This Week at the Statehouse – Week 2

This week consisted of a lot of committee and subcommittee work.  There has also been a flood of new legislation introduced (over 350 bills so far).  The Board of Regents are registered on 67 bills.  We have been requested to provide the fiscal impact (fiscal note) on 15 of the bills.  This link will provide a complete list of bills we are tracking (in the box marked as lobbyist, type in Mary Braun).

We are registered against SF 27, which directs the Board of Regents to prohibit the establishment or continuation of a tenure system at the Regents universities. We are also opposed to two additional bills, HSB 56 and HSB 57, both of which would prohibit design build delivery method for our construction projects.  We registered in support of HSB 2, which specifically allows design build. 

Another bill making its way through the legislative process pertains to allowing the Dept. of Education to set a passing score for the PRAXIS test instead of being part of the top 25th percentile. The House and the Senate have companion bills, SSB 1031 and HSB 17. The Senate subcommittee met this week and is working on an amendment, which means both of these bills may change when they are considered by their respective committee.

Upcoming events in the legislature:

Jan. 29 – President Nook, along with the other two university presidents and Regent President Mike Richards, will present our budget recommendations to the Education Appropriations Subcommittee

Feb. 5 – Randy Pilkington, Director of BCS, will present our budget recommendations to the Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee

Feb. 18 – UNI Day at the Capitol, first floor rotunda