Two priority bills to enhance efficiency at our state’s universities and bolster instruction in enology and viticulture programs have been introduced in the Legislature.
House Bill 2613 sponsored by Rep. Mia Gregerson (D-South King County) and Senate Bill 6362 sponsored by Sen. Barbara Bailey, an Oak Harbor Republican and chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, would improve institutional quality through efficiency measures. Most notably, this includes exempting capital projects valued up to $10 million at four-year institutions from predesign review, allowing them to be completed in fewer budget cycles and avoiding cost escalation.
Senate Bill 6386 sponsored by Senator Jenea Holmquist Newbry (R-Moses Lake) would allow for the tasting but not consuming of alcohol by students under twenty-one years of age at the state four-year universities in culinary, sommelier, wine business, enology, viticulture, wine technology, beer technology or spirituous technology-related degree programs.
Senate Bill 6362 is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Higher Education Committee Tuesday, January 28.