OLYMPIA – Although all eyes may have been on a tax on millionaires, legislation affecting how sheriffs can be removed and a ban on mask-wearing for law enforcement, the 60-day legislative session also yielded results impacting WSU students.
The budget
After staring down a potential $16 billion budget gap last year that left WSU with nearly $10 million less, the legislature passed a $3.3 million cut this year. The number was much less than the $11.1 million Gov. Bob Ferguson proposed cutting in his operating budget.
The drastic change between what Ferguson proposed and what the legislature passed is in part due to a relatively positive budget forecast in February. The forecast added nearly $2 billion in projected revenue through 2029.
WSU will decide where the cuts are felt when the Board of Regents approves the budget in May.
For the capital budget, which encompasses construction projects, the legislature gave WSU over $16 million.
WSU will get $6 million to address the nearly $2 billion in backlog maintenance and $1 million to improve energy systems at the WSU Creamery.
Betting on college sports approved by legislature
A bill that cleared the legislature would allow residents to wager on Washington college sports at tribal casinos. Betting on performance of single athletes would not be allowed.
The sponsor of the bill, Sen. Adrian Cortes, D-Battle Ground, argued the bill would start to regulate something already happening illicitly.
WSU staunchly opposed the bill, saying it would leave athletes vulnerable to harassment.
“There is nothing in this bill but trouble for WSU and our student athletes who are incredibly accessible both on campus and online,” said Chris Mulick, WSU state relations director.
The bill heads to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.
AI image and likeness protections
Legislation pushed by both WSU and UW student governments was protections against AI images or voices on people who have not consented. The bipartisan bill was signed into law by Ferguson last week.
“I think treating AI like it’s a problem is not doing favors for anybody involved in the process, but being specific and being reasonable with our asks,”said Bhargav Iyer, ASWSU director of legislative affairs. “We wanted to kind of tailor this bill to really tackle one issue at a time.”
Iyer said he and his colleagues became concerned about the rise in AI image and likeness abuse. The bill would also protect student athletes, who may be further at risk from getting their image taken by AI.
“We’ve heard from both institutions anecdotally that athletes tend to be affected by this,” he said.
