---
type: "Bill"
title: "Concerning freedom of expression rights of students at public schools and institutions of higher education."
description: "Concerning freedom of expression rights of students at public schools and institutions of higher education."
jurisdiction: "us/states/wa"
legislature: "Washington Legislature"
session: "2017-2018"
identifier: "SB 5064"
citation: "Washington SB 5064 (2017-2018)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES", "SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS", "NEWS MEDIA", "COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES", "DISCRIMINATION"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Fain"]
version_count: 2
action_count: 39
vote_count: 4
first_action: "2017-01-11"
last_action: "2018-03-21"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/cd2b337b-6ef3-4ddd-96e7-9001de937d9a"
source_url: "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5064&year=2017"
source_hash: "bb486a22489a1573be01aad6351e46935193ad124771e5e35b28596aca004ec2"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-wa"]
---

# Washington SB 5064 (2017-2018) — Concerning freedom of expression rights of students at public schools and institutions of higher education.

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Bill** (committee substitute) — [source](http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/Biennium/2017-18/Htm/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5064.htm)
2. **Substitute Bill** (committee substitute) — [source](http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/Biennium/2017-18/Htm/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5064-S.htm)

## Votes

- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#16) — **45–4** (pass) · upper
- Final Passage as Amended by the House (#16) — **45–4** (pass) · upper
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#13) — **43–5** (pass) · upper
- Final Passage as Amended by the House (#25) — **91–6** (pass) · lower

## Sponsors

- Fain — primary (person)
- Becker — cosponsor (person)
- Billig — cosponsor (person)
- Braun — cosponsor (person)
- Carlyle — cosponsor (person)
- Chase — cosponsor (person)
- Darneille — cosponsor (person)
- King — cosponsor (person)
- Mullet — cosponsor (person)
- Palumbo — cosponsor (person)
- Pedersen — cosponsor (person)
- Ranker — cosponsor (person)
- Rivers — cosponsor (person)
- Rolfes — cosponsor (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2017-01-11** First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education. `reading-1`
- **2017-02-16** EDU - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. `passage`
- **2017-02-17** Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- **2017-02-21** Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
- **2017-03-02** 1st substitute bill substituted. `substitution`
- **2017-02-16** EDU - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. `passage`
- **2017-02-17** Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- **2017-02-21** Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
- **2017-03-02** 1st substitute bill substituted. `substitution`
- **2017-03-02** Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
- **2017-03-02** Third reading, passed; yeas, 45; nays, 4; absent, 0; excused, 0. `reading-3`
- **2017-03-06** First reading, referred to Education (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report). `reading-1`
- **2017-04-23** By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.
- **2017-04-23** Placed on Rules White Sheet.
- **2017-04-24** By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
- **2017-05-23** By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
- **2017-06-13** Placed on third reading by Rules Committee.
- **2017-06-21** Returned to Senate Rules 3.
- **2017-06-21** By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
- **2018-01-08** By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
- **2018-01-18** Placed on third reading by Rules Committee.
- **2018-01-19** Third reading, passed; yeas, 43; nays, 5; absent, 0; excused, 1. `reading-3`
- **2018-01-23** First reading, referred to Judiciary (Not Officially read and referred until adoption of Introduction report). `reading-1`
- **2018-02-22** JUDI - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).
- **2018-02-22** Minority; do not pass.
- **2018-02-23** Referred to Rules 2 Review.
- **2018-02-26** Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
- **2018-03-02** Amendment ruled beyond the scope and object of the bill.
- **2018-03-02** Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended.
- **2018-03-02** Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
- **2018-03-02** Third reading, passed; yeas, 91; nays, 6; absent, 0; excused, 1. `reading-3`
- **2018-03-05** Senate concurred in House amendments.
- **2018-03-05** Passed final passage; yeas, 45; nays, 4; absent, 0; excused, 0. `passage`
- **2018-03-07** President signed. `passage`
- **2018-03-08** Speaker signed. `passage`
- **2018-03-09** Delivered to Governor.
- **2018-03-21** Governor signed. `executive-signature`
- **2018-03-21** Chapter 125, 2018 Laws. `became-law`
- **2018-03-21** Effective date 6/7/2018. `became-law`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/cd2b337b-6ef3-4ddd-96e7-9001de937d9a`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Washington legislature records).