Search Results for: town hall
7th District lawmakers to hold telephone town hall meeting Feb. 26
Live from Olympia, Rep. Hunter Abell, Rep. Andrew Engell and Sen. Shelly Short. Telephone town hall is set for 6 p.m. Feb. 26. As the 2026 legislative session enters its final weeks, lawmakers representing Washington’s 7th Legislative District will hold a telephone town hall meeting Feb. 26. The town hall will offer an update on the top issues in this year’s legislative session, including proposals for a state income tax, wildlife management and restoration of wildfire funding. Sen. Shelly Short, R-Addy, Rep. ...
Seen and Heard 21
Sen. Braun Elephant in the Dome Podcast: Cost of Food: Senators Braun & Muzzall on Affordability & Agriculture Sen John Braun Amendment saying Income Tax is unconstitutional Republican Senators Debate Income Tax in Ways & Means Committee Senator Braun Warns Income Tax Ignores Constitution and Voter Will Senator Braun Urges Public to Oppose Income Tax Proposal AUDIO: LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: Senator Braun Criticizes Sheriff Decertification Plan AUDIO: Senate Democrats pass pile of bills undermining affordability out of committee Sen. Boehnke Sen. Matt ...
Olympia’s anti-sheriff bill makes Pacific County the first victim, Wilson says
In remarks on the Senate floor Thursday, Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, says that when voters elect a sheriff, their will should be respected. To see video, click here. OLYMPIA – A bill giving an unelected state board the power to fire elected county sheriffs would make Pacific County the first victim, says Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview. Senate Bill 5974 would give the state Criminal Justice Training Commission the final say over county sheriffs, allowing the governor’s appointees to override voters if it ...
You’re invited: 10th District community town hall on Saturday, Feb. 21
We’ve been putting in some long days on the Senate floor, voting our way through stacks of bills. Once we move past those early committee hearings, session shifts into high gear — and that’s when you find out which ideas have the legs to keep moving and which ones run out of steam. As I mentioned in my previous update, we’ve already met some important deadlines, and another big one is right around the corner. February 17 is House of Origin ...
VIDEO: Sen. Matt Boehnke’s Olympia Update: Feb. 21 Town Hall, anti-sheriff bill and income tax vote
Sen. Matt Boehnke shares this week’s update from Olympia, including details about his upcoming in-district town hall on February 21 at Columbia Basin College (SWL 121). In this update, Boehnke discusses the Senate passage of the anti-sheriff bill, SB 5974, and raises concerns about shifting local control away from voters and toward unelected oversight. Boehnke also addresses the expected vote on Monday, Feb. 16, on a proposed income tax and explains why he believes it could ultimately impact more Washington families ...
It’s bad-bill time in the Washington Legislature
The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Leonard Christian's subscribers Feb. 13, 2026. To subscribe to Sen. Christian's e-newsletters, click here. Does Washington state have a pile of money somewhere? In this speech from the Senate floor, I urge a no-vote on a bill that could make Washington the supplier of free abortion pills to the nation. See item below. Senate Bill 5917 passed the Senate 32-17 and now is under consideration in the House. To see speech, click here or on video ...
8th District Town Hall Feb. 21 and mid-session legislative update
The days have been long on the Senate floor as we debate and vote our way through stacks of bills. We’re officially at the halfway point of the 2026 session, and things are moving fast. We’ve already hit several important deadlines, and another big one is coming up on February 17 — House of Origin cutoff. That’s when bills must pass out of the chamber where they started. After that, the focus shifts across the rotunda: Senate bills head to the ...
Sen. Matt Boehnke invites 8th District residents to Feb. 21 town hall in Pasco
OLYMPIA — Residents of the 8th Legislative District are invited to attend an in-person community town hall hosted by Sen. Matt Boehnke at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21, at Columbia Basin College, 2600 N. 20th Ave., Room SWL 121, in Pasco. The senator will provide an update on the 2026 legislative session, discuss key issues affecting the 8th Legislative District, and take questions from attendees. “I always appreciate the chance to sit down with people from our district and have a ...
NEWS: Lawmakers from 10th District to host in-person community town hall in Oak Harbor on February 21
OLYMPIA — Residents of Island, Skagit, and Snohomish counties are invited to attend an in-person community town hall hosted by Sen. Ron Muzzall and Rep. Dave Paul at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21, at The Center, 51 SE Jerome Street in Oak Harbor. The lawmakers will provide an update on the 2026 legislative session, discuss key issues affecting the 10th Legislative District, and take questions from attendees. The session is scheduled to conclude March 12. “I’m glad to cohost this town ...
35th District lawmakers invite residents to virtual town hall Feb. 18
With the majority party pushing major tax increases, refusing to hear voter-backed initiatives, and making major decisions on public safety, education, and the cost of living during this short 60-day session, the 35th District legislative team invites residents to join them for an upcoming virtual town hall. Sen. Drew MacEwen, R-Shelton, and Reps. Dan Griffey, R-Allyn, and Travis Couture, R-Allyn, will host an online town hall on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 6:15 p.m. to share updates from Olympia and hear directly ...
