News from the Caucus

Washington’s juvenile justice facilities are overcrowded and dangerous — but a bill that just passed the state Senate could help. Tracy Ellis explains.

OLYMPIA – Legislation from Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, to address overcrowding in Washington’s juvenile-justice facilities and improve safety for both staff and inmates was passed by the Senate unanimously today. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Bill 5278 responds to ongoing issues at institutions like Green Hill School in...

Serious, smart, and making government work better – that’s how Senate Republicans describe their new spending plan. Tracy Ellis reports.

Debates, votes and bad legislation…Oh my!     The eighth week of this session was full of debates and votes on bad bills that made it to the Senate floor. The first bill listed below has passed in the Senate and is now under consideration in the House. The other two bills have yet to...

Senate Republican Leader John Braun gives an update from Olympia as the 2025 legislative session reaches its halfway point. He highlights key bills, including efforts to expand school transportation options, bring back technical education for younger students, and address overcrowding at Green Hill School. Braun also discusses a critical bill to fund law enforcement hiring...

Washington has a shortage of law enforcement officers. Senator John Braun reports some progress in that area.

On this episode of The Elephant in the Dome, Senator John Braun is joined by KVI radio host Ari Hoffman for a no-holds-barred conversation about rising anti-Semitism on college campuses, the state of public safety in Washington, and the looming budget crisis. They discuss the University of Washington’s handling of campus activism, the challenges of...

March 13: 19th LD virtual town hall with Sen. Wilson, Rep. Walsh and Rep. McEntire @ 6:30 p.m. via Zoom (register) 17th LD virtual town hall with Sen. Harris, Rep. Stuebe, and Rep. Waters @6:30 p.m. (register)   March 15: 4th LD Sen. Christian in-person town hall @ 10-11 a.m. at Sun City Church, 1020...

A decade after the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus led a historic effort to cut tuition and restore affordability in higher education, Washington Democrats are now pushing legislation to undo that important progress, and increase costs for working and middle-class families. Senate Republican leaders are calling out the financial harm Senate Bill 5785 would cause to...

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… The state Senate should have held off Tuesday on considering a bill that would overhaul several state environmental laws in ways that are likely to discourage economic development, said Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick. “Democrats and Republicans agree this is a very complex bill – but that doesn’t...

Republican lawmakers in Olympia discuss key legislative priorities. Topics include public safety funding, tax proposals, budget concerns, and controversial bills on rent control, gun laws, and reproductive rights and gender affirming care. They oppose tax increases and the use of the rainy-day fund. Spirited debates are expected ahead.

Today the Senate unanimously approved legislation from Sen. Keith Wagoner that would expand the number of available long-term care beds for veterans, simultaneously helping to address Washington’s homelessness crisis while also alleviating the pressure on the medical foster home system. “So many of our nation’s men and women in uniform serve and sacrifice for this...