OLYMPIA — Legislation to bring thousands of students to a four-year university in Everett cleared its first hurdle Monday.

The Senate Higher Education Committee approved the bill to establish a University of Washington branch campus that in 20 years could have 5,000 students with instruction focused in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math.

Senate Bill 6391, authored by Sen. Paull Shin, D-Edmonds, passed on a voice vote.

Shin said building it on 27 acres near Everett Station will put future students near jobs and transportation. It also offers a better chance to start some classes this fall in an existing building.

“It’s a major first step,” said Sen. Jean Berkey, D-Everett. “This is about building a school and then the next four years is about getting it done.”

The bill now goes to the Ways and Means Committee for consideration. Legislators were not unanimous on the decision.

Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch, said he supports a 369-acre site in Marysville because it is larger and is closer to residents in Skagit and Island counties, two of the areas the new university is intended to serve.

“Our job is to look out a long, long time. As I look out at the two sites, I think something bigger and with more land area is more advantageous,” he said.

State Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, has introduced a bill aimed at boosting Marysville as the choice. Though Haugen’s bill received a hearing in the committee last week, the panel chaired by Shin did not act on it Monday.

“I was really disappointed. It certainly isn’t finished by any means,” said Haugen, adding she had not been told a vote on the Everett bill was planned.

Monday’s action comes three days after a spirited two-hour committee hearing in which supporters of Everett and Marysville pleaded for their respective favorites.

On Thursday, the committee will hear from those wanting it in Lake Stevens. Shin scheduled a hearing on Senate Bill 6490 to put a UW campus in the Cavalero Hill area.

“We’ve heard from Everett. We’ve heard from Marysville. It’s time for Lake Stevens to be heard,” said the bill’s author, Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens.

It is very unlikely the proposed Lake Stevens site will be chosen because of environmental obstacles and political opposition.

A report issued in November by a state-hired consultant ranked this property lowest among four finalist sites. Everett scored the highest followed closely by the Marysville property and then a second site in Everett at a former Kimberly-Clark plant.

The Lake Stevens parcel is bordered on the north by 20th Street SE and on the west by Cavalero Road.

It is roughly 40 acres in size. It began at nearly 100 acres but wetlands consume about a third of the property and a landowner removed another 30 acres from consideration just before the release of the November report.

Politically, Everett enjoys the additional backing of the Snohomish County Council, the University of Washington and state legislators from central and south Snohomish County.

Marysville enjoys support from the Island and Skagit county commissions, several north Snohomish County cities and state legislators representing the Island, Skagit and north Snohomish County regions.

“Our site is certainly an underdog,” Hobbs said.

“Lake Stevens and Snohomish are just two small communities. It’s unfortunate that those with the most money and those with the most influence are wielding the most power around here on this.”