While the Twitter world is going crazy, sharing that the budget has been agreed to and is at the printer's, the Senate just sent up a flare by putting the bill on the next order of Senate business.
ESSB 6002 is expected to receive a "Do Not Concur" vote in the Senate, which will send the budget as it passed the House back to the House. This procedural action is necessary because the Senate can't amend its own bill at this point. The House will then take up the supplemental operating budget again with the agreed upon spending plan, the House will pass it to the Senate, and the Senate will concur.
If all goes as planned, activity should be complete by tomorrow, which is the end of the 60-day regular session. Lawmakers can go until midnight and still meet the deadline, although folks are feeling a bit more confident it will all be over earlier.
Things we'll be watching for include funding to implement the McCleary decision (specifically MSOC), as well as $2 million in restored basic education apportionment payments for districts that receive federal timber payments.
Updates on the Legislature and state government from the Washington State School Directors' Association.
