Making College Affordable

Bailey student financial-education bill signed by governor
May 08, 2017
Another of Sen. Barbara Bailey’s efforts to increase transparency for college students was endorsed by the governor today when he signed Senate Bill 5100. The new law, which takes effect July 22, will direct colleges and universities to make financial-education workshops available to students by the 2017-18 school year. “Understanding... Read More...
Bailey “Degree in Three” work group legislation approved by Senate
February 12, 2016
Late Thursday evening the state Senate approved Sen. Barbara Bailey’s legislation aimed at reducing the time Washington’s college students need to earn a degree. Senate Bill 6626 establishes a work group aimed at helping students earn their bachelor’s degree in three years. The measure was approved unanimously and now moves... Read More...
Bailey introduces “Degree in Three” work group legislation
February 02, 2016
Leading the way on college access and affordability, Sen. Barbara Bailey, chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, is exploring creative ways to help Washington college students achieve their higher education goals faster. Senate Bill 6626, establishes a work group that includes representatives from state regional universities to develop best... Read More...
Historic tuition reduction makes college more affordable for working families
July 08, 2015
In the final days of the 2015 legislative session, Senate budget negotiators fought to include working-family tax relief in the form of a nationally unprecedented college-tuition reduction. Today the governor signed Senate Bill 5954, known as the College Affordability Program, which cuts tuition at state-run colleges and universities by up... Read More...
Bailey veteran-education bill clears Legislature
June 30, 2015
20,000 veterans retain G.I. Bill benefits at state colleges For the second straight year Sen. Barbara Bailey has made sure state lawmakers came through for veterans looking to use their military benefits to attend college. The state House of Representatives today passed Senate Bill 5355, Bailey’s bill to allow continued... Read More...
Bailey, Senate continue to stand up for veterans
June 28, 2015
Legislation passed for fourth time would protect educational benefits On the first day of the Legislature’s third special session the Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 5355, to ensure military veterans will retain the use of their G.I. Bill benefits in the state. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Barbara Bailey,... Read More...
Latest House Democrat budget damaging to higher education, says Bailey
June 23, 2015
House Democrats unveiled their latest budget proposal Monday that would make significant reductions to higher education funding compared to the Senate’s budget proposal. Included in those reductions are resulting increases in tuition during the second year of the budget cycle and a decrease of $150 million in spending for colleges... Read More...
Treasurer’s letter on GET puzzling, says Bailey
June 12, 2015
Efforts to derail tuition cuts concerns higher education chair A cornerstone of the Senate’s budget proposals has been working family tax-relief in the form of cutting college tuition at state-run colleges and universities by an average of 25 percent. The Senate introduced and passed Senate Bill 5954, known as the... Read More...
Tuition-cap bill approved by Senate
March 11, 2015
College affordability one step closer for Washington Families The Senate Majority’s College Affordability Program, Senate Bill 5954 passed with bipartisan support but surprising opposition from half of Senate Democrats. The bill, sponsored by Deputy Majority Leader Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, and chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, Sen. Barbara... Read More...
College Affordability Program clears higher-education committee
February 20, 2015
Senate Bill 5954, known as the Senate majority’s College Affordability Program, won approval today from the Senate Higher Education Committee. The proposal is sponsored by Sen. Barbara Bailey, who chairs the committee; it would reduce college tuition by as much as 30 percent at the state’s research institutions and cap... Read More...