Committee advances four higher-education bills, recommends confirmation for two gubernatorial appointees

In executive session the Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee voted to advance four House bills and recommended confirmation for two gubernatorial appointments.

Staff briefed members on the four measures. Ben Omdahl, committee staff, described the bills as follows: second substitute House Bill 1273 would extend a pilot program to increase career and technical education dual-credit participation and covers certain expenses for secondary and postsecondary schools (a fiscal note estimates $616,000 for the 2025–27 biennium). Substitute House Bill 1486 would add a student member to the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (estimated cost: $25,500 per biennium). Engrossed House Bill 1572 would modify higher-education accreditation standards and related degree-granting authorization provisions. Second substitute House Bill 1587 would establish a local government partner promise scholarship program within the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship Program; Senator Behnke offered an amendment to align participating public institutions with approval by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

Committee action and outcomes (as recorded on the transcript):

- Second substitute House Bill 1273: Motion to recommend “do pass” and send to the Ways & Means Committee; voice vote recorded and chair announced the bill passed and would be sent on subject to signatures.

- Substitute House Bill 1486: Motion to recommend “do pass” and send to the Rules Committee; voice vote recorded and chair announced the bill passed subject to signatures.

- Engrossed House Bill 1572: Motion to recommend “do pass” and send to the Rules Committee; voice vote recorded and chair announced the bill passed subject to signatures.

- Second substitute House Bill 1587: Senator Behnke moved adoption of Amendment A; the amendment was adopted by voice vote. Senator Behnke then moved that the amendment be rolled into a striking amendment and that the bill, as amended, receive a due-pass recommendation to the Ways & Means Committee; a voice vote was recorded and the chair announced the bill passed subject to signatures.

Gubernatorial appointments:

- Monica Yu (appointment number 9230): Motion and second to report the appointment with a recommendation the appointment be confirmed; the motion was approved by voice vote.

- Elizabeth Cadden (appointment number 9231): Motion and second to report the appointment with a recommendation the appointment be confirmed; the motion was approved by voice vote.

Notes: The transcript records voice votes and the chair’s announcements that each measure had passed or that amendments were adopted; the transcript does not record roll-call tallies or individual roll-call votes.

Ending: Committee members were reminded to sign signature sheets and the chair adjourned the committee.