[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6110855,"mediaKeyId","2755799-072d508afddebc1b8b1199470303cff9","parentId",2755799,"title","Committee advances four higher-education bills, recommends confirmation for two gubernatorial appointees","audioSeconds",366,"startMs",3514000,"endMs",3880000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755799-072d508afddebc1b8b1199470303cff9&start=3514&end=3880","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755799-072d508afddebc1b8b1199470303cff9/thumbnail_3514000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6110855/Washington/Committee-advances-four-higher-education-bills-recommends-confirmation-for-two-gubernatorial-appointees","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6110855-4c642e960c8ad4978c57e815466e42e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771040872&Signature=ow6StSc1f9ybm-c8525PnWUECBTLsOnlp2oThRkiHK~DTM~MRTnI~luRk0DhhNXW0e4LZK6V9XcsMnqqh6VQpFjaNYnz8ViaZjoGcrDV3AT4kAIvs5RkzKBTMvTHN5ofT9~OrV~KzF94NNkD4x7sh0KOPW1q6DMazeiaz6Ch-3AFYG9SgiI6f8BBOP1xXzWWTgzadlI8jih7wKHziJ6ifkq8gf2ENFBdlujcxCuIl3rI3c0vDvESfBc1jIm3ezMfZ6AGj1-8-nmgW3kqdV5X0ZiuxDMB8MWt4dOlDYTyz4MXurf7StXjJ9PinsEub9nEONoMZLTtcUC6FhqGL0Rrlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development","date","2025-03-24T00:00:00Z","article","In executive session the Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee voted to advance four House bills and recommended confirmation for two gubernatorial appointments.

Staff briefed members on the four measures. Ben Omdahl, committee staff, described the bills as follows: second substitute House Bill 1273 would extend a pilot program to increase career and technical education dual-credit participation and covers certain expenses for secondary and postsecondary schools (a fiscal note estimates $616,000 for the 2025–27 biennium). Substitute House Bill 1486 would add a student member to the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (estimated cost: $25,500 per biennium). Engrossed House Bill 1572 would modify higher-education accreditation standards and related degree-granting authorization provisions. Second substitute House Bill 1587 would establish a local government partner promise scholarship program within the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship Program; Senator Behnke offered an amendment to align participating public institutions with approval by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

Committee action and outcomes (as recorded on the transcript):

- Second substitute House Bill 1273: Motion to recommend “do pass” and send to the Ways & Means Committee; voice vote recorded and chair announced the bill passed and would be sent on subject to signatures.

- Substitute House Bill 1486: Motion to recommend “do pass” and send to the Rules Committee; voice vote recorded and chair announced the bill passed subject to signatures.

- Engrossed House Bill 1572: Motion to recommend “do pass” and send to the Rules Committee; voice vote recorded and chair announced the bill passed subject to signatures.

- Second substitute House Bill 1587: Senator Behnke moved adoption of Amendment A; the amendment was adopted by voice vote. Senator Behnke then moved that the amendment be rolled into a striking amendment and that the bill, as amended, receive a due-pass recommendation to the Ways & Means Committee; a voice vote was recorded and the chair announced the bill passed subject to signatures.

Gubernatorial appointments:

- Monica Yu (appointment number 9230): Motion and second to report the appointment with a recommendation the appointment be confirmed; the motion was approved by voice vote.

- Elizabeth Cadden (appointment number 9231): Motion and second to report the appointment with a recommendation the appointment be confirmed; the motion was approved by voice vote.

Notes: The transcript records voice votes and the chair’s announcements that each measure had passed or that amendments were adopted; the transcript does not record roll-call tallies or individual roll-call votes.

