Good morning – Continuing on the education theme, the House will hear bills related to the K-12 teacher shortage, educator professional development, and college affordability. Additional committee highlights are below. Friday is policy committee cutoff.
Floor action is scheduled for Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Jim will send out the scheduled floor action run list each morning once that list is finalized. The House will honor servicemen and servicewomen during floor action on Thursday for National Guard Day.
Scheduled media events:
Monday 2 p.m. – HDC/SDC weekly leadership availability with Speaker Chopp, Rep. Pat Sullivan, and Sen. Sharon Nelson (Senate D caucus room).
As always, items listed are subject to change.
Monday February 1, 2016
1:30 p.m.
Education (HHR A)
Public Hearing
HB 2881 – Responding to the educator shortage crisis by increasing training, recruitment, and retention, in order to enable Washington to lower class sizes.
3:30 p.m.
Appropriations (HHR A)
Public Hearing
SHB 1983 – Creating the TEACH pilot project of financial assistance for teachers taking basic skills and content tests for teacher certification programs.
HB 2472 – Improving the recruitment and retention of qualified teachers by raising salaries and strengthening teacher mentoring.
Transportation (HHR B)
Work Session
Final report on study of Washington State Patrol trooper recruitment and retention.
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
8 a.m.
Higher Education (HHR C)
Public Hearing
HB 2662 – Creating the Washington next generation educational savings account program.
Public Safety (HHR D)
Public Hearing
HB 2705 – Increasing the seriousness level of first degree rape and first degree rape of a child.
10 a.m.
Agriculture & Natural Resources (HHR B)
Public Hearing
HB 2888 – Concerning cetacean captivity.
HJM 4014 – Concerning the reintroduction of salmon and steelhead above blocked areas of the Columbia river.
Possible Executive Session
HB 2857 – Concerning tax incentives that will promote the manufacturing and use of sustainable wood materials.
State Government (HHR E)
Public Hearing
HI 735 – Objecting to the influence of corporations and money in our political system. (If measure is referred to committee.)
Technology & Economic Development (HHR C)
HB 2715 – Providing sales and use tax exemptions, in the form of a remittance of tax paid, to encourage coal-fired electric generation plants to convert to natural gas-fired plants or biomass energy facilities.
1:30 p.m.
Commerce & Gaming (HHR C)
Public Hearing
HB 2629 – Concerning the possession and transfer of marijuana, marijuana plants, useable marijuana, marijuana-infused products, and marijuana concentrates.
Education (HHR A)
Public Hearing
HB 2664 – Eliminating some authority of school districts to exempt students from participation in physical education.
HB 2669 – Concerning physical education instructional requirements for public school students.
3:30 p.m.
General Government & Information Technology (HHR C)
HB 2436 – Equalizing access to permanent ballot drop boxes for every Washington citizen.
Finance (HHR A)
HB 2959 – Concerning local business tax and licensing simplification.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
8 a.m.
Agriculture & Natural Resources (HHR B)
Work Session
Conflict Transformation: A new path to securing thriving rural communities and healthy wildlife populations.
Public Hearing
HB 2928 – Ensuring that restrictions on outdoor burning for air quality reasons do not impede measures necessary to ensure forest resiliency to catastrophic fires.
1:30 p.m.
Higher Education (HHR C)
Public Hearing
HB 2820 – Establishing the Washington promise program, which provides for universal and affordable access to community and technical colleges for all Washingtonians.
Possible Executive Session
HB 1949 – Regulating the institutions of higher education, including for-profit institutions and private vocational schools, to protect students from unfair business practices.
Public Safety (HHR D)
HB 2907 – Addressing the use of deadly force by a public officer or peace officer.
Possible Executive Session:
HB 2700 – Concerning impaired driving.
3:30 p.m.
Transportation (HHR C)
Possible Executive Session
HB 2574 – Enhancing public safety by reducing distracted driving incidents caused by the use of personal wireless communications devices.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
1:30 p.m.
State Government (HHR E)
Possible Executive Session:
HB 2848 – Addressing the influence of corporations and money in our political system.
Friday, February 5, 2016
8 a.m.
Finance (HHR A)
Public Hearing
HB 2347 – Reducing the tax on useable marijuana, marijuana concentrates, and marijuana-infused products.
Health Care & Wellness (HHR A)
Executive Session
HB 1321 – Declaring the intent for all Washingtonians to have health care coverage by 2020.
Higher Education (HHR C)
Possible Executive Session
HB 2820 – Establishing the Washington promise program, which provides for universal and affordable access to community and technical colleges for all Washingtonians.