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The 2024 legislative session began on January 8th, this 60-day session is scheduled to run through March 7th. We have recently passed the first policy and fiscal cutoffs of the legislative session, as legislators on the floor voting to pass bills through their chamber of origin, they are also working on the details of their…

The 2023 Legislative session has begun! This 105-day session started on January 9th and will end on April 23rd, 2023. This week, Western testified in favor of the Governor’s proposed operating and capital budgets as well as several bills in the House Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee and the Senate Higher Education & Workforce Committee.…

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Last month the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council released the State’s quarterly revenue forecast, projecting a $1.46 billion increase in state revenues for the current 2021-2023 biennium to a total of $63.2 billion and a $632 million increase for the 2023-2025 biennium, which begins July 1, 2023.  The State’s Chief Economist, Steve Lerch,…

Last night the Washington State Legislature adjourned sine die, concluding the 60-Day Legislative Session.  Legislators passed several bills with impact to Western that are likely to be signed into law by the governor in the coming weeks, including the state’s supplemental operating and capital budgets. Key outcomes from the 2022 session with impact to the…

Budget leaders in the House and Senate released supplemental operating and capital budget proposals this week following last week’s positive state revenue forecast.  Both operating proposals include funding for WWU’s top priority, employee compensation increases.  The Senate proposal would also increase the state’s share of compensation funding from 49% state/51% tuition to 66% state/ 34%…

Today the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council released the official state quarterly revenue forecast, projecting an increase of $1.45 billion in state revenues for the current 2021-23 biennium and an increase of more than $1.32 billion for the 2023-25 biennium.  Total state revenues for the 21-23 biennium are now projected at $61.7 billion…

On Friday, three bills aimed at expanding access to postsecondary education and increasing financial aid opportunities for Washington residents passed out of the House Appropriations Committee.  House Bill 1659, sponsored by Representative Vandana Slatter, expands the Washington College Grant program by modifying income eligibility thresholds and award levels and provides “bridge grants” to WCG recipients…