See the latest blog post re: 2020 Legislative session.

This past week has been jam packed with the release of budget proposals and the house policy cutoff. The big agenda item in the House Education committee was the Comprehensive Sexual Health Education bill (ESSB 5395). It took the whole time to get through all amendments and pass the bill, with no time remaining for the other scheduled bills.

Bill action

The agency administration bill (SSB 6105) which had a proposed striker amendment by Chair Santos that would have allowed the Superintendent of Public Instruction to appoint a designee to serve in his or her place on the State Board of Education (but only as a non-voting member) has died. In addition, the striker would have made significant changes to the administrative structure of the Professional Educator Standards Board. The other priority bills that died include: Student immigration status (ESB 5834), Equity training/schools (ESSB 5908), Beginning educator support (SB 6138), and Teaching tribal history (SSB 6262).

The Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education committee passed a large number of bills out of committee, along with Member Reyes’ gubernatorial appointment. The Senate is yet to confirm SBE's remaining appointments – including Members Martin-Morris, and Kallappa – in the final days of session.
 
Budget highlights

• Both chambers released their 2020 Supplemental Operating Budget proposals on Monday, with public hearings that afternoon. The budget bills were passed out of their respective fiscal committees on Tuesday (Senate) and Wednesday (House). The Senate passed their budget off the floor yesterday, and the House is currently debating the Senate vehicle on the floor with a vote anticipated later this evening. There have been numerous amendments since Monday’s release, and the budget writers will work out the details in their final deliberations.
• For a detailed overview of the major K-12 budget items, we recommend the Special Budget Edition of This Week in Olympia by Dan Steele of the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA).

Operating budgets

• SHB 2325 - Making 2019-2021 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations.
• ESSB 6168 - Making 2019-2021 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations.

Capital budgets

• HB 2324 – Concerning the capital budget.
• ESSB 6248 – Concerning the capital budget.

School Recognition Resolutions
The House and Senate adopted these on Monday. 

• HR 4667 – Observing school recognition week in Washington: April 27 - May 1, 2020.
• SR 8691 – Honoring schools that have been recognized for exemplary performance.

Recap of this week’s activity
 
Testimony

• SSB 6105 - Concerning the administration of state education agencies. (J. Lee Schultz, SBE Director of Advocacy and Engagement/Other)
• SSB 6521 - Creating an innovative learning pilot program. (J. Lee Schultz, SBE Director of Advocacy and Engagement/Pro)

Signed in support

• SB 6263 - Creating a model educational data sharing agreement between school districts and tribes.
• ESHB 2455 - Supporting access to child care for parents who are attending high school or working toward completion of a high school equivalency certificate.
• 2SHB 2864 - Establishing a running start summer school pilot program.
• ESB 5834 - Concerning the immigration status of students.
• ESSB 5908 - Providing training for equity and cultural competency in the public school system.
• SB 6138 - Concerning the beginning educator support team program. 
• SSB 6262 - Teaching Washington's tribal history, culture, and government. 
• 2SHB 1182 - Modifying the learning assistance program.
• ESHB 2660 - Increasing the availability of school meals provided to public school students at no student cost.
• HB 2853 - Promoting the effective and efficient administration of the Washington state charter school commission.
• E2SHB 1272 - Concerning school lunch durations.
• ESHB 2816 - Nurturing positive social and emotional school and classroom climates.
• E2SHB 1783 – Creating the Washington state office of equity.

Priority bills in motion

• E2SHB 1783 - Office of equity
• SHB 2711 - Educational outcomes
• 2SSB 6117 - Special education
• SSB 6521 - Innovative learning pilot
• 2SHB 1182 - Learning assistance program
• 2SHB 1191 - School notifications
• E2SHB 1272 - School lunch durations
• 3SHB 1660 - Extracurricular/low income
• ESHB 2116 - Institutional education
• ESHB 2455 - High school/child care
• ESHB 2551 - Tribal regalia/graduation
• SHB 2589 - Suicide prevention/ID cards
• ESHB 2660 - School meals at no cost
• 2SHB 2737 - Child. mental health wk grp
• EHB 2811 - Environmental education
• ESHB 2816 - School & classroom climates
• HB 2853 - Charter school commission
• 2SHB 2864 - Running start summer pilot
• 2ESSB 5389 - Telehealth program/youth
• ESSB 5395 - Sexual health education
• SB 6047 - IEP noncompliance reporting
• SB 6066 - Ethnic studies materials
• SB 6099 - EASOC repeal
• SB 6103 - Educational reporting
• ESSB 6141 - Higher education access
• SSB 6191 - Adverse childhood experience
• SB 6263 - Data sharing/schools, tribes
• SSB 6483 - Child care provider rating

Remaining cutoff deadlines

• Monday, March 2 – Opposite House Fiscal Cutoff
• Friday, March 6 – Opposite House Cutoff (5 PM)
• Thursday, March 12 – Last Day of Regular Session

Curious about what happened in February? Check out the last post about Legislative session. 

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