The House and the Senate were focused on moving legislation to the opposite chamber this weekend. Though both chambers only met on Saturday, both moved several pieces of legislation and spent long hours on the floor and in caucus.

Here are some of the highlights from the weekend.

The House took action on bills ranging from teacher preparation to changes to the state loan program. House Bill 2930 passed with a vote of 98-0.  HB 2930 directs the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) to give priority in selecting Future Teachers scholarship recipients to those individuals who are seeking specialty endorsements in math as well as individuals who are uniquely qualified to help schools address the achievement gap. Evergreen supported HB 2930 and encouraged, through testimony, the Legislature to consider extending eligibility to individuals seeking endorsements in special education and English Language Learners (ELL). HB 2930 will have a public hearing before the Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee on February 19.

House Bill 2481 passed by a vote of 92-0.  HB 2481 allows the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to become a viable partner in the area of biomass.  In particular the bill:

• Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to maintain a list of all potential sources of forest biomass on state lands for the purposes of identifying and making forest biomass available for the conversion into energy, biofuels, or any other similar use.
  
• Permits the DNR to enter into contracts for the purpose of providing a supply of forest biomass from lands managed by the DNR.
  
• Authorizes the DNR to lease state lands for the conversion of biomass into energy or biofuels, for the development of a biorefinery, or for any other use derived from biomass.
  
• Authorizes the DNR to establish a five-year forest health and fuel reduction supply agreement demonstration project.

House Bill 2481, which Evergreen supports, would position DNR to be a potential partner with Evergreen in our effort to realize our Biomass Gasification Project.

The House took the next step towards implementing the state loan program for students. House Bill 2854 establishes student eligibility requirements for the state Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) which was created in statute during the 2009 session.  Evergreen testified in support of the bill mirroring the testimony of the sponsor of the bill, Rep. Kenney, which supports first funding financial aid state grants and then providing for a low interest loan option for those students that borrow.

On Saturday, the House Finance Committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 6130. Senate Bill 6130 temporarily suspends tax-limiting Initiative 960 in its entirety.  SB 6130 is the current vehicle for SB 6843 which passed out of the Senate in a close vote late last week.

The movement of the bill indicates the Legislature’s leanings towards raising revenue in the 2009-2011 fiscal biennium. 

Senate Bill 6130 now heads to the House floor for further consideration.