Ending: Committee members were reminded to sign signature sheets and the chair adjourned the committee.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development - 3/24/2025 10:30 AM","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee voted in executive session to advance four higher-education bills to the next committees and recommended confirmation of two gubernatorial appointees.","taxTitle","Higher Education & Workforce Development, Senate, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20504,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6110858,"Senate committee hears AI task force briefing; higher-education leaders outline workforce priorities",3422,77000,3499000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2755799-072d508afddebc1b8b1199470303cff9&start=77&end=3499","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2755799-072d508afddebc1b8b1199470303cff9/thumbnail_77000.jpg","/articles/6110858/Washington/Senate-committee-hears-AI-task-force-briefing-higher-education-leaders-outline-workforce-priorities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6110858-045b2eea7cd2abfbc7d54ba35c0917cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771040872&Signature=Qgbib1amQo7VYltgGeXwiYFIs0oPwFYVBYq5XxgDCZijyFqgGixQgvp1Llm5GKmlo-tsokaoJjkPsTB1oRN55TJ~GJr57khKY4GSdkCUtIap3mBhOR2eP75qfsOiQ1-zU9zDb3mXkZu9XllYB92eqoJm4~m0DG6RY7EHtjvzxflAIbFpTaAjuyG5tiomVKpX8qEIW2oU31DuP3JLaRZKvgOErQX65Ba2qQ2CUUmdsXwGi~B4uC3tCurpShtqyWE774aaXjJmKPqNifRhbjpAOu2mrf-dl2NjtVk6xqpqJHNo7tr~~J7VQtam96OeYq6LScxBUR~~PpHfgkzksob49w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee heard from the Washington State Attorney General’s artificial intelligence task force and a panel of higher-education leaders about preparing students and workers for an AI-driven economy.

Samayo Hassan, policy analyst staffing the AGO’s Washington State Artificial Intelligence Task Force, told the committee the task force was created by Senate Bill 5838 and is producing a series of reports: a preliminary report released in December 2024, an interim report due December 2025 and a final report due July 2026. “The task force mandate requires us to examine the development and use of artificial intelligence by private and public sector entities and make recommendations to the legislature,” Hassan said, adding that the task force includes 19 members and eight subcommittees, including an Education and Workforce Subcommittee.

Why it matters: Committee members said the state’s AI leadership presents economic opportunity but also requires coordinated investment so Washington can retain research and workforce advantages. Panelists said investment should include professional development for faculty, reliable broadband for students, and expanded access to AI coursework beyond computer science.

University and college presenters stressed three recurring themes: (1) teach AI literacy across disciplines so students understand risks such as data privacy and bias; (2) emphasize competency- and skills-based credentials that employers can evaluate; and (3) invest in access (devices and broadband) and instructor support so underserved students benefit.

Magda Balazinska, professor and director of the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington, described Washington as an “AI powerhouse” with strengths in industry and academia. Balazinska said UW offers broad AI-related coursework and research and highlighted pipeline concerns: “We need to really come together and strategize, have a comprehensive vision for Washington State, explore opportunities for partnership with industry, academia,” she said, urging attention to equity and retention of talent in the state.

From Eastern Washington University, Stu Steiner, director of the Cybersecurity Center, and Travis Massengill, professor in the Department of Design, described classroom approaches that teach students to use AI as an “augmented” tool rather than a shortcut. Massengill said his design courses teach layered prompting—starting with simple prompts, then structured prompts and finally having students create their own prompts—so AI becomes a learning aid rather than an answer machine.

Clover Park Technical College and Columbia Basin College described system-level efforts to scale faculty development and student exposure. Thomas Broxson of Clover Park said the college ran a summer institute that enrolled more than 400 participants and has embedded UNESCO’s AI competency framework into faculty training; Michael Lee, vice president for instruction at Columbia Basin College, said the college convened a work group to align academic-honesty policies with AI tools and is partnering with K–12 and industry advisory boards to keep curricula current.

Committee members asked about the pace of policymaking versus the pace of technological change. Hassan said the task force’s role is to gather perspectives from teachers, researchers and administrators to inform meaningful policy rather than rush to duplicate efforts. Balazinska and the panel urged the legislature to consider investments in infrastructure, educator professional development and partnerships with industry that would allow institutions to access shared AI infrastructure.

The discussion produced no formal committee action; presenters and staff were invited to continue discussions with senators and participate in follow-up tours and briefings.

Ending: Senators thanked presenters for the briefing and moved on to an executive session on pending bills and appointments.","The Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee heard from the Washington State Attorney General’s AI Task Force and higher-education leaders on how to prepare students and workers for an AI-driven economy.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee advances four higher-education bills, recommends confirmation for two gubernatorial appointees

Senate committee hears AI task force briefing; higher-education leaders outline workforce priorities