News from the Caucus

SB 5181 undermines parents’ rights   Senate Democrats are bringing a bill that all parents should be concerned about to the floor TODAY for debate and a vote. Since the floor leader will not bring a bill up for a vote unless they are sure it will pass, we expect Senate Democrats to use their...

Republican leaders in the Washington State Legislature discussed key priorities: public safety, affordability, and K-12 education. They support a $100M law enforcement funding bill, oppose rent control, and push for non-tax budget solutions. They criticize Democratic handling of parental rights and fentanyl issues while seeking bipartisan efforts in behavioral health and special education funding.

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, has filed legislation encouraging federal lawmakers to protect the four lower Snake River dams from removal. Senate Joint Memorial 8010 formally requests approval of the Northwest Energy Security Act, introduced late last month by U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse and an Idaho senator. That...

State Senator John Braun provides an update on the 2025 legislative session, discussing committee activities, upcoming floor periods, and budget negotiations. He highlights key issues, including juvenile rehabilitation center management and a controversial bill on parents’ rights. Senator Braun encourages constituents to get involved and stay informed through his newsletter.

Senator Shelly Short discusses the upcoming battle over the Parental Rights Initiative. She criticizes a Democrat bill, which she believes undermines parental rights and interferes with the parent-child relationship. Senator Short emphasizes the importance of parental notification and the right to review all records, and vows to fight against the bill with everything she has.

AUDIO: State Senator Mark Schoesler criticizes the Democrat Senate Education Committee chair for attempting to dismantle the Parents’ Rights Initiative, which was passed unanimously in the Senate a year ago. He emphasizes the importance of respecting parents’ rights and maintaining public trust.

Sen. Keith Goehner/R-Dryden/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… To raise awareness about the value of organ donation, Sen. Keith Goehner, R-Dryden, has introduced legislation to create a special “Donate Life” license plate. “More than 100,000 people in the U.S. are currently on the transplant waiting list, including nearly 2,000 across the Pacific Northwest. But tragically, 17...

Kit home. Credit: CC by 2.0/ Shellie Evans OLYMPIA – A Longview senator says the state should eliminate hurdles to construction of kit homes that offer a promising solution to the state’s housing shortage. Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, has introduced a pair of bills for the 2025 legislative session to streamline state and local permitting...

Senators John Braun and Chris Gildon, along with other Legislative Republican leaders, hold their weekly media availability to discuss the 2025 legislative session. Topics include new House Democrat rules that could limit Republican debate, the budget, children’s issues, immigration, and more.

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, came into the 2025 legislative session to find common ground with the Senate majority – and it’s working. Two full weeks into this year’s session, 14 of the 17 bills filed by Boehnke, the ranking Republican on the Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology...

In his weekly video update from Olympia, Sen. John Braun outlines his legislative priorities and highlights key bills on his agenda. He discusses issues like rent control, school absenteeism, and more.

In this episode of “The Elephant in the Dome,” the official podcast of the Washington State Senate Republican Caucus, hosts Tracy Ellis and Laudan Espinoza sit down with Senate Republican Leader John Braun. They delve into Democrat efforts affecting parental rights, the challenges and opportunities in education funding, and a vision for reimagining The Evergreen...