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SB 5152

Concerning state employee access to peer-reviewed journals.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Perry Dozier and 3 co-sponsors

SB 5152 directs a time-bound study to assess feasibility, funding, and governance of a statewide electronic access model for peer-reviewed journals for state employees.

Senate Rules "X" file.
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Bill Summary · SB 5152

Summary of SB 5152 — Concerning state employee access to peer-reviewed journals

Overview

SB 5152, introduced January 7, 2025 and currently in Senate Rules “X” file, proposes a policy study to evaluate the potential for providing Washington state employees with electronic access to peer-reviewed journals through a statewide subscription model. The bill frames access as a cost-saving and efficiency-improving measure based on observations from other states that have implemented statewide journal collectives.

Primary sponsor: Senator Warnick (with Dozier, Hasegawa, and Shewmake listed as co-sponsors)

Purpose and intent

  • To determine whether a statewide subscription model for peer-reviewed journals would improve access for state employees and reduce time and resource costs related to locating and obtaining specific manuscripts.
  • To explore funding, organizational structure, and policy mechanisms necessary to provide electronic access to peer-reviewed journals for state agencies.

Key provisions

Sec. 1 — Legislative findings

  • States that state agencies often lack comprehensive electronic access to peer-reviewed journals.
  • Notes that current access methods (purchasing individual manuscripts, outsourcing searches, or university library visits) can be time-consuming and costly.
  • Observes that other states with statewide subscriptions have achieved improved access and cost savings.
  • Establishes the purpose of studying whether Washington should adopt a similar model.

Sec. 2 — Study by WSIPP (Washington State Institute for Public Policy)

  • Directs WSIPP to conduct a study on providing electronic access to peer-reviewed journals for state employees.
  • Study must address, at minimum, funding, organizational structure, and policy mechanisms.
  • Defines “peer-reviewed journal” as any academic, scholarly, or scientific peer-reviewed journal.
  • Completion deadline: December 1, 2026.
  • Submission requirement: Deliver findings to the standing committees with jurisdiction over environmental or natural resource issues in both the House and Senate, per RCW 43.01.036.
  • Sunset/expiration: The study provision expires June 30, 2027.

Sec. 3 — Appropriation

  • Appropriates $83,000 (or as much as needed) from the General Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.
  • Purpose: To The Evergreen State College for WSIPP to conduct the required study.

Fiscal and timeline details

  • Funding: $83,000 general-fund appropriation for WSIPP to perform the study (via The Evergreen State College).
  • Study timeline: Complete by December 1, 2026; report due to legislative committees; expiration of the authorization June 30, 2027.
  • No authorization is created for an ongoing statewide subscription program; the bill contemplates a study to inform potential future steps.

Affected parties

  • State agencies and state employees who would benefit from improved access to peer-reviewed journals.
  • The Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP), working through The Evergreen State College, would conduct the study.
  • Legislative committees with jurisdiction over environmental or natural-resource issues, which would receive the study findings.

Procedural history and status

  • Prefiled: January 7, 2025.
  • First reading: January 13, 2025; referred to State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections.
  • Public hearing: January 24, 2025.
  • Executive action: February 7, 2025 (SGTE – Majority; do pass).
  • Passed to Rules Committee for second reading: February 11, 2025.
  • Senate Rules “X” file: March 17, 2025.

Bottom line

SB 5152 would initiate a structured, time-bound study to assess whether a statewide electronic-access model for peer-reviewed journals is feasible and beneficial for Washington state government. The bill focuses on study design, potential funding and governance options, and culminates in a report to the legislature, rather than creating immediate access or a subscription program.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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