Author Archives: Laudan

Legislature Adjourns

Greetings Friends and Neighbors,

The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn the 2024 session today. With most major policy bills voted on by both the House and Senate, they’ll be finishing the process and heading to the Governor’s Office for final consideration.

On this final day, the Legislature approved an updated, supplemental operating budget and minor changes to the state’s transportation spending plan.

Regarding the operating budget, state spending will increase by just over $2 billion. The Senate’s proposal was much more conservative than the original House proposal, but the majority budget negotiators moved toward a compromise that was ultimately closer to the House’s position in overall spending.

The budget continues strong investments in K-12 education, behavioral health, and health care. Our Senate Republican Caucus principles have been clear that we are focused on rebooting education, restoring public safety, and returning affordability to our state. While spending is at higher levels than I would like, I’m glad that many of those priorities are included, such as funding to combat drug trafficking and hiring more law enforcement and support for victims.

We fought to include more investments in special education and funding parity for school choice. I’m disappointed that our policy to help students with chronic absenteeism was not funded in this budget.

While not perfect, the budget reflects an honest, bipartisan approach. I voted in support of the final operating budget and worked to secure a proviso that reflected legislation I sponsored, Senate Bill 5517. This will help implement the recommendations of the Legislature’s Water Mitigation Task Force and brings together stakeholders to address water rights issues.

My Senate Republican Colleagues and I fought hard to stop new taxes and were successful. As I mentioned in previous newsletters, you will get a say this November on the issue of tax relief when the 3 remaining initiatives to the Legislature are on the ballot.

It is an honor to serve as your state senator.

Sen. Judy Warnick

Three Initiatives Remain

Historic. Over 2 million signatures were collected by citizens to put 6 initiatives to the Legislature. Early on it seemed that the Democratic majority would not budge on these proposals, but with mounting public pressure, 3 of them ended up being approved.

In the final days of the session, the Legislature passed I-2081, which supports parental rights in education, I-2111, which bans an income tax in Washington State, and I-2113, which restores law enforcement’s ability to pursue suspected criminals.

Click here for more information on the remaining initiatives that you’ll have an opportunity to vote on in this November’s general election.

Legislature approves my bill expanding public-private partnerships on state-managed lands

Senate Bill 5785 would allow the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to enter into longer-term agreements with charitable organizations to help maintain and protect the over 1 million acres it manages.

Stewardship of our state’s forests and natural resources is a shared responsibility and a pretty big task. My legislation harnesses the passion of volunteers to help preserve those resources for future generations.

Click here to read more.

Investing in our community

In the final week of the 2024 legislative session, the Legislature adopted the state’s 2024 supplemental capital budget, which makes critical community infrastructure investments around the state. Funding things like parks, community centers, libraries, and school construction, My House seatmates and I worked to secure over $26 million in this year’s allocation for our three-county district.

Major themes from the state’s investment focus on directing resources for school construction, boosting behavioral health facilities, and addressing the state’s affordable housing challenges.

This year’s proposal I think reflects the needs of the people in our district and around the state. We know that our school buildings need ever-increasing maintenance, facilities to treat struggling Washingtonians are desperately needed and so are affordable housing options. This budget makes targeted investments with the limited resources we have.

Click here to read more.

13th District legislators support community infrastructure investments

In the final week of the 2024 legislative session, 13th District lawmakers are lauding passage of the state’s 2024 supplemental capital budget, which makes critical community infrastructure investments around the state. Funding things like parks, community centers, libraries, and school construction, Senator Judy Warnick and Representatives Tom Dent and Alex Ybarra worked to secure over $26 million in this year’s allocation for the three-county district.

Major themes from the state’s investment focus on directing resources for school construction, boosting behavioral health facilities, and addressing the state’s affordable housing challenges.

“This year’s proposal I think reflects the needs of the people in our district and around the state,” said Warnick, R-Moses Lake, who was a lead negotiator of the budget for the Senate Republicans. “We know that our school buildings need ever-increasing maintenance, facilities to treat struggling Washingtonians are desperately needed and so are affordable housing options. This budget makes targeted investments with the limited resources we have.”

Warnick championed community projects for healthcare facilities in Moses Lake, securing $72,000 for the Community Health Center and $72,000 for the Ellensburg Community Fieldhouse.

“These district-funded projects highlight our dedication to tackling important community development initiatives and improving infrastructure. Working alongside my colleagues to bring real results back to our constituents has truly been an honor,” Rep. Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy said.

Other notable investments include:

$258,000 for the Columbia Basin Rodeo Association Bleachers
$100,000 for remodeling of KVH Surgical Services Clinic
$309,000 for upgrades at the Port of Quincy Business & Event Center

13th District lawmakers also worked to boost the state’s water infrastructure with a $5.5 million investment in Odessa, Washington.

“This supplemental spending plan balances needs and priorities across Washington state, while investing in projects that benefit the 13th District,” said Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake. “It includes infrastructure improvements in many areas, but I am especially pleased about the funding for the Columbia River Water Supply Development Program in Odessa.”

A complete list of 13th District projects can be found by clicking here.

Initiatives to the Legislature

No updates to this page will occur after March 7 until after the election in November.

