Senate Bill 5077, proposed 2015-2017 state operating budget

This is the Senate’s proposed $38 billion spending plan for the 2015-2017 biennium. It includes increases in basic education funding in response to the McCleary court decision, smaller class sizes in grades K-3, a 25-percent cut in tuition at public colleges and universities, and a $2,000 raise over the next two years for every state employee. The Senate-passed plan uses the projected $3 billion in extra revenue the state will receive to increase spending without imposing new taxes.

Passed the Senate on April 6,by a vote of 26-23

Sen. James Hargrove (D-Hoquiam)        N

Senate Bill 6088, addressing K-12 education enhancements made by Initiative 1351

This bill addresses changes in the basic education funding formula made by Initiative 1351 to lower class sizes in all grades, to provide enhanced class size reductions in poorer schools, and to increase school-based and district-wide staff. The bill would maintain the initiative’s K-3 class size reductions, but would restore class sizes in all other grades to pre-initiative levels.

Building and district-level staff would be restored to pre-initiative values with the exception of elementary parent involvement coordinators and school guidance counselors, which would be increased. A referendum clause is included that directs the Secretary of State to submit this legislation to a vote of the people at the next general election in November 2015.

Passed the Senate on April 6 by a vote of 27-22

Sen. Hargrove N

House Bill 1299, Proposed transportation budget for the 2015-2017 biennium

This measure would spend $7.7 billion in existing revenues and includes provisions to repave nearly 2,100 miles of state highways and repair up to 50 structurally deficient bridges.

It also sets aside $379 million to repair the State Route 520 floating bridge, $109 million to widen a stretch of Interstate 90 near Snoqualmie Pass, and $275 million for additional lanes on Interstate 5 in western Washington. It also would provide some $640 million for repairs to Seattle’s Alaskan Way Viaduct.

The bill was sent to the Senate, which is proposing a plan that is about $320 million less. House Democrats also are expected to unveil a tax and fee proposal next week to raise more than $15 billion for transportation projects through the year 2031.

Passed the House on April 9 by a vote of 78-19

Rep. Steve Tharinger (D-Sequim) Y

Rep. Kevin Van De Wege (D-Sequim)       Y

Senate Bill 5518, Creating procedures to address campus sexual violence

This bill, which passed the Senate unanimously in March, requires institutions of higher education to develop and distribute policies and procedures for handling sexual violence complaints by students.

It prohibits institutions from establishing different disciplinary processes for matters of sexual violence on the same campus, based on the characteristics of the student involved, such as membership on an athletic team or in a fraternity or sorority, or the student’s academic year.

Passed the House on April 10 by a vote of 85-12

Rep. Tharinger Y

Rep. Van De Wege Y

Senate Bill 5153, Increasing the transparency of campaign contributions

This bill provides that all nonprofit organizations making contributions or expenditures in Washington election campaigns above specified thresholds must file organizational statements with the PDC and disclose certain contributors, regardless of the organization’s primary purpose. The specified contributions that must be reported to the Public Disclosure Commission are the 10 largest contributions of at least $10,000 in the aggregate from a single source during a calendar year. The bill passed the Senate unanimously in March.

Passed the House on April 10 by a vote of 65-32

Rep. Tharinger Y

Rep. Van De Wege Y.