OLYMPIA -- Committees are trying to wrap up "policy" bills with the approach of Friday's deadline that says they must be out of the committee in the second chamber if they want to stay alive.

So the Senate Government Ops has a hearing on moving the primary up a couple weeks in August so the state can get general election ballots to overseas voters sooner (and comply with federal law). It could  also be voting on whether booking photos are open to the public as soon as the suspect is charged. Senate Early Learning has a hearing on new version of a bill to create a state Department of Education, something Gov. Chris Gregoire is pushing to improve education systems from pre-school to grad school.

House Education is scheduled to vote on whether technology should be added as a "core concept". House Higher Ed has a hearing on changes to the GET program that supporters say are needed to keep it solvent, and may vote out a bill involving a proposed University of North Puget Sound.

It is Science Day with folks from the Pacific Science Center in the Rotunda, and Catholic Advocacy Day, with the state Catholic Conference in the conference room.

In honor of the latter, dominus vobiscum.

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