Votes at a glance: Committee advances seven higher‑education bills

The House Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee concluded its March 26 meeting by moving seven bills out of committee with due-pass recommendations. Committee staff briefed and the members discussed each measure in executive session; the committee recorded roll-call votes and considered a small number of amendments. The bills, the motions and the committee outcomes follow.

Votes at a glance

- Senate Bill 5,158 — Allows governing boards of public four‑year institutions to make available and pay insurance costs for current and some former intercollegiate student athletes. Motion: report out with a due-pass recommendation (moved by Vice Chair Nance). Outcome: reported out of committee with a due-pass recommendation. Committee tally announced by staff: 17 ayes.

- Senate Bill 5,542 — Removes the requirement that a student be 19 years or older to receive a high school diploma or certificate course fee waiver. Motion: report out with a due-pass recommendation (moved by Vice Chair Nance). Outcome: reported out of committee with a due-pass recommendation. Committee tally announced: 17 ayes.

- Senate Bill 5,543 — Expands eligibility for the College Bound Scholarship to students who have received a high school equivalency certificate. Motion: report out with a due-pass recommendation (moved by Vice Chair Nance). Outcome: reported out of committee with a due-pass recommendation. Committee tally announced: 11 ayes, 6 nays.

- Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5,663 — Allows community and technical colleges to distribute information about their colleges outside their district if it pertains to entirely online course offerings. Motion: report out with a due-pass recommendation (moved by Vice Chair Nance). Outcome: reported out of committee with a due-pass recommendation. Committee tally announced: 17 ayes.

- Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5,355 — Requires identification cards issued at public institutions to include contact information for a regional community‑based organization that provides 24/7 support to survivors of sexual assault and establishes additional survivor rights and prohibitions on nondisclosure agreements. The committee considered and rejected an amendment (Ally 504) that would have removed the phrase "gender‑based violence." Motion: report out with a due-pass recommendation (moved by Vice Chair Nance). Outcome: reported out of committee with a due-pass recommendation. Committee tally announced: 17 ayes.

- Senate Bill 51 10 — Authorizes community and technical colleges to waive tuition and fees for tribal elders age 55 and over from eligible Indian tribes. Members considered Amendment ALI 503 (Representative McIntyre) to expand eligibility to elders from tribes that historically had territories in Washington and that have submitted sovereignty treaties for ratification; the amendment failed on the floor of the committee. Motion: report out with a due-pass recommendation (moved by Vice Chair Nance). Outcome: reported out of committee with a due-pass recommendation. Committee tally announced: 11 ayes, 6 nays.

- Senate Bill 5,158 and cross-referenced housekeeping items — (Procedural note) several motions were moved and seconded; staff ran expedited and roll-call votes as recorded above. No additional amendments were adopted except those specifically noted.

Context and procedure

Committee staff presented each bill and any offered amendments before members debated and voted. Several measures drew unanimous approval; a few produced divided roll calls. Where recorded, the committee clerk announced the final tallies on the record. A record of member votes for several bills is on the committee’s official roll-call record.

Ending: With committee action complete, the chair adjourned the executive session and the committee moved to conclude its business for the day.