Address: 117 Legislative Modular Building * PO Box 40408 * Olympia, WA 98504
Olympia Office: (360) 786-7614 * Toll Free Hotline: (800) 562-6000 * E-mail: Matt.Boehnke@leg.wa.gov
Feb. 26, 2025
Working hard for the Mighty 8th
As your State Senator representing the 8th Legislative District, I am committed to keeping you informed about the 2025 legislative session, which began on January 13 and concludes on April 27. These next few months will be pivotal for our district and the state as lawmakers work together to pass laws that support each of our constituents.
I have filed 26 bills, many of which support higher education and agriculture, increasing election security, improving government efficiency and transparency, and establishing emissions data and standards. Understanding the legislative timeline is crucial for tracking bills’ progress and impact on our communities. Below is the list of the significant dates between now and April 27.
- February 21: Policy Committee Cutoff—This is the last day for bills to pass out of their policy committees in their house of origin.
- February 28: Fiscal Committee Cutoff—This is the deadline for moving bills with financial implications out of fiscal committees.
- March 12: House of Origin Cutoff (5 p.m.) – by 5 p.m., bills must pass their originating chamber by this date to remain active.
- April 2: Opposite House Policy Cutoff—This is the deadline for bills tost clear policy committees in the opposite chamber.
- April 8: Opposite House Fiscal Cutoff – Deadline for bills with fiscal impacts to pass opposite House fiscal committees.
- April 16: Opposite House Cutoff (5 p.m.) – Final day for bills to pass the opposite chamber.
- April 27: Sine Die – The last day of the regular legislative session.
As bills transition out of the house of origin, Senate Republicans are well-prepared for the debate. I will remain dedicated to advocating for legislation that fosters economic growth, safeguards individual liberties, and upholds our cherished values. In addition to legislating, I have been meeting with many key stakeholders in the 8th. I have met with local city councils, local tribes, and constituents from organizations such as the Washington State Patrol Troopers Association, the Washington Education Association, and the Washington Council of Fire Fighters. These are just a few of the constituents I’ve met with. In these meetings, I learned about our region’s local concerns and key issues.
We’d love to hear your thoughts and concerns. Please do not hesitate to share them with us as we navigate this legislative session together. You can email me at matt.boehnke@leg.wa.gov or (360) 786-7614.
Join your 8th Legislative District lawmakers for a town hall
The 8th Legislative District is home to hardworking families, innovative businesses, and a strong sense of community. From cutting-edge research to thriving agriculture and small businesses, our district represents the best of Washington state. But to keep our district strong, we need to hear from you.
I invite you to join your 8th District lawmakers, Representative Stephanie Barnard, Representative April Connors, and myself, for a Town Hall meeting at the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, March 15, 2025, from 10 a.m. to noon. This is an opportunity to meet with your state lawmakers, hear legislative updates, ask questions, and share your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you. Your voice helps shape the policies that impact our communities, and your participation makes a difference.
Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce is located at 7130 W. Grandridge Blvd. Ste C, Kennewick, WA 99336. The town hall runs from 10 a.m. to noon.
Vehicle-emissions bill attracts strong public support
As I suspected, there was strong public support for legislation I proposed to realign Washington’s vehicle emissions rules with federal standards instead of California’s.
Last Friday, the Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 5091 to improve accountability in state emissions standards. Of those who registered their views online, 1,865 supported the bill, while 665 opposed it. That’s almost 75% approval.
This bill was a significant step toward realigning our state’s emissions standards. Since 2005, Washington has followed California’s vehicle emissions standards, but California is a massive state with a larger population and different challenges. Washington needs to chart its own course rather than simply following California.
Unfortunately, SB 5091 did not receive committee approval before the Friday deadline for action on policy legislation, but I will continue to work on this effort as we prepare for the Senate Joint Transportation Workshop next month. Please stay engaged, sign in to testify, and provide your comments.
Bills aimed at improving access to education move forward
Prior to the first significant cutoff date for bills to pass out of policy committees in their House of Origin, I had two higher-education bills aimed at improving access to education move forward in the Senate.
Both measures received bipartisan support and were introduced in cooperation with the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. These bills will allow our higher education system to accommodate more students to be successful as they come out of their K-12 education by removing barriers to access to quality higher education.
Republican energy bills advance
As the Ranking Member on the Senate Energy, Environment & Technology Committee, I have supported legislation that makes our state’s energy grid more efficient, strengthens our state’s emissions data, and encourages utility investment in local energy resilience.
As this Friday’s fiscal committee cutoff approaches, below is a list of Republican-sponsored bills that may advance to the House for further consideration.
Senate Bill 5033 | Concerning sampling or testing of biosolids for PFAS chemicals.
Senate Bill 5036 | Strengthening Washington’s leadership and accountability on climate policy by transitioning to annual reporting of statewide emissions data.
Senate Bill 5317 | Exempting local governments providing certain services for projects under the jurisdiction of the energy facility siting evaluation council from certain appeals.
Senate Bill 5445 | Encouraging utility investment in local energy resilience.
