Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The 2025 legislative session is well underway, and I’m pleased to report significant progress on key issues that matter to our communities. As we work through the final weeks, I remain committed to advocating for responsible policies that strengthen rural economies, support public safety, and protect our natural resources.
This session, I have focused on several important measures to address critical needs across our state. I am proud to announce that three of my bills have passed the Senate with bipartisan support. Below, you’ll find updates on these pieces of legislation and what they mean for our communities.
Protecting Our Agricultural Industry: Livestock Identification Bill Passes
Senate Bill 5485, my legislation to modernize and improve Washington’s livestock identification program, has successfully passed the Senate. Our state’s cattle industry is vital to rural economies, and this bill ensures that our livestock identification system remains effective and up to date. By streamlining regulations and enhancing tracking capabilities, we are helping protect farmers and ranchers from losses due to theft and disease outbreaks. This measure now moves to the House for consideration, and I look forward to seeing it cross the finish line.
Read more
Ensuring Water Security for the Yakima Basin
Access to water is a fundamental need for our farmers, businesses, and residents. That’s why I sponsored Senate Bill 5303, which secures a sustainable water future for the Yakima Basin. This bipartisan bill builds on years of work to balance the needs of agriculture, fish, and local communities. By ensuring long-term water storage, conservation efforts, and infrastructure improvements, we are taking proactive steps to protect our water resources. The Senate’s strong support for this measure is a testament to the importance of this issue, and I look forward to advancing it in the House.
Read more
Cracking Down on Theft Targeting First Responders
Our firefighters, paramedics, and law enforcement officers risk their lives daily to keep us safe. Yet, we’ve seen a troubling rise in thefts targeting these frontline heroes. That’s why I introduced Senate Bill 5323, which enhances penalties for those who steal from first responders. The passage of this legislation sends a clear message: we will not tolerate crimes that endanger public safety personnel and the communities they serve. This measure will now be considered in the House, and I will continue to push for its enactment.
Read more
Building a New Relationship
Since I joined the state Senate, the relationship between the Legislature and the Governor has been less than productive. There were no real open lines of communication or in-person discussions about the people Senate Republicans represent and the challenges they face.
While we do not agree on everything, the new governor has recently made a welcome overture. He and his staff met with Senate Republicans for a meaningful discussion about our priorities. It was refreshing, to say the least. We discussed concerns over reforming the governor’s emergency powers—an issue with bipartisan support that Democrats in the Legislature failed to advance.
We also addressed ongoing concerns with the Fish and Wildlife Commission and its increasingly political stances that oppose real conservation efforts, including responsible hunting and fishing. Another pressing but underreported issue is the impending changes to commercial trucking.
Incredibly, Washington will be forced to adopt California’s standards, which restrict the sale of diesel trucks in favor of electric ones. This misguided policy will drive up prices, reduce consumer choice, and cost the state millions in lost revenue.