We are now over the halfway point in the 105-day 2023 legislative session!

Last week, House of Origin cutoff, a major legislative milestone, occurred which means if a bill has not passed out of the chamber it originated in it is considered dead. There is an exception in that if they consider it necessary for the budget, but that is rare.

Legislation updates:

Each of the bills highlighted below are still moving at this point in legislative session!

HB 1030 – Applied Doctorate Degrees

• Authorizes the board of trustees of the regional universities to offer applied, but not research, doctorate degrees.

Status: Scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Higher Education committee on Friday, March 10^th.

SB 5079 – Tuition Establishment Date

• Moves up the date by which the Office of Financial Management determines the maximum rate of tuition fee increases to October.

Status: Scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Higher Education committee on Friday, March 10^th.

SB 5593 – Improving Equity in K-12 Data

• Builds a process around federal statutes that allow institutions of higher education to access K-12 student data for purposes of informing them of postsecondary educational opportunities.

Status: Scheduled for a hearing in the House Education Committee for Monday, March 13^th.

HB 1559 – Student Basic Needs

• Directs institutions of higher education to establish a Student Basic Needs Task Force to develop a Hunger-Free Campus Strategic Plan, hire benefits navigators, and establish benefits hubs.

Status: Passed off the floor and is awaiting a hearing in the Senate.

HB 1693 / SB 5702 – Students Experiencing Homelessness Pilot

• Removes the expiration date for the student’s experiencing homelessness program and expands the program to include a tribal college.

Status: House version died on the floor.  The Senate version is scheduled for a hearing in House Appropriations on Wednesday, March 15^th.  

SB 5711 – Extending eligibility for the Washington College Grant program

• Aligns the timeline for Washington College Grant eligibility with federal PELL grant eligibility.

Status: Scheduled for executive session in the House Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee on Friday, March 17^th.

Budget news:

The House and Senate are expected to each release their respective budgets soon after the mid-March revenue forecast. 

Key Dates:

March 21^st – April 3^rd – expected time frame for House and Senate budget proposals.

March 29^th – Opposite chamber policy committee cutoff.

April 4^th – Opposite chamber fiscal committee cutoff.

April 12^th – Opposite chamber floor cutoff.

April 23^rd – Session is scheduled to adjourn.