Fed up with destructive and burdensome policies pushed by the Democratic majority, citizens from around the state collected more than 2.3 million signatures to submit 6 initiatives to the Legislature. All six received more than 400,000 signatures each and were certified by the Washington State Secretary of State in January and February of 2024.

After significant public pressure, the majority announced they would grant hearings on 3 of the initiatives. In the final days of the session, the Legislature passed I-2081, which supports parental rights in education, I-2111, which bans an income tax in Washington State, and I-2113, which restores law enforcement’s ability to pursue suspected criminals.

The 3 remaining initiatives will go before voters in the November election. You can find out more about the remaining initiatives by clicking on the linked images below.

Legislature approves Warnick bill expanding public-private partnerships on state-managed lands

Legislation sponsored by state Sen. Judy Warnick cleared its final hurdle with just three days left in the 2024 legislative session.

The state Senate unanimously concurred with amendments made by the House of Representatives. Senate Bill 5785 would allow the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to enter into longer-term agreements with charitable organizations to help maintain and protect the over 1 million acres it manages.

“Managing our state’s forests and natural resources is a shared responsibility and a pretty big task. My legislation harnesses the passion of volunteers to help preserve those resources for future generations,” Warnick said.

The House amendment clarifies the continued responsibility of the department to safeguard the state’s natural resources in concert with Indian tribes. Warnick’s legislation would expand the authority of DFW to contract with volunteer organizations and nonprofits to help manage those million acres in 33 wildlife areas and over 450 waterways.

“Volunteer-led organizations are critical partners in this valuable conservation work. Now the state Department of Fish and Wildlife will have more flexibility, building on their good work with community partners and tribes,” Warnick added.

The Legislature passed a law in 2013 that granted limited authority to DFW to work with volunteer organizations. Warnick’s bill would expand these partnerships with longer-term cooperative agreements and resources to deploy in the maintenance and preservation of public lands.

Warnick praised organizations like the Back Country Horsemen saying, “These community groups have been working quietly in the background helping the state and the public for years. I’m hopeful this legislation will provide more opportunities for people to get involved in taking care of our wildlife and state-managed lands.”

Warnick’s bipartisan bill now heads to the governor’s desk for final consideration.

Joint 13th District Virtual Town Hall

Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, and Reps. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, and Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy, are inviting constituents from the 13th District to join them for a one-hour Virtual Town Hall meeting, Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. to discuss the 2024 legislative session.

The remote town hall meeting will be conducted using the Zoom platform. Those who would like to participate must pre-register in advance for the conference by clicking here.

Participants can submit questions in advance. The conference can only accommodate the first 500 attendees, so constituents should register early.

$6 billion property tax increase dead for now

Members of the Senate Republican Caucus have been warning the public about Senate Bill 5770, which would have imposed the largest property tax increase in state history, allowing local jurisdictions to triple the property tax growth rate without a vote of the people.

Sen. Judy Warnick offered this statement on the news from the bill’s prime sponsor that it won’t be coming up for a vote this year.

“This is good news for hard-working families in our state. At a time when communities across Washington are suffering from an affordability crisis, allowing local jurisdictions to unilaterally triple the growth of property taxes is plain wrong. People cannot afford it.

“As elected officials, we must be judicious with the public’s money and make tough spending decisions. Taxpayers aren’t an endless source of revenue. Local governments may feel like they need additional resources beyond the voter-approved 1% cap, but this is the wrong approach.

“This bill not coming up for a vote is a win for taxpayers and the democratic process.”

Watch the FOX 13 story on SB 5770.

$6 billion more in property taxes

The Legislature is poised to vote on one of the worst bills of the year. If approved, Senate Bill 5770 would allow annual growth rate of your local property taxes to triple. Local governments would be able to increase your property taxes by up to 3% WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL costing hardworking taxpayers $6 billion over 12 years and would compound from there.

In 2001, voters approved a 1% cap on property tax growth with Initiative 737. The state Supreme Court overturned that law but then Gov. Gregoire called the Legislature back into a special session where 85% of the House and Senate voted to reinstate the 1% limit.

Not only will this increase your property taxes if you are a homeowner, but it will also increase your rent as owners pass the tax on to tenants. Incredibly, the bill would also increase housing costs at senior living centers. Our state is in the throws of an affordable housing crisis and people simply cannot afford more taxes, especially while their paying higher prices on gas and home heating fuel thanks to other policies supported by the legislative majority.

During public hearings on the proposal, more than 9,300 people signed in to testify on SB 5770 and more than 92% OPPOSED increasing their property taxes.

There are plans to run the bill on the Senate floor soon. Senate Republicans held a news conference this morning to outline our opposition. You can watch the news conference on TVW by clicking here.

You can also watch it on our Facebook and X accounts @WashingtonSRC.

In my last newsletter, I included information about the proposed property tax hike. You can watch a short video that explains this proposal by clicking here or on the image below.

Turning up the dial on property taxes

Warnick bill strengthening public-private partnerships for state-managed lands clears Senate

Over 1 million acres across 33 wildlife areas and over 450 waterways are under the management of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. The department is tasked with preserving and protecting the state’s vast natural resources and it’s a big job.

