After a busy weekend in the statehouse it appears as though the Legislature is progressing toward adjournment. This would come not a week too soon as its 30-day special session is due to expire on Wednesday.
You can read more about key developments here and here.
There is still a lot of work to be done before lawmakers can leave town. An operating budget agreement has yet to be announced and there is no resolution so far as to a debt reduction measure that would pave the way for the passage of a capital budget.
In addition, WSU is tracking a pension bill that, as approved by the Senate, would allow universities to continue to offer a defined contribution retirement plan to exempt staff. It needs a concurrence vote in the House.
And on a final note, the Senate on Sunday gave final approval to a bill that would replace the state’s Higher Education Coordinating Board with a new Council for Higher Education. Many functions of the HEC Board would still exist and be transferred to other entities after the board sunsets on July 1, 2012. The membership and responsibilities of the newly formed council would be determined by a steering committee.