The 2017 legislative session is in full swing in Olympia. Here are a few highlights from the past twelve days:
New director, Joe Dacca, updated the Senate Higher Education committee about the UW’s legislative priorities.
![Joe Dacca presenting to the Senate Higher Education Committee](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2017/01/05085007/Joe-Dacca-SHE-300x168.jpg)
New associate director, Jillian Kilby, testified in support of HB 1107 to remove the term “branch” as an identifying factor for extension campuses in the House Higher Education Committee.
![Jillian Kilby testifying in the House Higher Education Committee](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2017/01/05084959/Jillian-Kilby-HHE-300x134.png)
Dr. Nephi Stella provided the Senate Commerce, Labor & Sports committee with an update on the new cannabis research center being developed at UW.
![Dr. Nephi Stella Cannabis Research](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2017/01/05085010/Dr.-Nephi-Stella-Cannabis-Research-300x162.jpg)
Dr. Caleb Banta-Green, from the School of Public Health, provided information about opioid addiction treatment options to the Senate and House Health Care committees.
![](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2017/01/05085005/Caleb-Banta-Green-2-300x154.png)
Dr. David Tauben, from UW Medicine, presented to the Senate Health Care committee on pain and opioid addiction.
![Dr. David Tauben presenting to the House Health Care committee](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2017/01/05085002/David-Tauben-HHC-300x155.png)
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