This week kicks-off the 2014 supplemental legislative session. The last few weeks suggest that this session will focus on technical changes to the biennial operating and capital budgets with a goal to leave Olympia on-time in mid-March.

The session begins with a bang as the House Appropriations Committee holds a public hearing on the Governor’s proposed supplemental budget Monday afternoon. The Senate Ways & Means Committee follows with the same agenda on Wednesday.

Both the Senate and House Higher Education Committees have a full agenda. In the House the week is focused on presentations by the Washington Student Achievement Council, the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges, and the public and private baccalaureate institutions regarding their plans for expansion to meet the statewide, ten-year goals identified in the Council’s Roadmap.

In the Senate, the Committee will hold a work session focused on an overview of  state funding for higher education and financial aid programs. Later in the week the Committee will hear from institutions and agencies regarding the challenges and barriers for veterans transitioning from service to higher education and the role of prior learning in postsecondary education.