As of this afternoon there is still no word about when the Governor will call the Legislature back to Olympia to finalize their work.

Though an announcement is expected either later today or tomorrow it remains unclear whether Governor Gregoire will call policymakers back immediately or give them some time away.  Word on the street is that the Senate prefers to convene next week, while House leadership is sending signals that waiting until all involved are closer to an agreement may be the preferred method. An option to both is to call a 30-day session early next week and put the session into a rolling recess that lets most lawmakers stay in district and rejoin in Olympia when the deals are agreed on either in May or June.

So where does this leave everything as the regular session comes to an end this week – most likely tomorrow (April 22).

Operating Budget
Both the House and Senate have passed a biennial operating budget.  Since the proposals are different a conference committee will be established. It is expcted that the budget conferees will include Senators Murray, Kilmer, Zarelli and Representatives Hunter, Sullivan,  and Alexander.

Capital Budget
The House Capital Budget (now comprised of two bills HB 1497 (building fees) and HB 2020 (state bonds)) is on the floor for consideration. The Senate Captial Budget is in the Ways & Means Committee awaiting executive action.

Neither budget is moving because of differences with regard to the state debt limit. The capital budget discussion is being framed within the context of Senate Joint Resolution 8215 which would seek a constitutional amendment to phase down the debt limit from 9 to 7 percent in half-percent increments. The action would begin in Fiscal Year 2016 and continue through FY  22.  In addition the resolution would shift the state’s bond model from a three-year rolling average to a ten-year rolling average. 

SJR 8215 passed the Senate unanimously last week and the sponsors of the constitutional amendment will not negotiate on the capital budget unless the House approves the amendment.

Policy Bills
The Legislature still has more than 60 bills to pass that are necessary to implement the budgets. Of particular interest to higher education are bills that would impact how institutions offset tuition increases and report on performance, how institutions implement a 3% salary reducation, and potential changes to higher education pensions.