Sponsors

  • Timm Ormsby (D)
  • Lisa Parshley (D)
  • Nicole Macri (D)
  • Mia Gregerson (D)

Status timeline

  1. 2026-01-12Referred to Appropriations.H
  2. 2026-01-12Rules Committee relieved of further consideration.H
  3. 2026-01-12By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.H
  4. 2025-04-27By resolution, returned to House Rules Committee for third reading.H
  5. 2025-04-25Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.S
  6. 2025-04-23Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.S
  7. 2025-04-22First reading, referred to Ways & Means.S
  8. 2025-04-19Third reading, passed; yeas, 55; nays, 38; absent, 0; excused, 5.H
  9. 2025-04-19Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.H
  10. 2025-04-19Floor amendmentH
  11. 2025-04-16Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.H
  12. 2025-04-08Referred to Rules 2 Review.H
  13. 2025-04-08Minority; do not pass.H
  14. 2025-04-08APP - Majority; do pass.H
  15. 2025-04-08Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.H
  16. 2025-04-05Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM.H
  17. 2025-03-31Referred to Appropriations.H
  18. 2025-03-31Committee relieved of further consideration.H
  19. 2025-03-24First reading, referred to Education.H

H = House · S = Senate · A = Assembly