The House Ways & Means Committee held public hearings and executive sessions on a slew of bills this weekend. The Committee is focused on moving bills forward as the fiscal committee deadline, February 9, looms.

The Committee held public hearings on twenty-two bills ranging from teacher preparation to public disclosure laws.

Evergreen is watching a handful of the bills that were before the Committee.

House Bill 3174 allows the Office of the State Treasurer to enter agreements with state agencies for investment by the Treasurer of funds not currently deposited with the Treasurer.  At this time higher education is exempt from the bill. Evergreen supports the bill in its current form.

House Bill 2914 establishes a producer-designed product stewardship program for the collection, recycle, and disposal of mercury-containing lights.  Evergreen supports this effort.

Finally, two teacher preparation related bills were also heard this weekend. House Bill 3035 and House Bill 3038.  Both bills focus on accountability and evaluations for schools, teachers, and principles. Evergreen has expressed support for both bills throughout the legislative process.