H-2929.1
HOUSE BILL 2538
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Pollet, Entenman, Taylor, Parshley, Goodman, Macri, Gregerson, Simmons, Santos, Nance, Fosse, Scott, Zahn, Obras, and Callan
Read first time 01/16/26. Referred to Committee on Postsecondary Education & Workforce.
AN ACT Relating to pay equity for part-time faculty; adding a new section to chapter 28B.50 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that Washington's community and technical colleges continue to rely heavily on part-time faculty who are paid significantly less than their full-time counterparts for teaching the same classroom hours. Despite possessing the same qualifications and delivering the same instruction, part-time faculty at some institutions earn as little as 52 percent of what full-time faculty receive for identical classroom teaching hours. This persistent inequity undermines students, faculty, and the long-term stability of our higher education system.
Recognizing this issue, the legislature first took action in 1996 by requiring an audit of part-time faculty compensation and establishing best practices for employment. From 1997 to 2007, funds were allocated to address pay disparities. However, specific funding to close the part-time faculty pay gap has not been provided since fiscal year 2009. While some colleges have made modest progress through collective bargaining, significant wage gaps remain, and systemic progress has been slow.