Today is the 44th day of the 105-day legislative session!
Last Friday, February 21st marked the first major cutoff of this session – policy committee cutoff. Bills that failed to pass out of the policy committee are now considered dead. Bills must now make their way out of the relevant fiscal committee by this Friday, February 28th to remain active.
The budget deficit is driving much of the conversation in Olympia. Any legislation with a fiscal impact is being closely scrutinized in an environment where both spending cuts and additional revenue are being considered to close the $12 billion gap. Higher education spending is discretionary and historically, Western and other public higher education institutions have been at risk of budget cuts in difficult budget years.
Last week, new caseload forecasts showed projected caseloads up across many areas of education and human services including an 11% increase for the 2025-27 biennium in Washington College Grant eligible students.
Higher education policy bills:
SB 5308 / HB 1557 – Washington Guaranteed Admissions Program (WAGAP)
- This proposal expands the current WAGAP program to ensure K-12 students across Washington who meet certain criteria are notified of their guaranteed admission into public universities in Washington.
- Update: HB 1557 made it past the policy committee cutoff and is scheduled for a public hearing in Appropriations, the bill will need to be scheduled for an executive session and voted out of Appropriations before the 2/28 deadline to remain active.
HB 1136 / SB 5164 – Postsecondary Navigators
- This bill expands the reach of existing postsecondary navigators who assist students with transitions between K-12 and higher education. The House and Senate bills vary slightly in scope of program expansion.
- Update: Both House and Senate made it past the policy committee cutoff. The bills will need to be scheduled for an executive session and voted out of a fiscal committee before the 2/28 deadline to remain active.
SB 5275 – Passport to Careers
- If passed, SB 5275 would make the Passport to Careers scholarship an entitlement. Western serves a large percentage of the students who utilize this scholarship at four-year universities.
- Update: SB 5275 made it past the policy committee cutoff and will need to be scheduled for an executive session and voted out of Ways & Means before the 2/28 deadline to remain active.
SB 5355 – Supporting Survivors of Sexual Assault
- This bill bolsters support services for students who have experienced sexual assault or other intimate partner violence.
- Update: SB 5355 made it past the policy committee cutoff and has received a public hearing in Ways & Means, the bill will need to be scheduled for an executive session and voted out of Ways & Means before the 2/28 deadline to remain active.
HB 1568 / SB 5402 – Washington College Grant eligibility
- Changes eligibility for full Washington College Grant awards from 55% of the median family income to 70% of the median family income providing greater access to the grant for low-income students. This bill would codify a higher eligibility threshold than currently exists and codify $500 bridge grants to students who are eligible for full awards and who are not part of the college bound program.
- Update: SB 5402 made it past the policy committee cutoff and will need to be scheduled for an executive session and voted out of Ways & Means before the 2/28 deadline to remain active.
Upcoming cutoffs:
Fiscal cutoff – Friday, February 28th
House of Origin cutoff – Wednesday, March 12th
Opposite chamber policy cutoff – Wednesday, April 2nd
Opposite chamber fiscal cutoff – Tuesday, April 8th
Opposite chamber cutoff – Wednesday, April 16th