Lawmakers from 17th District to host virtual town hall on Wednesday, February 18
The state lawmakers serving Skamania County, Goldendale, White Salmon, Bingen, and other parts of Klickitat County, Camas, Washougal, part of Vancouver, and parts of rural Clark County will hold a virtual town hall meeting from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18. Using the Zoom platform, Sen. Paul Harris and Reps. Kevin Waters and David Stuebe will give constituents an opportunity to learn more about the 2026 legislative session, which is scheduled to end on March 12. In addition to ...
OPINION: Sexually violent predators do not belong next door to children
The following opinion-editorial appeared in the Tri-City Herald on Feb. 8, 2026: During a recent town hall meeting in Kennewick, a teenage girl bravely stood up and told a room full of adults that if a home for sexually violent predators is approved in her neighborhood, she would no longer feel safe riding her bike, walking to the community pool, or doing the ordinary things kids should be able to do without fear. Her remarks have stayed with us because we know ...
NEWSLETTER: Standing up for freedom of the modern press
I have received many emails and calls from constituents who had seen social media posts or heard a podcast from political reporter Brandi Kruse explaining how she had been denied a press pass by the House of Representatives in Olympia. To be clear, she was not denied a press pass by the Senate, nor is she the only reporter to be discriminated against by the House. Two others whose names may be familiar to you -- Ari Hoffman and Jonathan Choe ...
Proposal for a state income tax gets hearing today
The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Leonard Christian's subscribers Feb. 6, 2026. To subscribe to Sen. Christian's e-newsletters, click here. Dear Friends and Neighbors, I’m sending this e-newsletter a little early today because we need your help in Olympia. Can you take a moment to tell the Legislature what you think about a state income tax? You can help us set a record. But you have to do it by 12:30 p.m. This afternoon, my Democratic colleagues will hold a hearing on their ...
Elephant in the Dome Podcast Transcript
Tracy Ellis: It's the Elephant in the dome, the official podcast of the Washington State Senate Republican Caucus. I'm Tracy Ellis with state Senate Republican leader John Braun. Also joining us is Senate Republican budget lead Chris Gildon. And the reason Senator Gildon is here is because the income tax is finally here. Well, we knew it was coming, but the actual bill that would create an income tax in Washington state, has been dropped. Tracy Ellis: And there is a ...
Senate passes Schoesler bill encouraging voluntary incentives related to wildfire mitigation
The Senate yesterday unanimously approved Senate Bill 5919, a measure introduced by 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler that would encourage fire districts and insurance providers to collaborate and develop voluntary incentives to promote wildfire-mitigation best practices related to agricultural activities. Schoesler, R-Ritzville, says SB 5919 aims to encourage incentives much as auto-insurance companies provide discounts for students with good grades “In recent years, two of our small farming communities were nearly lost to wildfires from wheat fields,” Schoesler told senators during his ...
Proposal for state income tax launches session's biggest battle
Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Shelly Short's subscribers on Feb. 5, 2026. To subscribe to Sen. Short's e-newsletters, click here. Flash! Proposal for a state income tax gets a hearing Friday Act now to register your opinion with the Legislature Tell Democrats in Olympia what you think of their plan for a state income tax! Senate Bill 6346 will be heard in the Senate Ways and Means Committee at 1:30 p.m. on Friday. This may be your best chance to register ...
Oppose the income tax: Sign in "CON" for Friday's hearing on Senate Bill 6346
Dear Friends and Neighbors, The unconstitutional income tax (Senate Bill 6346) proposed by Democrats this week will be heard in the Senate Ways & Means Committee at 1:30 p.m. meeting this TODAY in Senate Hearing Room 4 of the John A. Cherberg Building on the Capitol Campus in Olympia. As of 9:00 a.m. today, more than 54,000 people signed in to oppose the bill. This makes it the most unpopular bill in state history! In fact, some Democrats are saying that this has ...
Olympia Democrats finally unveil their plan for a state income tax
Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Wilson's subscribers Feb. 3, 2026. To subscribe to Sen. Wilson's e-mails, click here. Dear Friends and Neighbors, The big story in Olympia today is that my majority colleagues in the Legislature have finally introduced their income tax bill. They’ve launched the biggest debate of this year’s legislative session, and here is the thing I like best about it. At last, they can stop pretending they are against the idea. The income tax bill is right there ...
ALERT: Listening sessions for the two initiatives before the Legislature
On Tuesday, February 3, Senate and House Republicans are hosting two listening sessions on the two citizen-initiatives that have been submitted to the Legislature this year. While it is the Legislature's constitutional duty to prioritize initiatives above all other business, majority Democrats refuse to allow a hearing on either proposal. This shuts down any opportunity for those in favor of the initiatives to have their voices heard. These listening sessions will give the people a public forum to share comments in favor ...