This week's Policy Watch: Community College Edition comes as the legislature shifts its focus from committee work to floor debate ahead of the second funnel deadline. With bills needing to pass one chamber to remain viable, lawmakers spent much of the week advancing key proposals. While this meant fewer committee meetings, it also provided insight into legislative priorities for the remainder of the session. I've been closely tracking bills impacting community colleges and will provide updates on what's moving forward. Stay tuned for a breakdown of this week's floor action and what it means for our advocacy efforts.
BILLS THAT MOVED THIS WEEK:
House File 165 that requires the US Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Civics Test has had a couple of amendments introduced that would no longer require the test for HiSET purposes, but it has not been adopted at this time so we will continue to watch this bill closely as we are actively opposed to the current version. House File 259 that covers notice requirements for open meetings has passed the House and been attached to Senate File 388. House File 299 that requires us to communicate immunization exemptions to students passed the House Monday 58-30 and been attached to Senate File 6. House File 401, which changes general education requirements, has had an amendment introduced but has not been adopted at this time. House File 703, which changes the information communicated to students about student loan programs, passed the House Monday 87-1 and has been assigned a subcommittee in the Senate of Taylor, Campbell, and Quirmbach. House File 706 that covers open meetings has had an amendment introduced but has not been adopted at this time. House File 711 which would prohibit new cosmetology programs from being added in areas that already have cosmetology schools has had an amendment filed that would remove this prohibition but it has not been adopted at this time. House File 856 has been renumbered and has had an amendment filed and would prohibit us from expending any state moneys on DEI programming, office, or positions; we will wait to see if the amendment will be adopted.
Senate File 137 which covers short course law enforcement passed the Senate Tuesday 47-0 and has been assigned to the House Public Safety Committee. Senate File 379 which covers income tax deductions passed out of Subcommittee on Wednesday. Senate File 574 which covers the retention of fees for public improvement contracts passed out of Committee on Monday. Senate File 603 which includes a division on adult education and literacy programs under IWD was passed out of Committee on Tuesday and passed out of the Senate 48-0 on Wednesday.
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