Washington HB 2712: Making collective bargaining for school districts subject to the open public meetings act.

Bill Text

AN ACT Relating to making collective bargaining for school 1
districts subject to the open public meetings act; amending RCW 2
42.30.140; and adding a new section to chapter 41.59 RCW.3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 42.30.140 and 1990 c 98 s 1 are each amended to read 5
as follows:6
If any provision of this chapter conflicts with the provisions of 7
any other statute, the provisions of this chapter shall control: 8
PROVIDED, That this chapter shall not apply to:9
(1) The proceedings concerned with the formal issuance of an 10
order granting, suspending, revoking, or denying any license, permit, 11
or certificate to engage in any business, occupation, or profession 12
or to any disciplinary proceedings involving a member of such 13
business, occupation, or profession, or to receive a license for a 14
sports activity or to operate any mechanical device or motor vehicle 15
where a license or registration is necessary; or16
(2) That portion of a meeting of a quasi-judicial body which 17
relates to a quasi-judicial matter between named parties as 18
distinguished from a matter having general effect on the public or on 19
a class or group; or20
H-3275.2
HOUSE BILL 2712
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Marshall, Keaton, Dufault, and McClintock
Read first time 02/02/26. Referred to Committee on Labor & Workplace
Standards.
p. 1 HB 2712

(3) Matters governed by chapter 34.05 RCW, the Administrative 1
Procedure Act; or2
(4)(a) ((Collective)) Except as provided under section 2 of this 3
act, collective bargaining sessions with employee organizations, 4
including contract negotiations, grievance meetings, and discussions 5
relating to the interpretation or application of a labor agreement; 6
or (b) that portion of a meeting during which the governing body is 7
planning or adopting the strategy or position to be taken by the 8
governing body during the course of any collective bargaining, 9
professional negotiations, or grievance or mediation proceedings, or 10
reviewing the proposals made in the negotiations or proceedings while 11
in progress.12
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 41.59 13
RCW to read as follows:14
(1)(a) School districts shall conduct all collective bargaining 15
contract negotiations in a manner that is transparent and open to 16
public observation both in person and through video streaming or 17
playback.18
(b) This section does not require the school district to permit 19
public comment opportunities during negotiations.20
(2) The school district shall provide public notice of all 21
collective bargaining negotiations in accordance with the open public 22
meetings act, chapter 42.30 RCW.23
(3) The school district shall publish and maintain all notes, 24
documentation, and collective bargaining proposals on the school 25
district's official website within two business days of their 26
transmission between negotiating parties.27
(4) The school district shall publish all final collective 28
bargaining agreements on the school district's official website for 29
the life of the agreement.30
(5) Any person who has participated in any collective bargaining 31
negotiation in violation of this section is in violation of the open 32
public meetings act, chapter 42.30 RCW.33
(6) Open to public observation does not include meetings related 34
to any activity conducted pursuant to the enforcement of a collective 35
bargaining agreement after the agreement is negotiated and executed 36
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including, but not limited to, grievance proceedings of individual 1
employees.2
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p. 3 HB 2712