OLYMPIA – State lawmakers return to the Capitol this week for hearings on a new college in Snohomish County, rising costs of road construction and compensating people jailed for crimes they didn’t commit.

Most of the state’s 147 legislators will attend “committee days,” which offer a sneak preview of what might emerge as hot issues in the upcoming 2007 session that convenes in January.

Committee hearings are planned Wednesday through Friday.

Members of the House of Representatives and Senate will converse separately on the subject of a new four-year college in the region.

Business and elected leaders from Snohomish, Island and Skagit counties want lawmakers to make an initial payment toward a four-year university. But the Higher Education Coordinating Board is recommending against it, contending the needs of students can be satisfied if the state invests more money in existing public colleges.

The House Higher Education and Workforce Education Committee will consider the topic Wednesday with the Senate Early Learning, K-12 and Higher Education Committee taking it up Thursday.

The House and Senate transportation committees will be crunching numbers in separate hearings Thursday.

With inflation driving up the cost of materials and labor, projects approved by legislators in 2005 may be delayed or dropped. Lawmakers will be looking to get good estimates of what can and cannot be done as they consider which course of action they may need to take next year.

On Friday, the House Judiciary Committee will discuss providing payment to people who are wrongfully convicted of felonies and jailed.

A bill introduced last session sought to make Washington the 23rd state in the nation to set up a process whereby these individuals could seek compensatory payment. The bill did not pass, but may be reintroduced next year.

Also this week, lawmakers will discuss the effect of the state’s Growth Management Act on the building of affordable housing, possible changes in when mail ballots must be received by county auditors and stronger protections against identity thieves.

Hearings are open to the public. Several will be televised live on TVW.

For the schedule and agendas, go to www1.leg.wa.gov/ legislature/calendar.

Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.