I hope this letter finds you well. As we head toward summer and much of what happened during the 2024 legislative session becomes history, I wanted to reach out and remind you that I’m still hard at work representing the people of the 17th District.  The 2024 legislative session ended two months ago but a... Read more »

On Tuesday, the governor signed into law a bipartisan bill from Rep. Paul Harris that will provide a much-needed boost to the semiconductor industry in Washington. House Bill 2482 will extend two tax preferences for semiconductor manufacturing until Jan. 1, 2034. The legislation also reinstates six tax preferences that expired on Jan. 1, 2024, and... Read more »

The Washington State House of Representatives unanimously approved the state’s 2024-25 supplemental capital budget today. The biennial construction, repair, and infrastructure funding plan, Senate Bill 5949, appropriates a total of $1.33 billion in funding. Reps. Paul Harris and Kevin Waters, who helped secure more than $21 million of funding for the 17th District, were pleased to... Read more »

Semiconductor manufacturers in Washington could receive a nice break thanks to a bipartisan bill from Rep. Paul Harris that would reinstate semiconductor tax incentives. The Washington State Senate voted 47-1 in favor of House Bill 2482 on Friday, which would extend two tax preferences for semiconductor manufacturers for 10 years. “These companies chose Southwest Washington... Read more »

It’s hard to believe the 2024 session is already entering its final weeks. On Tuesday, Feb. 13, we reached the house of origin cutoff, meaning that was the last day bills could be voted out of their respective chamber. After a week and a half of more committee meetings to consider bills from the Senate,... Read more »

Join Your 20th District legislators for a virtual town hall! Mark your calendar! On Monday, April 13, at 6:30 p.m., Sen. John Braun, Rep. Peter Abbarno, and Rep. Ed Orcutt are hosting a virtual town hall to discuss the 2026 legislative session and other important issues impacting the 20th District. This is your chance to hear updates, ask questions, and engage directly... Read more »

Communities across Washington depend on the capital budget to build, repair, and preserve the public infrastructure people rely on every day, from schools and public health facilities to housing, water systems, and community spaces. With final passage of the 2026 supplemental capital budget, Reps. Peter Abbarno, R-Chehalis, and Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, say the plan includes... Read more »

Republicans battled Democrats over an income tax bill on the Washington State House floor for more than 24 hours before it passed Tuesday evening. John Sattgast reports from Olympia. Wash. House Republicans · 03-10-26 – RADIO REPORT: House Republicans battle Democrats’ income tax bill for more than 24 hours before it passes SATTGAST: The hard-fought... Read more »

The House voted on the majority party’s supplemental operating budget last Saturday. This is the largest of the three state budgets and funds K-12 education, higher education, social services, corrections, and other state agencies. After a 6.5-hour debate, I voted against the legislation, which passed with bipartisan opposition on a 52-41 vote. I’d like to... Read more »

Communities across Southwest Washington need critical infrastructure updates to support schools, public health and community spaces. To address these needs, Reps. Peter Abbarno and Ed Orcutt announced the release of the Washington State House of Representatives’ proposed 2026 supplemental capital budget. House Bill 2295 includes $910.6 million in total spending, of which $399.4 million comes... Read more »

On Monday, Gov. Bob Ferguson signed the Democrats’ unconstitutional Washington state income tax bill into law. Marketed as a “millionaires’ tax,” supporters have made sweeping claims to build support for an idea Washington voters have rejected 10 times over the past century. House Republican Caucus Chair Peter Abbarno debunks some of those claims: ❌ Makes... Read more »

Join Your 20th District legislators for a virtual town hall! Mark your calendar! On Monday, April 13, at 6:30 p.m., Sen. John Braun, Rep. Peter Abbarno, and Rep. Ed Orcutt are hosting a virtual town hall to discuss the 2026 legislative session and other important issues impacting the 20th District. This is your chance to hear updates, ask questions, and engage directly... Read more »

Every legislative session involves difficult decisions. Lawmakers must balance competing priorities while ensuring the state remains fiscally responsible. But when the 2026 legislative session ended in Olympia, it became clear that the people who lost the most were Washington’s children, parents and students. The Legislature approved an operating budget exceeding $80 billion for the 2025-27... Read more »

Just a few days ago, the Legislature concluded its work for the 2026 session and officially adjourned Sine Die. “Sine Die” is simply the formal end of the legislative session. But for families, seniors, and small business owners across Washington, the financial pressure created by bad policy does not end when lawmakers go home. That... Read more »

After more than 24 hours of debate on the House floor, Democrats in the Legislature passed Senate Bill 6346, moving Washington another step toward something voters have rejected again and again: a state income tax. Supporters keep calling it a “millionaires tax,” as if that settles the argument. It does not. The bill itself makes... Read more »

Now that the 2026 legislative session has come to a close, there is a great deal to review and discuss with you. This year’s session was defined by a new state income tax, major policy debates, significant spending increases, and decisions that will have lasting impacts on families across our district and throughout Washington. With... Read more »

State lawmakers from the 18th Legislative District will host an in-person town hall meeting on Saturday, March 28, in Battle Ground. With the 2026 session ending on Thursday, March 12, Rep. Stephanie McClintock and Rep. John Ley will meet with constituents to review the major events from the recently concluded session. Among the issues they... Read more »

