This week is the first full week of policy committees post floor session.  Committees in both the House and Senate will hold public hearings and decide which bills from the opposite chamber to advance.  All policy bills, unless deemed necessary to implement the budget, must have moved from a policy committee to either a fiscal committee or the floor by April 1.

House Higher Education

The House Higher Education Committee will hold a work session focused on student consumer protection at for-profit, private colleges followed by a public hearing on legislation to conduct a study of the cost drivers at Washington’s public institutions (SB 5133) and streamlining statutes for the community and technical colleges (SB 5977).

Later this week the committee will hold a public hearing on legislation that advances recommendations to improve and enhance certain components of the College Bound Scholarship program (SB 5851), extends eligibility to students enrolled/accepted for enrollment for at least three quarter credits in a qualifying higher education program for the State Need Grant (SB 5638), creates a wildlife college student loan program (SB 5318), and aligns state student veteran residency with federal student veteran residency requirements (SB 5355).

Senate Higher Education

The Senate Higher Education Committee will hold a series of public hearings on Tuesday and Thursday focused on a range of issues.  Among the bills scheduled include legislation to require WSAC to report to the legislature regarding the affordability of the higher education system (HB 1238), remove tuition-setting authority for public baccalaureate institutions (HB 1696), and a series of bills that would benefit student veterans.

The Senate will also hold a work session on Central Washington University’s online alternative credit model proposal.