Today marked the first in a series of legislative deadlines that regulates the flow of bills during the course of session. All policy bills had to be moved out of their policy committee in order to stay alive.
Among the advancing bills that WSU is tracking are bills in the House and Senate authorizing WSU to pursue a state license allowing minors in enology and viticulture programs to taste but not consume wine as part of their instruction, as is already allowed at community colleges.
Next Friday marks the deadline for bills in budget committees to be voted out. Legislation to authorize WSU to pursue a medical school now resides in both the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Senate Bill 5487 was heard in the Senate on Wednesday.
Also Friday, the state’s Economic and Revenue Forecast Council released a new forecast indicating that revenues for the current 2013-15 budget cycle are $107 million more than previously projected and the forecast for the coming 2015-17 budget cycle are $129 million more than previously projected, small changes in what will be a $37 billion two year budget. The Legislature will use this forecast to write the budget it will send to the governor this spring.
The entire list of bills passed out of the first cutoff session can be viewed here.