We are nearing the end of the 2026 legislative session, but there is still much work to be done, including finalizing the state’s three budgets (operating, capital, and transportation) and stopping the Democrat majority party’s state income tax proposal. My priority continues to be advocating for policies that strengthen public safety, protect taxpayers, support local... Read more »

I want to make you aware of an important development regarding Senate Bill 6346, the majority party’s proposal to create a state income tax in Washington. This legislation would impose a 9.9% income tax on individuals with Washington taxable income over $1 million, including married couples earning $1 million combined, not individually. The tax would... Read more »

As we reach the halfway point of the 2026 legislative session, the pace in Olympia has picked up significantly. Key policy cutoff deadlines are now behind us, which means the bills still moving forward are about to take the next important step in becoming law. We will spend the next week debating and voting on... Read more »

Although the 2026 legislative session is now behind us, the Legislature’s decisions will impact us for years to come. This is a crucial time for the state of Washington, which is why my seatmates, Sen. Paul Harris and Rep. David Stuebe, and I are holding several in-person town hall meetings across the 17th District in... Read more »

With the 2026 legislative session now behind us, I want to provide you with an update on what happened in Olympia during the last two months. This session included several major decisions that will impact our communities, including the passage of a state income tax and another increase in the size of the state operating... Read more »

With just one week remaining in the 2026 legislative session, the pace in Olympia has intensified. Lawmakers are working to finalize decisions that will shape our state for years to come. These final days are when the Legislature completes negotiations on the three state budgets and votes on major policy proposals. Unfortunately, several of the... Read more »

Hockinson Middle School student Ary’el Dutton recently served as a page in the Washington State House of Representatives at the state Capitol in Olympia. Rep. Kevin Waters, R-Stevenson, sponsored Ary’el’s participation in the House legislative page program. “Opportunities like the page program give students a firsthand look at how their state government operates and how decisions... Read more »

As the 2026 legislative session reaches its halfway point, the work in Olympia has intensified. Over the past several days, lawmakers have spent long hours on the House floor debating and voting on a wide range of bills that will shape our state’s future. While the days and nights have been long, this is an... Read more »

With the 2026 legislative session now concluded, I look forward to meeting with you and sharing an update on the key decisions made in Olympia and what they mean for our communities. Although the session lasted just 60 days, its outcomes will shape Washington’s future for years to come. That’s why my seatmates from the... Read more »

I had a great session in Olympia in 2026. With my first year behind me, I made real progress building strong trust and confidence with staff and colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Together, we passed several important bills that will benefit Washingtonians. I’m eager to return next session to continue collaborating with good... Read more »

The governor signed legislation from Rep. David Stuebe on Wednesday that will reinforce Medicaid support for emergency ambulance providers and protect access to lifesaving services across Washington. House Bill 2531 updates Washington’s ambulance quality assurance fee program to promote long-term financial stability for emergency medical providers while maintaining compliance with federal Medicaid requirements. The bill... Read more »

Washington families are feeling the squeeze like never before. Whether you’re filling your gas tank, buying groceries, paying rent and utilities, or covering a medical bill, the cost of living in our state continues to rise. Affordability is no longer a talking point; it is a daily reality for hardworking people across Washington. Unfortunately, the... Read more »

Legislation from Rep. David Stuebe that would reinforce Medicaid support for emergency ambulance providers and protect access to lifesaving services across the state is one step closer to becoming law, after the Washington State Senate unanimously passed the bill on Saturday. House Bill 2531 would update Washington’s ambulance quality assurance fee program to promote long-term... Read more »

I’m looking forward to meeting with you at an in-person town hall this Saturday, March 28, in Battle Ground. With the 2026 legislative session having just concluded on March 12, Rep. Stephanie McClintock and I will be there to walk you through the major developments and what they mean for our communities and the entire... Read more »

Concerns are growing about the rising cost and funding plan for the proposed Interstate 5 Bridge replacement between Washington and Oregon. One Southwest Washington lawmaker says the project is being scaled back, but taxpayers could still be on the hook for billions more. John Sattgast reports. Wash. House Republicans · 03-18-26 – RADIO REPORT: Ley... Read more »

Rep. John Ley, R-Vancouver, joins Lars Larson on The Lars Larson Show to discuss the latest developments surrounding the proposed Interstate 5 Bridge replacement project. Ley raises concerns about the decision by Washington and Oregon officials to “phase” the project, citing a significant funding gap, delayed construction timeline, and escalating cost estimates that could reach... Read more »

As the 2026 legislative session nears its conclusion, there’s still important work to be done that will affect families, schools, and small businesses across Washington. Lawmakers are in the final stretch of debating and finalizing the three state budgets, which will set spending priorities for the next year. At the same time, the Legislature is... Read more »

Rep. John Ley, R-Vancouver, discusses the many issues with the majority party’s millionaires’ income tax proposal and explains how it is just a matter of time before it becomes a statewide income tax on everyone. The policy takes more money from high earners while giving no relief to lower- and middle-income earners and most of... Read more »