State Sen. Judy Warnick’s legislation would make that burden easier by expanding the authority of the DFW to work with volunteer organizations and nonprofits to help in that mission.

Senate Bill 5785, approved unanimously by the Senate today, would allow Fish and Wildlife to enter into longer-term agreements with charitable organizations to help maintain and protect the vast portfolio of wildlife areas and waterways.

“This builds on important work to help preserve our state’s valuable natural resources,” said Warnick, R-Moses Lake. “The state Department of Fish and Wildlife has done a great job working with community partners and this bill gives them more flexibility to engage with organizations that are just as dedicated to the mission of passing along a vibrant environment to the next generation of Washingtonians.”

In 2013, the Legislature passed a law granting limited authority to DFW to work with volunteer organizations. Warnick’s bill would expand that ability, helping bring more community resources to bear.

“Given the large task, our state needs all the help we can get to take care of our wildlife areas and state-managed lands,” Warnick added. “Financial resources are limited, but taking care of our state is a cooperative effort that needs more than just money. The time and talents of organizations like the Back Country Horsemen, who frequently assist in this endeavor, are invaluable.”

Warnick’s bipartisan bill now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Update from Olympia

Greetings Friends and Neighbors,

Things are moving quickly here in Olympia with over 1,000 new bills introduced in the state Legislature. I’d like to think that many of these proposals are needed to address problems our citizens are facing, but a cursory look reveals some troubling themes that I’ve discussed before, particularly when it comes to public

safety.

I won’t rehash the debates of last session, but suffice it to say that reforms around police pursuits and drug possession were needed and perhaps need more refinement. That work is being undermined, however, with egregious proposals by the majority that seemingly prioritize the wants of offenders at the expense of the rights of crime victims. That moves our state in the wrong direction.

During this short, 60-day session, the Legislature will be developing a supplemental budget to make course corrections or reprioritizations. With yet another budget surplus, I’m calling for broad and meaningful tax relief and a more sustainable state budget.

It is an honor to serve as your state senator. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office with any questions or concerns you may have about your state government.

Turning up the dial on property taxes

The idea isn’t new, but the legislation this year that would increase the limit on raising property taxes is getting much more attention. Let me be clear, the state does not need more of your hard-earned money. However, Senate Bill 5770 would permit tripling the growth rate in property taxes. It’s a bit nuanced, but it won’t triple your property taxes, rather would allow jurisdictions to triple growth, which is now capped at 1%.

You can watch a short video that explains this proposal by clicking here or on the image above.

Let Voters Have a Say

My job is to represent you in the state Senate. Transparently, the makeup of the Legislature is dominated by one party, and power is even further concentrated in urban King County. That makes getting our message, our priorities, and your concerns to the fore a challenge.

You’ve likely seen my statements opposing the new capital gains income tax and the regressive carbon-pricing scheme that’s driven up fuel and energy costs. Fortunately, six initiatives to the Legislature have been certified that would roll back many of those policies and let the voters decide this November.

Here are links to the initiatives so you can read for yourself what they will do:

I-2117 repeals the Climate Commitment Act (hidden gas tax);
I-2109 undoes the capital gains income tax;
I-2111 bans state and local governments from imposing an income tax;
I-2113 loosens restrictions on police pursuits;
I-2081 empowers parents in their student’s education, allowing review of student records, and curricula, and parents to opt their children out of inappropriate sex education; and
I-2124, which allows an opt-out of the long-term care tax known as the WA Cares Act.

Sadly, it seems the Legislative majority will not allow us to debate these policies or hold public hearings on them. That’s despite clear constitutional provisions that say these kinds of initiatives should take precedence over other legislative business. Article II, Sec. 1 says,

“Such initiative measures, whether certified or provisionally certified, shall take precedence over all other measures in the legislature except appropriation bills and shall be either enacted or rejected without change or amendment by the legislature before the end of such regular session…”

Where’s the justice?

So far this session, there are several bad bills that deal with the criminal justice system or state-government operations. Some of the biggest problems I see are proposals that would allow convicted felons to vote while in prison, serve on juries and even run for office without having served their sentences. To put it in perspective, the Green River Killer would be allowed to vote.

There are also other proposals that would allow sex offenders to serve on the sentencing board with victims. If that wasn’t enough, there is even legislation that recently had a public hearing that would allow the highest-risk sex offenders to petition an end to state supervision. I staunchly oppose these kinds of efforts that put our communities at risk.

As mentioned above, one of the initiatives concerns policy pursuits. Here is a short explainer video on the issues around this policy. It restores the authority of a peace officer to engage in a vehicular pursuit when there is reasonable suspicion a person has violated the law and the officer follows appropriate safety standards. Click here to watch.

This coming Monday, a bill I’ve sponsored will have a public hearing to address a new wave of property crimes affecting our first responders that could jeopardize public safety. Senate Bill 6261 would add equipment from fire stations or ambulances to the list of stolen property charges and stiffen penalties.

If you’d like to have your voice heard on this proposal, you can sign up to testify virtually, submit a written comment or just have your position recorded for the legislative record. Click here to participate.