Tax collections over the past month once again outperformed expectations, delivering a bit of good news leading up to Wednesday’s quarterly revenue forecast that legislative leaders will use to write their budget proposals this spring.

Since the November forecast used by Gov. Jay Inslee to write his proposal, collections are up $171.9 million, or 2.6 percent higher than projected once you back out one-time large payments that are not attributable to economic activity.

The report notes a cooling Seattle housing market and a notable reduction in agricultural exports. You can view the report here.

A bill that would create a Washington Wine specialty license plate and direct funding to support research at WSU Tri-Cities passed off the House Floor Wednesday afternoon with a vote of 86-9.

HB 2050 would give Washington drivers the option of purchasing a special license plate featuring a landscape display of Washington’s wine regions. Proceeds – expected to be in the region of about $60,000 per year — would go to the Washington Wine Commission to support research and collaboration with the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates WSU Wine Science Center at WSU Tri-Cities.  The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.

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The state Senate yesterday approved legislation reauthorizing the funding mechanism for a key WSU Spokane research partner.

The 12-year-old Health Sciences and Service Authority of Spokane County helps drive funding to support life and health sciences research. For instance, the HSSA is a partner in WSU’s new Gleason Institute for Neuroscience. It has also helped fund the development of laboratory spaces for WSU researchers.

The HSSA’s funding comes from a local sales tax that is credited against the state sales tax. That authority expires Jan. 1, 2023.

Senate Bill 5596, which is supported by WSU, would extend that authority to Jan. 1, … » More …

The American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) selected the 2019 ASA, CSSA, and SSSA Future Leaders in Science Award. Halle Choi with the Sustainable Seed Systems Lab of Washington State University was one of 18 graduate students members who received the award in recognition of her interest and engagement in science advocacy. Award winners received a trip to Washington, D.C. to participate in the annual ASA, CSSA, and SSSA Congressional Visits Day on March 5, where they met with their members of Congress to advocate for food, agriculture and natural resources … » More …

A bill to enhance health sciences training opportunities brought by student leaders at WSU Spokane cleared the state House of Representatives 95-0 late Monday afternoon.

House Bill 1726 now heads to the Senate.

Under current law, nursing, pharmacy and medical students taking basic vital signs at health fairs and other such events must be supervised by faculty from their specific discipline. That requirement can limit such opportunities when faculty supervisors can’t be scheduled.

The bill approved Monday would allow supervision for all students by a single faculty member from any one of the disciplines. It is being supported not only by students but … » More …