Washington HB 2262: Concerning actions for wrongful injury or death.

Bill Text

AN ACT Relating to civics education for public school students 1
through instruction and information about the production and use of 2
official signatures; amending RCW 28A.230.094 and 29A.60.300; and 3
creating a new section.4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that advances in 6
technology, evolving instructional priorities, and limited classroom 7
time have led to a decline in the teaching of cursive handwriting and 8
signature development in public schools. Because Washington state 9
does not require cursive instruction, many students complete their 10
education without learning how to sign their names in a clear, 11
distinctive, and consistent manner.12
(2) The legislature also finds that when students are not taught 13
how to develop and consistently reproduce a distinctive signature, 14
they may face avoidable challenges in voting, entering into legal 15
agreements, and conducting everyday civic and financial affairs. The 16
legislature further finds that a legible and repeatable handwritten 17
signature remains an essential life skill and a foundational element 18
of civic participation. Despite the growth of electronic signatures, 19
many important documents in Washington still require an original, wet 20
ink signature to verify identity and intent. These documents include, 21
H-3427.1
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2262
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By House Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Connors,
Rude, Schmidt, Klicker, Graham, Barnard, and Pollet)
READ FIRST TIME 02/04/26.
p. 1 SHB 2262

but are not limited to, ballots, initiatives, voter registration 1
forms, and other official documents that are required at the state 2
and federal level. For many young people, the lack of a consistent 3
signature can create barriers to fully exercising their rights and 4
responsibilities.5
(3) Therefore, the legislature, through education and reporting 6
requirements, intends to promote instruction that equips public 7
school students with the ability to sign their names legibly and 8
consistently as a practical life skill and as a matter of civic 9
education, helping ensure that future generations are prepared to 10
participate in our democratic process and in the legal and economic 11
life of our state.12
Sec. 2. RCW 28A.230.094 and 2025 c 369 s 203 are each amended to 13
read as follows:14
(1)(a) Beginning with or before the 2020-21 school year, each 15
school district that operates a high school must provide a mandatory 16
one-half credit stand-alone course in civics for each high school 17
student. Except as provided by (c) of this subsection, civics content 18
and instruction embedded in other social studies courses do not 19
satisfy the requirements of this subsection.20
(b) Credit awarded to students who complete the civics course 21
must be applied to course credit requirements in social studies that 22
are required for high school graduation.23
(c) Civics content and instruction required by this section may 24
be embedded in social studies courses that offer students the 25
opportunity to earn both high school and postsecondary credit.26
(2) The content of the civics course must include, but is not 27
limited to:28
(a) Federal, state, tribal, and local government organization and 29
procedures;30
(b) Rights and responsibilities of citizens addressed in the 31
Washington state and United States Constitutions, including the 32
statement of student rights and materials delineated in RCW 33
28A.230.005;34
(c) Current issues addressed at each level of government;35
(d) Electoral issues, including elections, ballot measures, 36
initiatives, and referenda;37
p. 2 SHB 2262

(e) The study and completion of the civics component of the 1
federally administered naturalization test required of persons 2
seeking to become naturalized United States citizens; ((and))3
(f) The importance in a free society of living the basic values 4
and character traits specified in RCW 28A.150.211; and5
(g) Beginning with or before the 2027-28 school year, instruction 6
in producing a legible, repeatable official cursive signature, and 7
how signatures are used by election officials in election, 8
initiative, referenda, and recall processes. For purposes of this 9
subsection (g), a student's signature may be a personalized, 10
handwritten signature or mark that aligns with the student's primary 11
language or culture. Instruction provided in accordance with this 12
subsection (g) should include a historical overview of signatures in 13
a civics context, including how signature practices and exclusions 14
have limited civic participation by historically marginalized 15
communities. The development of curriculum for use in the instruction 16
may be coordinated with the office of the secretary of state and 17
county auditors in accordance with the community outreach plan 18
required by RCW 29A.60.168. Nothing in this subsec