There is a huge debate over taxes underway in Olympia for how to balance the state budget shortfall. (Read more). And yesterday, President Trump signed an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure” of the U.S. Education Department. (Read more). WFIS has a strong connection to the Office of Nonpublic Education within the USDoE and has heard that some staff members have already left.
Engrossed SSHB 1648 **ACTION Still NEEDED** Please send a note to the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education members. Let them know that this bill is incredibly important to early learning educators. There was a misunderstanding during the hearing, and we want to clarify that ongoing training, the ten star hours per year, is mandatory for everyone. Here is the list of members.
SB 5506 extends the timeline for licensing boarding schools. The bill is scheduled for a hearing and vote next week.
HB 1543 was heard on March 19. WFIS testified. We insist on an amendment that clarifies legislators’ prioritization of fixing serious health and safety issues within a school building BEFORE taking on energy usage issues. We are working with the Dept of Commerce and the Board of Health to fix this bill. The vote will be on March 28.
Engrossed SSB 5509 will be voted on today. This bill requires cities, towns, and city codes to permit childcare centers in all zones except industrial zones, light industrial zones, and open spaces. Senator John Braun added an amendment stipulating “conditional use approval of an on-site child care center in industrial or light industrial zones, except in or around high hazard facilities.”
SSB 5655 (HB 1582) will be voted on next week. The bill requires that when a child care center is operated in a dedicated space within an existing building with more than one use, the occupancy load must be based only on the areas where the child care services are provided.
