The Washington Legislature must move all bills, unless necessary to implement the budget, from one chamber to the other by close of business on March 11.

After a week of floor action, the Senate and House have the weekend and the first half of next week to continue to advance legislation to the opposite chamber.  Both have worked long hours all week to move several bills forward ranging from legislation to increase the state’s minimum wage to a transportation budget package to recognizing March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day.

Several bills that directly impact higher education have passed this latest hurdle.

• HB 1031: Expands participation in College in the High School beyond grades 11 and 12 to students in 10th grade.
• HB 1052:  Requires institutions of higher education to make an early registration process available to spouses and domestic partners of active members of the military.
• HB 1138: Creates a task force on mental health and suicide prevention in higher education.
• HB 1236: Allows certain school personnel to witness a student’s college bound scholarship pledge if the student’s parent or guardian is unavailable.
• HB 1238: Requires the Washington Student Achievement Council to report to the Legislature by Decemer 15, 2016, regarding the affordability of the higher education system.
• HB 1439: Establishes an online alternative credit model at Central Washington University.
• HB 1532: Concerns budget submissions for capital design and construction at institutions of higher education.
• HB 1570: Creates flexibility for the educator retooling conditional scholarship program.
• HB 1644: Concerning veteran survivor tuition waiver eligibility.
• HB 1696:  Removes tuition-setting authority from higher education institutions.
• HB 1706: Authorizes waivers of building fees and services and activities fees for certain military service members.
• HB 1863: Modifies collective bargaining law related to providing additional compensation for academic employees at community and technical colleges.
• HB 1961:  A “clean up” bill for the community and technical colleges.
• SB 5133: Concerning a study of higher education cost drivers.
• SB 5295: Concerning the display of campus information on the statewide public four-year dashboard.
• SB 5318: Establishes a wildlife college student loan program.
• SB 5355: Amends the definition of resident student to comply with federal requirements established by the veterans access, choice, and accountability act of 2014.
• SB 5518: Creates procedures to address campus sexual violence.
• SB 5638: Students who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment for at least three quarter credits, or the equivalent semester hours, in a qualifying higher education program are eligible for the State Need Grant.
• SB 5719: Creates a task force on campus sexual violence prevention.
• SB 5851:  Advances recommendations to improve and enhance certain components of the program, including data collection, outreach and program outcomes.