Postsecondary Education & Workforce committee advances multiple higher-education bills, adopts amendments

The Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee on Feb. 19 reported a package of bills out of committee with “due pass” recommendations, adopting amendments on several measures that affect higher-education governance, student representation, workforce training and college fees.

The committee — chaired by Representative Paul and vice chaired by Representative Nance — advanced bills on home care aide certification, student and faculty participation in presidential hires, increases to services-and-activities fees, adding a student member to the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, exemptions for certain out‑of‑state institutions, a work group on large-animal veterinarians, and limits on gifts given to law enforcement presenters. The committee did not take executive action on House Bill 16 77 (medication abortion access on campuses) or House Bill 17 62 (prohibiting required on-campus residency) during this meeting.

Why it matters: the bills affect students, campus governance and workforce pipelines across the state — from mechanics of how institutions hire presidents to training and testing timelines for home care aides and a modest increase in the cap on student services fees that funds campus supports such as child care, counseling and disability services.

Most significant actions

House Bill 19 26 — home care aide training and testing: The committee adopted two amendments from Representative Timmons that change the bill’s fiscal and implementation language. The amendments remove a September 2026 reporting requirement and make certain implementation steps subject to appropriation, and they strike an earlier $6.5 million appropriation for the current biennium. Representative Timmons described the amendments as “an attempt to try to make this bill work in a challenging budget year,” while urging the committee to preserve provisions that integrate testing into training and expand testing locations. The committee moved a substitute incorporating the adopted amendments and reported it out with a due-pass recommendation (staff announced 17 ayes).

House Bill 13 37 — appointment of presidents of institutions of higher education: The committee moved a proposed substitute (Representative Paulette). The substitute removes the newly established presidential-hiring process in the original bill and instead provides that a student and a faculty member serving on an institution’s governing board may participate in and vote on the initial selection and hiring of a university president. Representative Pollet, speaking in favor, said the change “clarifies the law so that in the future, we will not have any doubt” about student and faculty voting rights in presidential selections. The substitute was reported out with a due-pass recommendation (final tally announced as 16 ayes, 1 nay).

House Bill 14 85 — increase to services-and-activities fee cap: The bill increases the statutory maximum limit for annual services and activities fees from 4% to 6%. Supporters, including student proponents referenced by Representative Salahuddin, argued the additional revenue supports essential campus services such as housing, dining, child care and health services; opponents raised concerns about cost increases passed to students. The committee reported the bill out with a due-pass recommendation (staff announced 11 ayes, 6 nays).

House Bill 14 86 — student member on the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges: The committee adopted two amendments before reporting the substitute out. One amendment requires a student board member to recuse themselves from matters relating to hiring, discipline, personnel or pending litigation; the other requires student members to be at least 18 years old at appointment. Supporters said the changes balance student voice with appropriate safeguards. Substitute HB 14 86 was reported out with a due-pass recommendation (16 ayes, 1 nay).

House Bill 15 72 — authorization exemption for certain out‑of‑state institutions: The committee considered and adopted an amendment (Ross 80) that narrows exemption eligibility to institutions operating in Washington and affiliated with a nonprofit institution in another state. The substitute was reported out with a due-pass recommendation after debate over the policy’s long-term effects (staff announced 9 ayes, 8 nays).

House Bill 18 74 — textured hair training for beauty professionals: Staff summarized that HB 18 74 would require cosmetologists, barbers, aestheticians and hair designers to receive training on care and treatment of textured hair. The measure had no amendments and was reported out with a due-pass recommendation. Representative Entenmann urged members to vote yes, saying the bill expands small-business opportunities and skills; Representative Graham, a licensed cosmetologist and aesthetician, concurred. Staff announced 17 ayes.

House Bill 17 05 — large-animal veterinarian recruitment work group: The committee approved a bill creating a work group to study recruitment and retention strategies for large-animal veterinarians, citing rural demand. The bill was reported out with a due-pass recommendation (17 ayes, 0 nays).

House Bill 17 83 — honoraria/gifts for law enforcement presenters: The committee adopted an amendment that removed payment of cash honoraria and instead allows law enforcement officers who present in criminal-justice courses to receive gifts of appreciation valued up to $25. Supporters called the measure a recruitment and outreach tool; some members urged further work on the policy. The substitute was reported out with a due-pass recommendation (staff announced 13 ayes, 4 nays).

No executive action: The chair announced the committee would not take executive action today on House Bill 16 77 (requirements around medication abortion referrals and campus health websites) nor on House Bill 17 62 (prohibiting institutions from requiring students to live on campus).

Quotes from the hearing

Representative Entenmann on HB 18 74: “Please consider voting yes on this particular piece of legislation. It is, 1, an ability to increase small business opportunities. So the more that you know, the more that you can do, the more clients that you have.”

Representative Timmons on HB 19 26 (amendments): “This really trims the bill down fiscally … by removing the section that had about, dollars 6,500,000.0 for this biennium. And again, it's another attempt to try to make this bill work in a challenging budget year.”

Representative Pollet on HB 13 37: “I wanna start by expressing my appreciation for the universities that worked on this … that our student and faculty regents and trustees should indeed have a vote on the most important decision that regents and trustees make, which is the choice of president leading the institution.”

Votes at a glance

- HB 18 74 (textured hair training): reported out, due pass; tally announced 17 ayes, 0 nays; no amendments. - HB 19 26 (home care aide training/testing): substitute incorporating ALI432 and ALI430 adopted; reported out, due pass; tally announced 17 ayes, 0 nays. - HB 13 37 (presidential appointment process; substitute): reported out, due pass; tally announced 16 ayes, 1 nay. - HB 14 85 (student services-and-activities fee cap 4%→6%): reported out, due pass; tally announced 11 ayes, 6 nays. - HB 14 86 (student member, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; substitute with recusal and age amendments): reported out, due pass; tally announced 16 ayes, 1 nay. - HB 15 72 (exemption/authorization for certain institutions; substitute Ross 80): reported out, due pass; tally announced 9 ayes, 8 nays. - HB 17 05 (large-animal veterinarian work group): reported out, due pass; tally announced 17 ayes, 0 nays. - HB 17 83 (law-enforcement presenters, gifts up to $25): substitute with ALI431 adopted; reported out, due pass; tally announced 13 ayes, 4 nays.

What’s next: Reported bills advance to the next steps in the legislative process (calendar/house floor), subject to scheduling and any required appropriations. Several bills contain implementation language subject to appropriation or further rulemaking by executive agencies.

Ending: The committee recessed for a caucus midmeeting and returned to vote; after the last vote Ranking Member Ybarra recognized Representative Mendoza for her first bill advanced out of committee.