This is to be expected as committee cut-off dates near (early next week) and the Legislature approaches the half-way mark in the session (4th week is next week).

So here is the latest news:

Evergreen Supported Legislation

The Senate Govenrment Operations & Elections held a public hearing and moved Senate Bill 5041. SB 5041 encourages agencies to contract and purchsefrom veteran-owned businesses. Evergreen supported the legislation which was reinforced with testimony in favor of the bill by The Council of Presidents.

The House Higher Education Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2930. House Bill 2930 extends the Future Teacher Conditional Scholarships to students seeking a mathematics endorsement.

Evergreen testified in support of the bill and encouraged policymakers to work towards offering similar scholarship opportunities in the future to individuals seeking endorsements in special education and ELL. 

Legislation of Concern to Evergreen

The House Commerce & Labor Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2805. House Bill 2805 requires contractors on public works projects (i.e. higher education capital projects) that are over $1 million to provide additional reporting. 

Evergreen expressed concerns with regard to additional reporting at a time of declining resources and the potential for increased costs to public works projects.

HB 2805 is expected to be moved out of committee later today.

Bills of Interest to Evergreen

The Senate Ways & Means Committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 6572. Evergreen did not weigh in during the public hearing but is tracking this legislation as it moves through the process.

Senate Bill 6572 eliminates several inactive funds and accounts and transfers any remaining balances in these accounts to the General Fund. In addition, any balances in the School Construction Revolving Fund are transferred to the General Fund.

The accounts and funds to be eliminated include: City and County Advance Right-of-Way Revolving Account; Community and Technical College Fund for Innovation and Quality Account; Dairy Products Commission Facility Account; Data Processing Building Construction Account; Education Technology Account; Energy Efficiency Construction Account; Fruit Commission Facility Account; Geothermal Account; K-20 Technology Account; Morrill Account; Personal Health Services Account; Prescription Drug Purchasing Account;Regional Transportation Investment District Account; Purpose District Research Services Account; Two-year Student Child Care in Higher Education Account; Warren G. Magnuson Institute Trust Account; Washington Fruit Express Account; and Washington Service Corps Scholarship Account.

No further action has been scheduled on this bill.