This week the Legislature is running at full force. After losing nearly half a week of business due to the weather the House and Senate are busy moving bills forward in the process as the first legislative deadlines approach next week.

Earlier this week the House and Senate Higher Education Committees held public hearings that included several bills, such as legislation to establish a new state level higher education entity and legislation focused on academic advising, that were heard last week to ensure that all stakeholders have a voice in the dialogue.

On Monday the House Higher Education Committee held a public hearing on legislation that would provide veterans at higher education institutions with priority registration. The Council of Presidents testified in support of the intention of the legislation to best serve veterans who attend higher education institutions in Washington and is working with the sponsor of the legislation (HB 2503) to provide for some changes to ensure equity for students and provide that students are not negatively impacted in efforts to graduate on time.

Today the House Higher Education Committee took up a wide variety of bills ranging from legislation to increase the inclusion of students in institutional decision-making to a bill that would provide greater regulatory flexibility for institutions of higher education in Washington.

In the Senate yesterday the Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee met to hear several bills. Among the bills the Committee took up included legisaltion to establish a new state entity for higher education and a bill that would provide greater regulatory flexibility for institutions of higher education.

This afternoon the Senate Higher Education Committee will continue its work. The Committee will hold a public hearing on legislation that assists youth and alumni of foster care to move successfully through K-12 and higher education, incorporates students into institutional decisionmaking processes, and would eliminate the Washington Workforce Training and Education Board.