Washington Senate advances broad package of bills on schools, early learning, tech reuse, transit and health

The Washington State Senate spent its floor session advancing and voting on a wide package of bills touching education, early learning, transportation and health-care administration.

Senators moved quickly through measures that sponsors said were aimed at easing short-term budget pressures for troubled school districts, expanding access to early learning, and reducing friction in how schools and providers use and receive technology and payments. On procedural motions throughout the evening, members regularly moved to suspend the rules and advance bills to third reading and final passage; several measures were declared passed by constitutional majorities.

Senate Bill 6065: support for schools in "binding conditions" Senate Bill 6065, sponsored by Senator Dozier, allows school districts — in narrowly defined circumstances and at the recommendation of the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) — to transfer funds from a Transportation Vehicle Fund to an operating fund. Dozier said the bill is straightforward and aimed at districts in budgetary distress: "This bill is a pretty simple bill, straightforward," he told colleagues, noting there are about seven schools the bill targets that are currently in binding conditions. He said the transfer may be permanent if OSPI determines the transaction will not harm the transportation fund. The bill passed on the floor; the secretary reported…