With negotiations between House and Senate budget writers continuing, this week marked the final major cutoff deadline of session when bills from the opposite chamber needed to be approved in order to continue in the legislative process.
Just over a week left in the 105-day regular session remains, and Democrats this week released a tax increase package that would raise an estimated $12 billion in revenue over the next four years. Gov. Bob Ferguson pushed back on that proposal Thursday, issuing a statement asking legislators to ensure the state is on sound financial footing in the face of possible funding cuts coming from the federal government.
"At a time of great economic uncertainty and assaults by the Trump administration on core state services for working families, raising $12 billion in taxes is unsustainable, too risky and fails to adequately prepare Washington state for the crisis that looms ahead," he said.
State Board-request bills pass House
On Saturday, the House passed the bill that would authorize colleges to waive part or all of tuition and fees for elders over the age of 55 who are members of Washington’s 29 federally-recognized Tribes.
"It would help Tribal elders actually get education that they probably have always wanted but just have not been able to afford," Rep. Tarra Simmons said.
The last bill the House took up before Wednesday's floor cutoff was the one that would extend the Customized Training Program's business and occupation tax credit.
"An employer can come to a community and technical college and say 'I need people trained for this type of work to support those local employers,' but they also pay back some of the cost of that training. What the Legislature has done in the past has given them the opportunity to get a credit on their B&O tax for some of the costs that they pay for that customized training," Rep. Ed Orcutt said. "This bill just basically extends that authority — that tax credit — for a little bit longer."
Trustees confirmed by Senate
The Senate this week confirmed one trustee to the board of their college and one member of the State Board:
- Kelly Shepard to Everett Community College.
- Emily Yim to the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.
Coming up next week
With sine die set for April 27, budget writers are expected to release conference budgets next week. In anticipation of that, House and Senate fiscal committees are set to meet throughout the week to hear bills deemed necessary to implement the budget. As they await budgets, members of the House and Senate will spend next week on the floor voting on bills passed by both chambers with differences negotiated by representatives of each.
