What’s up with the state?

This bill recognizes that a large portion of high school students take exams for AP courses every year. According to the bill, this number is around 85,000 students.
The bill requires “institutions of higher education … establish a coordinated, evidence-based policy for granting … credits to students …” and that credit policies be posted on their school websites. Lastly, institutions must reevaluate their policy regarding AP credits twice a year.
The bill passed the Senate unanimously and is currently on the House floor calendar.

The bill supports student free speech in school-sponsored media. It states that student editors can determine content (except in a few circumstances), protects advisers from being punished for following these standards and establishes an appeal process regarding censorship.

It simultaneously takes away liability from schools for the media produced and includes an outline of what school officials may or may not prevent from being published.
For institutions of higher education, the bill exempts student media from going through a prior review process. In high schools, it requires that school districts create a policy regarding freedom of speech in accordance with the provisions.
The bill died in the House most likely due to a question surrounding student liability. It is expected to be proposed again next session.

This is a version of what is commonly known as a “motor voter” bill. It states that in Washington “only 21 percent of eligible citizens between the ages of 18 and 24 are registered to vote,” as per the 2016 U.S. Census.
The bill attempts to increase voter turnout by allowing teens as young as sixteen to preregister to vote online or at any licensing agency.
When teens go to get their driver’s license, licensing agents would be required to ask if they want to preregister. The bill furthermore requires that social studies teachers promote and provide resources for students to preregister on “Temperance and Good Citizenship Day,” which is on Jan. 16.

The bill recently died in the Senate. Some Democrats speculate it died due to a lack of Republican support for higher youth turnout (as they typically vote for Democrats). Some Republicans believe that making the registration process this streamlined decreases the sense of civic duty.