The Senate Higher Education Committee has endorsed a bill to establish a new University of Washington campus in Everett.
This afternoon committee members passed Senate Bill 6391 authored by Sen. Paull Shin, D-Edmonds. The legislation now goes to the Ways and Means Committee for consideration.
“It’s a major first step,” said Sen. Jean Berkey, D-Everett, who serves on the panel.
It was not a unanimous vote.
Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch, said he thought building the campus on a larger site proposed in Marysville would be a better long term investment.
“I think something bigger and with more land area is more advantageous,” he said.
The committee did not consider – and may not consider – a bill aimed at bringing the proposed four-year university to Marysville.
I’ll have more details in Tuesday’s newspaper.
Last week the higher education committee held hearings on competing bills backing Everett and Marysville. (Scroll down for a link to my story on that hearing.)
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Those folks wanting a proposed University of Washington campus built in Lake Stevens will get the chance Thursday to make their case to the state Senate Higher Education Committee.
Sen. Paull Shin, D-Edmonds, showed a nice bit of legislative courtesy in scheduling the hearing on Senate Bill 6490 authored by Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens.
There is little likelihood legislators would choose this site. A state-hired consultant ranked it the lowest of four finalist sites in its Nov. 15 report to the Legislature.
This site on Cavalero Hill is plagued by environmental challenges and political opposition from Snohomish County Council members. Still, residents and civic leaders will get their moment in the Senate at 10 a.m. Thursday.
Last week, the committee heard from those backing legislation to build in Everett and Marysville – the top two ranked sites in the study.
Action by the committee on one or both of those bills could occur as early as today.
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