Senate Bill 5628 | Concerning lead in cookware.
Good bills still alive
SB 5007: Supporting measures to curb chronic absenteeism
SB 5060: Law enforcement hiring grants
SB 5036: Annual reporting of state emissions data
SB 5075: Reducing and eliminating cost-sharing for prenatal and postnatal care
SB 5258: Addressing concurrent enrollment in Medicaid
SB 5358: Expanding technical education to the 6th grade
Bad bills still alive
HB 1217: Rent Control—his bill freezes the development of new rental units, ultimately driving rents higher as demand outstrips supply.
SB 5181: Parents’ rights–medical notification.
SB 5296: Revising sentencing for juvenile offenses –This bill creates a new court standard for certain types of offenses that requires a court to make an additional finding that commitment to DCYF is necessary for public safety before a person can be sent to juvenile rehabilitation. The bill also establishes a midpoint sentence review based on the above. If a youth is not shown to be a threat to public safety, they can be released, allows people with pending criminal charges while at DCYF to be moved to the community, and expands access to nearly every sentencing alternative for juveniles.
SB 5583: 38% increase in hunting and fishing license fees
In the News | Seattle Times Op-Ed
These are troubling times for WA farmers
By Ron Muzzall | Special to The Seattle Times
Washington’s agricultural roots run deep. As the number one producer of apples, blueberries, hops and sweet cherries, our state has long been a cornerstone of American agriculture. Yet, despite its vital role in feeding the nation and supporting our economy, Washington’s agriculture is in a precarious position. Over the past five years, the number of farms in our state has decreased by 10%, while farmland itself has diminished by 6%. These numbers tell a troubling story of an industry under siege.
The challenges facing our small farms are staggering. Rising production costs, razor-thin profit margins, and an increasingly complex regulatory environment are making it nearly impossible for many family farms to stay afloat. Farmers today earn just 8 to 14 cents for every dollar consumers spend on groceries. The rest goes to processing, transportation and retail. That means from a typical family’s monthly grocery bill of $1,280, a farmer sees only $179. How can we expect them to thrive under these conditions?
Production costs are soaring. Fertilizer prices hit record highs in 2022, farm diesel followed suit, and the cost of feed and labor continues to climb. In 2023 alone, farmers saw a 4% increase in input costs, up 28% from just two years prior. These expenses, coupled with high interest rates and land values, leave little room for profit. For many farmers, breaking even feels like an insurmountable goal.
Adding to these concerns are the tariffs that have created even more uncertainty for our agricultural community. Many farmers are anxious about maintaining access to crucial export markets for our famous apples, cherries and hops. These tariffs threaten to disrupt longstanding trade relationships, making it harder for Washington’s farmers to compete on the global stage and further squeezing already tight profit margins. Frustratingly, tariff discussions are beyond the control of state legislators, but the impacts will be felt far and wide.
Compounding these pressures is a growing disconnect between the public and the agricultural community. From a farmer’s perspective, it often seems like the general public believes, “We don’t need farmers; we have grocery stores.” This misconception underscores a broader issue: the widespread misinformation about agriculture. The villainization of different farming methods — whether conventional, organic or somewhere in between — has hurt our ability to be self-sufficient. The truth is, we need all sectors of food production to meet the demands of a growing population.
As a third-generation farmer on Whidbey Island, I’ve seen these challenges firsthand, how rising costs and public misconceptions make it harder for farmers to stay in business. When farmers struggle, it’s not just their livelihoods at stake — it’s our communities, our economy and our food security.
When a farmer closes the gate for the last time, our entire state suffers. Jobs disappear, rural communities lose their lifeblood and food security is threatened. Agriculture is not just an economic engine; it’s a matter of national security. A stable food supply is essential for a stable society, and that requires a thriving farm economy.
The pressures on farmers today mirror those of the 1980s farm crisis, when soaring costs and plummeting incomes drove many to bankruptcy. Washington cannot afford to let history repeat itself. The stakes are too high.
As policymakers, we must act decisively to support our farmers. That starts with streamlining regulations to reduce unnecessary burdens and costs. It means investing in programs that promote sustainable practices and economic resilience. And it requires addressing labor challenges, whether through improved visa programs or incentives for training and retention.
We also need to strengthen farm safety nets to help producers weather volatile markets and rising costs. Federal and state support eased the crisis of the 1980s. Similar action is needed today to protect our farmers and the communities that depend on them.
The cost of inaction is too great. Without thoughtful policy solutions, we risk losing not just farms, but the foundation of our food system. Washington’s farmers are resilient, resourceful and innovative. With the right support, they can overcome these challenges and continue to feed our state, our nation and the world.
One of the most concerning aspects of this crisis is the misinformation surrounding agriculture. To secure a future for farming, we must foster a deeper understanding of its complexities and challenges. Let us ensure that when the sun sets over Washington’s fields, it sets on thriving farms and hopeful futures. Let us work together to keep the gate open for generations to come.
Ron Muzzall: is a Republican representing District 10 in the Washington Legislature.