The pace continues to quicken (at least it feels like it!) Next week promises to be the busiest yet of the 2009 session. The first cutoff for bills to clear committees is just over two weeks away — that means plenty of bill-related hearings along with some key briefings.
Next Tuesday and Wednesday the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee will be briefed by all of the state four-year schools on budget cutback plans — the UW is slated to present during Tuesday’s 10 am hearing. The committee also will hear an important bill (SB 5734) which would make the tuition policy for graduate and non-resident students permanent. One of our UW request bills (SB 5526) will be heard on Wednesday at 3:30 — that bill would make changes to disclosure requirements for private investment information received by our endowment fund.
In the House, the Higher Education Committee will hold a 10 am Tuesday hearing on proposals for a UW branch campus in Snohomish County, and the proposal by Bellevue Community College to begin offering four-year degrees in a number of fields.
UW request bills on private investment information (HB 1640) and public works contracting (HB 1916) will be heard before the House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee on Tuesday at 1:30, along with a differing approach to public works contracts (HB 1690).
We will be appearing at all of these hearings, and posting updates here as they develop. While none of these hearings are set to be on TVW live, they will be available as webcasts at TVW.org.