Under the Dome: Today is Saturday, Feb. 23, the 41st day of the 105-day legislative session.

Today is Saturday, Feb. 23, the 41st day of the 105-day legislative session.

Quoted:

"As somebody who has also ridden bikes, but not as heavy as Harleys, I have found myself having to stomp on it to try to trigger it, and that's not always successful."

~Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood, speaking in support of a bill that would allow motorcyclists to bypass red lights when the bike fails to trigger the light's sensor. Tip: The sensors are magnetic so jumping on them makes no difference at all.

TODAY IN THE LEGISLATURE

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government has scheduled public hearings on 14 bills, including legislation to outlaw certain types of flame retardants in furniture and children’s products. The hearings are scheduled to start at 9 a.m. in Hearing Room A of the John L. O’Brien Building.

LOOKING AHEAD

Monday

A bill that would change the age of compulsory school attendance from 8-years-old to 6-years-old is scheduled for a public hearing with the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education.

Rep. Marcie Maxwell, D-Renton, is House Bill 1283’s prime sponsor. The hearing is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. in House Hearing Room A of the John L. O’Brien Building.

Regents and trustees representing Washington’s five public baccalaureates and 40 community and technical colleges will be in Olympia to urge legislators to reinvest in higher education.

The coalition will meet with key elected officials to “deliver a stark message about (what) decades of state disinvestment in higher education have meant, and why higher education is a critical piece of our economic recovery.”

Washington Virtual Academies is sponsoring the Online Learning Day at the Capitol.

The group is planning to gather in the Columbia Room of the Legislative Building, as well as in the Rotunda. An estimated 300 will be attending the event, which runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tuesday

A proposal that would create a claim for compensation for wrongful conviction and imprisonment is scheduled for public hearing.

The House Appropriations Committee has scheduled the hearing for 1:30 p.m. in Hearing Room A of the John L. O’Brien Building. Rep. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, is the prime sponsor of House Bill 1341.

Wednesday

Coach Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks has been invited to speak on the House and Senate floors. Carroll’s news release said he will speak about the value of public and private partnerships, and the “importance of continued investment in youth and gang violence intervention and prevention programs.”

Thursday

Sea Mar Community Health Centers is sponsoring LEAP Legislative Day. The group, estimated at 500, is scheduled to be on campus from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The LEAP1% Scholarship Fund provides college scholarships for Latino and Latina students.

Friday

The Senate Commerce & Labor Committee has scheduled an 8 a.m. public meeting. On the agenda are a number of proposals relating to mandatory sick leave, family medical leave insurance, and youth agricultural programs.

The meeting is scheduled in Hearing Room 4 of the John A. Cherberg Building.