Today marks the opposite house cutoff deadline, when bills from the opposing chamber need to be approved to continue in the legislative process. Also this week, Monday marked the last fiscal committee cutoff deadline, when bills with a financial impact coming from the other chamber needed to be voted out of those committees to continue.
Opioid, fentanyl awareness bill passes Senate Ways and Means Committee
Feb. 24 — The bill requiring opioid and fentanyl prevention education to students was up for a hearing during Saturday’s Senate Ways and Means Committee hearing. The bill, 2SHB 2112, would also require colleges and universities to provide naloxone and fentanyl test strips, and it would require training and education for staff working in residence halls on the use of naloxone.
“Over the years we've had a lot of conversation with the Legislature about the community and technical colleges transforming lives,” Arlen Harris, legislative director for the State Board, said. “This bill is about saving lives, and with that I encourage your support through the process.”
The committee on Monday unanimously approved the bill, and the full Senate today also unanimously passed the bill. It now heads to Gov. Inslee for his decision.
Trustees confirmed by Senate
The Senate confirmed five trustees to the boards of their colleges this week:
- Clemencia Castro-Woolery to Pierce College.
- Jeanne Bennett to Clark College.
- Ofelia Bredt to Columbia Basin College.
- Travis Exstrom to Highline College.
- Christina Blocker to Bates Technical College.
Bill status roundup
The bills listed below have been featured in this year's Legislative News and made it past Monday's opposite house fiscal committee cutoff deadline. This bill status is as of 2 p.m. Friday.
| Bill number | Bill title | Bill status |
|---|---|---|
| HB 2084 | Establishing an oversight committee to improve construction-related training and pathways to state registered apprenticeships in state correctional facilities | Feb. 29: Passed Senate 49-0 |
| HB 2089/SB 5949 | Concerning the capital budget | Feb. 26: Referred to Rules 2 review. |
| HB 2104/SB 5950 | Making 2023-2025 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations | Feb. 24: Referred to Rules 2 review. |
| HB 2112 | Concerning opioid and fentanyl prevention education and awareness at institutions of higher education |
March 1: Passed Senate 49-0 |
| HB 2214 | Permitting beneficiaries of public assistance programs to automatically qualify as income-eligible for the purpose of receiving the Washington college grant |
Feb. 29: Passed Senate 28-20 |
| SB 5670 | Providing summer running start for rising juniors | Feb. 29: Passed House 92-1 |
| SB 5904 | Extending the terms of eligibility for financial aid programs | Feb. 29: Passed House 61-35 |
| SB 5949/HB 2089 | Concerning the capital budget | Feb. 22: Passed Senate 49-0 |
| SB 5950/HB 2104 | Making 2023-2025 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations | Feb. 24: Passed House 58-37 |
| SB 5953 | Concerning financial aid grants for incarcerated students | Feb. 29: Passed House 79-17 |
| SB 6296 | Establishing a retail industry work group | Feb. 27: Passed House 95-0 |
Coming up next week
Session wraps up Thursday, and members of the House and Senate will spend the remaining days of the session working out any differences between bills that were amended after they left their originating chamber, including the final operating and capital budgets.
