The Legislature adjourned Sine Die this evening, concluding legislative business for the 2019-21 biennium. Approved in the final days were operating and capital budgets that made new investments in housing and mental health and appropriated $200 million to fund the state’s COVID-19 response. With an eye toward a possible recession, the Legislature scaled back spending […]
Following days of negotiations, the House and Senate released their joint capital and operating budgets today which fully fund two of WSU’s legislative priorities. The capital budget compromise fully funds WSU’s $4 million request to design the Life Sciences Building at the Vancouver campus. The operating budget compromise converts one-time money provided last year for […]
The state House voted out a bill this afternoon with bipartisan support that would formally establish the Soil Health Initiative. Senate Bill 6306 is a joint collaboration between WSU, the state Department of Agriculture, and the state Conservation Coalition and establishes guiding objectives for the initiative. It also establishes reporting requirements for WSU, WSDA, and the […]
A bill that would reauthorize the Joint Center for Aerospace Technology Innovation cleared the state House today with a vote of 97-0. The Center was established by the Legislature in 2012 with a $3 million biennial appropriation to support aerospace research and is slated to sunset on June 30. Senate bill 6139 would extend that […]
A bill seeking to codify the Soil Health Initiative was heard before the House Rural Development, Agriculture, & Natural Resources committee. Senate Bill 6306 is a joint collaboration between WSU, the state Department of Agriculture, and the state Conservation Coalition. “Washington is the second most economically diverse state in the country, with 300 different commodities […]
Budget writers in Olympia on Monday released three separate budget proposals – two operating budgets and one capital budget – with two-and-a-half weeks left in this year’s legislative session. The Senate operating budget fully funds the proposed Soil Health Initiative proposed by WSU, the state Department of Agriculture and the Washington State Conservation Commission. The […]
The Senate released its capital budget proposal on Wednesday evening that fully funds WSU’s $4 million dollar request for design of the Life Science Building at WSU Vancouver. The project was also funded in the Governor’s proposed budget in December, which WSU testified in support of in January. If funded for design, construction funding would […]
The state Senate yesterday approved legislation reauthorizing the Joint Center for Aerospace Technology Innovation, sending it to the House. Senate Bill 6139 was approved 47-0. JCATI was established by the Legislature in 2012 with a $3 million biennial appropriation to fund seed grants for research in the aerospace industry at state institutions of higher education. […]
A bill seeking to codify the Soil Health Initiative, a WSU partnership with the Washington State Department of Agriculture and Washington State Conservation Commission, cleared another hurdle today being voted off the Senate floor unanimously. Senate Bill 6306 establishes scope for the Initiative. “The goals and objectives of the initative are to improve the viability […]
Regents and trustees from Washington’s public baccalaureate institutions and community and technical colleges blanketed the statehouse Wednesday for their annual legislative advocacy day. The group consisted of board members from the University of Washington, Washington State University, Western Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Central Washington University, and The Evergreen State College as well as a […]