Rep. Skyler Rude’s financial education bill passes House, paving way for confident, prepared high school graduates

Late Wednesday night, the Washington State House of Representatives approved House Bill 1285, landmark legislation sponsored by Rep. Skyler Rude, R-Walla Walla, to make financial education a graduation requirement for public high school students.

“Financial literacy is a fundamental life skill, and ensuring all students graduate with a strong foundation in personal finance is a game-changer,” said Rude, ranking member on the House Education Committee. “From budgeting and saving to understanding loans and credit, these real-world skills will set our students up for success.”

HB 1285 builds on Washington’s existing efforts to improve financial education instruction. The bill requires all public high schools to provide financial education instruction aligned with state standards by the 2027-28 school year and makes completing these courses a graduation requirement starting with the class of 2031.

Rude has been a champion of financial education for years, working across the aisle to secure support for this critical initiative.

“We’ve seen broad bipartisan agreement that financial education is essential,” Rude added. “This bill is about giving every student, regardless of background or economic status, the tools they need to make informed financial decisions throughout their lives.”

The legislation also directs the Financial Education Public-Private Partnership to develop an implementation plan. It requires the State Board of Education to ensure districts are prepared to meet the new requirement.

“The passage of this bill in the House is a huge step forward,” concluded Rude. “I’m optimistic that the Senate will recognize the policy’s value and send it to the governor’s desk.”

After years of work and advocacy, the bill heads to the Senate for further consideration.

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Washington State House Republican Communications
houserepublicans.wa.gov