HB 1337 — Concerning the appointment of presidents of institutions of higher education.

H-1242.1H-0530.1 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1337 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By House Postsecondary Education & Workforce (originally sponsored by Representatives Pollet, McEntire, Reed, Macri, and Nance)Nance READRead FIRSTfirst TIMEtime 02/21/25.01/16/25.

Referred to Committee on Postsecondary Education & Workforce.

amendingadding RCWa 28B.20.100,new 28B.30.100,section 28B.35.100,to 28B.40.100,chapter and28B.10 28B.50.102;RCW;

To further this interest, the legislature intends to ensure that the top leadership of Washington's public institutions of higher education is selected in a manner that reflects principles of academic partnership with faculty, staff, and studentsstudents, throughincludes fullopportunities participationfor input from members of facultythe public, and staffcomplies regentswith andthe trustees.open public meetings act.

NEW SECTION.

RCWA 28B.20.100new andsection 2022is cadded 12to schapter 128B.10 areRCW each amended to read as follows:

(1)(a)(1) The governancegoverning of the University of Washington shall be vested in a board of regentseach torespective consistinstitution of 11higher members,education one of whom shall beappoint athe studentinstitution's andpresident onein ofaccordance whomwith shall be a full-time or emeritus member of the faculty.following provisions:

(b)(a) The membersgoverning board shall beprovide appointedpublic bynotice thefor governorup withto thefour consentpriority ofcandidates the senate, and, except for the studentposition memberof andpresident facultyof p.their respective institution.

1Public SHBnotice 1337must member,be shallprovided holdat theirleast offices30 forp. a term of six years from the first day of October and until their successors shall be appointed and qualified.

(c)1 TheHB governor1337 shalldays selectprior to the studentdate memberof fromthe apublic listmeeting of candidates,the ofgoverning board at leastwhich threea andfinal notaction moreor thanvote five,is submittedto bybe thetaken governingon bodythe employment of thea associatedpriority students.candidate.

The studentpublic membermeeting shallmust holdbe thean officeopen forpublic ameeting termin ofcompliance onewith year from the firstopen daypublic ofmeetings Julyact untilpursuant theto firstchapter day42.30 ofRCW. July of the following year or until a successor is appointed and qualified, whichever is later.

TheA studentpriority membercandidate's shallemployment beapplication, aresume, full-timereference studentletters, inand goodschool standingtranscripts atmust thebe universitymade atavailable with the timepublic ofnotice; appointment.

(d)and The(b) governorPrior shallto selectthe public meeting and after public notice is provided pursuant to (a) of this subsection, the facultygoverning memberboard fromshall provide a listpublic forum at the institution's campus for the priority candidates for the position of candidates,president of atthe leastinstitution twoto provide the public, including the media and notstudents, morefaculty, thanand five,staff submittedof bythe institution, with an opportunity to meet and ask questions or provide input regarding the facultypriority senate.candidates.

The(2) facultyFor memberpurposes shallof holdthis thesection, office"priority forcandidate" ameans terman ofindividual threepreliminarily yearsselected fromto thefill firsta dayvacancy ofin Octobera andposition untilappointed apursuant successorto issubsection appointed(1) andof qualified.this section.

(2) Six members of said board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

In the case of a vacancy, or when an appointment is made after the date of the expiration of a term, the governor shall fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term of the regent whose office has become vacant or expired.

(3) Except for the term of the student member and the faculty member, no more than the terms of two members will expire simultaneously on the last day of September in any one year.

(4) ((A)) With the exception of the initial selection and hiring of the position of university president, a student appointed under this section may not participate or vote on matters relating to the hiring, discipline, or tenure of faculty members and personnel.

((A)) With the exception of the initial selection and hiring of the position of university president, a faculty member appointed under this section may not participate or vote on matters related to the hiring, discipline, or tenure of specific faculty members.

Sec.

3.

RCW 28B.30.100 and 2022 c 12 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

(1)(a) The governance of Washington State University shall be vested in a board of regents to consist of 11 members, one of whom shall be a student and one of whom shall be a full-time or emeritus member of the faculty.

p.

2 SHB 1337 (b) The members shall be appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate, and, except for the student member and faculty member, shall hold their offices for a term of six years from the first day of October and until their successors shall be appointed and qualified.

(c) The governor shall select the student member from a list of candidates, of at least three and not more than five, submitted by the governing body of the associated students.

The student member shall hold the office for a term of one year from the first day of July until the first day of July of the following year or until a successor is appointed and qualified, whichever is later.

The student member shall be a full-time student in good standing at the university at the time of appointment.

(d) The governor shall select the faculty member from a list of candidates, of at least two and not more than five, submitted by the faculty senate.

The faculty member shall hold the office for a term of three years from the first day of October and until a successor is appointed and qualified.

(2) Six members of said board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

In the case of a vacancy or when an appointment is made after the date of the expiration of a term, the governor shall fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term of the regent whose office has become vacant or expired.

(3) Except for the term of the student member and the faculty member, no more than the terms of two members will expire simultaneously on the last day of September in any one year.

(4) Each regent shall, before entering upon the discharge of his respective duties as such, execute a good and sufficient bond to the state of Washington, with two or more sufficient sureties, residents of the state, or with a surety company licensed to do business within the state, in the penal sum of not less than five thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of his duties as such regent:

PROVIDED, That the university shall pay any fees incurred for any such bonds for their board members.

(5) ((A)) With the exception of the initial selection and hiring of the position of university president, a student appointed under this section may not participate or vote on matters relating to the hiring, discipline, or tenure of faculty members and personnel.

((A)) With the exception of the initial selection and hiring of the position of university president, a faculty member appointed under p.

3 SHB 1337 this section may not participate or vote on matters related to the hiring, discipline, or tenure of specific faculty members.

Sec.

4.