Legislature passes ‘workable’ drug-possession compromise

STATEMENT: Republican leader cautious about drug-law ‘special’ session
CENTRALIA… State lawmakers have been called into a special session to continue work toward a new state law on the possession of controlled substances, after failing to come to an agreement before the regular legislative session ended April 23. Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered this comment following Gov. Jay Inslee’s proclamation that the Legislature... Read More
STATEMENT: Republican leaders call foul on Democrats’ late-session bid to raise property taxes
OLYMPIA… In what amounts to the ninth inning of the 2023 legislative session, more than two-thirds of the state Senate’s majority Democrats have slid an extreme tax-increase proposal into the lineup of bills still in play. Senate Bill 5770 would raise the limit on increases in state and local property taxes to 3% per year,... Read More
Legislature passes Padden bill raising penalty for custodial sexual misconduct

STATEMENT: Police-pursuit bill narrowly passed by Senate today is ‘half step’ in the right direction, says Republican leader
OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun today offered this statement following the Senate’s narrow passage of legislation that would let law-enforcement officers engage in vehicular pursuits in more situations than Washington law has allowed since 2021. Senate Bill 5352 was passed with a 26-23 vote on the final day of this session for the Senate... Read More
Padden bill to increase penalty for drug possession receives committee hearing

Republican legislators prioritize policing, public safety, and corrections in ‘Safe Washington’ Plan

Senate Republicans offer comprehensive Corrections reforms, would increase safety and accountability

Inmate-health scandal at Corrections more evidence of Inslee leadership failure, say GOP senators

Padden’s rapid response to Supreme Court public-safety ruling signed by governor

Washington Lawmaker Seeks To Ban E-Cigarette Sales To Minors
By Ruby de Luna This week a state senate committee will hear a proposal that would make it illegal to sell e-cigarettes and vapes to minors. Last fall Sen. Judy Warnick got a tip from a police officer from her district in Moses Lake. He noted that students were buying e-cigarettes easily. “They were modifying... Read More