Hello Friends and Neighbors, It’s been well over a month since our 2024 session ended, but it sure doesn’t feel like it because of all the things that have continued to happen in the legislative arena. There’s the controversial decision from a federal judge that redrew the boundaries of our...

Hello Friends and Neighbors, My 10th and final session as a state legislator (the video of my announcement is here) ended on time Thursday – several hours ahead of the midnight deadline, in fact. It was also free of the drama I’ve seen in other years as legislators try desperately...

OLYMPIA… The Legislature today followed through on three requests from Washington voters by approving initiatives that will lift restrictions on police pursuits, ban any income tax in Washington and create a parental bill of rights in public education. Sen. Lynda Wilson helped pass Initiative 2111, Initiative 2081 and Initiative 2113...

It’s rare to be part of a committee hearing for an initiative to the Legislature, because in the past 30 years only one such measure had received enough voter signatures to qualify (this year a record SIX were qualified and submitted). This is from our Wednesday-morning hearing on Initiative 2113,...

As a supporter of the six initiatives submitted to the Legislature this year, I appreciated being able to say a few words Friday to a crowd of others who rallied on the Capitol steps because they feel the same way! February 25, 2024 Hello Friends and Neighbors, Tomorrow is Day...

  February 16, 2024 Hello Friends and Neighbors, As of today there are 20 days left in this year’s session. With the exception of budget updates, we’re through with moving Senate bills across to the House of Representatives, and are back to meeting as committees – this time to consider...

If you’re a customer of NW Natural and were shocked by the “WA Climate Act Fee” on your bill, you are not alone. On top of Washington’s artificially high prices for gasoline, this is another consequence of the partisan cap-and-trade law that was adopted in 2021 and would be repealed...

At this point in the 2024 session the Senate’s work is focused on the policy committees, which have through next Wednesday to act on Senate bills. This is from our Law & Justice meeting yesterday, where the list of bills we considered included legislation to help communities rebuild their law-enforcement...

OLYMPIA… Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver and budget leader for the state Senate’s Republican caucus, made this statement today after Initiative 2109 was certified by the secretary of state. I-2109 would repeal the tax on capital-gains income approved by the Legislature’s majority Democrats in 2021; unless enacted by lawmakers during their...

Sen. Nikki Torres of Pasco is among the Republicans co-sponsoring my bills to criminalize the injury of children by fentanyl exposure and create a “One Pill Kills” anti-opioid campaign. Hello Friends and Neighbors, Most of the action in the Senate this week was again at the committee level, although we...