System-supported bills moving as session passes halfway mark
Session reached its halfway point this week as the House and Senate continued their work on the floor debating and voting on bills. The House on Wednesday voted 97-0 to pass 2SHB 1033, the bill that would extend the business and occupation tax credit for the Customized Training Program.
On Tuesday, the Senate passed on a 48-0 vote SSB 5401, which would allow community and technical colleges to offer bachelor's degrees in computer science. The Senate approved on Wednesday E2SSB 5227, the bill that would establish annual diversity, equity and inclusion professional development and learning opportunities for college and university students, faculty and staff, with a 35-14 vote.
Bill status roundup
The bills listed below have been featured in this year's Legislative News and have made it past the session's first two cutoff deadlines. This bill status is as of noon Friday.
| Bill number | Bill title | Bill status |
|---|---|---|
| HB 1016 | Making Juneteenth a legal holiday. |
March 10: Scheduled for public hearing in State Government and Elections Committee. March 12: Scheduled for executive session in Senate State Government and Elections Committee. |
| HB 1033 | Concerning the Washington customized employment training program. | March 3: Passed House 97/0 |
| HB 1044 | Creating prison to postsecondary education pathways. | March 11: Scheduled for public hearing in Senate Human Services, Reentry and Rehabilitation Committee. |
| HB 1166 | Expanding access to the homeless and foster care college students pilot program. |
Feb. 26: Passed House 73/22 March 2: Referred to Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee. |
| HB 1176 | Concerning access to higher education. | Feb. 26: Referred to Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee. |
| SB 5194 | Providing for equity and access in the community and technical colleges. |
Feb. 25: Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. |
| SB 5227 | Requiring diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism training and assessments at institutions of higher education. |
March 3: Passed Senate 35/14 March 5: Referred to House College and Workforce Development Committee. |
| SB 5288 | Increasing access to the Washington opportunity scholarship program. | March 3: Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. |
| SB 5401 | Authorizing community and technical colleges to offer bachelor degrees in computer science. |
March 2: Passed Senate 48/0 March 11: Scheduled for public hearing in House College and Workforce Development Committee. |
Coming up next week
The House and Senate have until 5 p.m. Tuesday to pass bills originating in their chamber. Committee hearings on bills from the opposite house start Wednesday.
