Washington State Representatives

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 »

It’s budget season in Olympia, and with it comes the inevitable talk of taxes. This week, House and Senate Democrats, who hold the legislative majority, unveiled their respective operating budget proposals. Public hearings followed, with the Senate set to vote on its plan tomorrow and the House expected to take up its version on Monday.... Read more »

In this video, Rep. Ed Orcutt, a member of the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council, weighs in on the March revenue forecast and what it means for state budget writers. Orcutt: “It’s overspending that got us into this problem. We need to get control of the spending.”

Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, fought to include an amendment to House Bill 1296 that would have required school districts to provide monthly opportunities during weekends and evening hours for parents and guardians to examine textbooks, curriculum, and supplemental materials used in their child’s classrooms. House Democrats voted “no.” House Bill 1296, which would re-write the... Read more »

Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, delivers a floor speech in favor of Amendment 127 to House Bill 1494. The amendment would prevent the multifamily property tax exemption program from resulting in a state or local property tax levy shift to nonexempted taxpayers. Amendment 127 was voted down by House Democrats. House Bill 1494 would make various... Read more »

Today is fiscal committee cutoff, concluding a busy week in the House Appropriations, Capital Budget, Finance, and Transportation committees. This means all fiscal House bills needed to pass out of these respective committees, or they are considered “dead” for the legislative session – except for legislation deemed necessary to implement the operating budget. The next... Read more »

Rep. Peter Abbarno, House Republican Caucus Chair, breaks down some of the worst tax proposals in Washington state history. These bills would crush businesses, burden working families, and expand government at the taxpayers’ expense.

State Representative Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, and the Washington State House of Representatives honored the legacy and impact of Special Olympics Washington with the passage of House Resolution 4631. The resolution, which was sponsored by Abbarno, recognizes the organization’s 50 years of championing inclusion, empowering athletes, and transforming lives across the state. “Special Olympics Washington has... Read more »

With Week 10 now behind us, the 2025 legislative session continues to gain momentum as we head into the final stretch. Our Community at the Capitol continues to spotlight the remarkable people and organizations from the 20th Legislative District who are making their voices heard in Olympia! This biweekly update features photos of constituents who... Read more »

Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, highlights one bad bill and one good bill advancing through the Legislature as lawmakers return to their committees to consider bills from the opposite chamber. Wash. House Republicans · 03-21-25 – RADIO: Capitol Report with Rep. Abbarno: Legislation to keep an eye on

Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, joins Capitol Report to provide an update on the status of good and bad bills after the deadline for the House and Senate to pass bills that were introduced by their members. Bills that passed will now move to the opposite chamber for further consideration. Wash. House Republicans · 03-14-25 –... Read more »

As we enter the final weeks of the 2025 legislative session, Democrats in the House and Senate have recently released comprehensive new tax proposals that will impact everyone in Washington. Ranging from $15 to $20 billion, if either House or Senate Democratic proposals is enacted, it would be the largest tax increase in Washington state’s... Read more »

On Monday, the Washington State House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill from Rep. Stephanie McClintock to allow teenagers to work more hours while still in high school. Under House Bill 1121, 16—or 17-year-old minors could work as many hours during the school year as they can during summer, school vacations, or holidays if they... Read more »

A bipartisan bill from Rep. Stephanie McClintock, which would require the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to create a voluntary, confidential online survey for parents or guardians to fill out when transferring or withdrawing a student from a public school or school district, has received unanimous approval from the House Education committee. “We... Read more »

Rep. Stephanie McClintock, R-Vancouver, shares her legislative priorities, including education, helping consumers and businesses, and economic improvement. She also discusses soccer, one of her favorite things to do in her spare time. Click below to watch.

Rep. Stephanie McClintock, R-Vancouver, talks with KUOW Soundside Host Libby Denkmann about a bill restricting mobile device use in public schools. McClintock argues cell phones are a distraction that prevents kids from getting the education they deserve. House Bill 1122 has been referred to the House Education Committee, but thus far, the committee chair has... Read more »

As we move into spring, we can see a light at the end of the tunnel of this 105-day legislative session. However, there is still much work to be done over the final five weeks, especially when it comes to the state’s three budgets: operating, transportation, and capital. Before I get into the latest budget... Read more »

Two bipartisan bills from Rep. Kevin Waters passed the Washington State House of Representatives this week, including one allowing alcohol producers and breweries to sub out their kitchen space to people with restaurant experience. House Bill 1602, which passed unanimously, would allow breweries to subcontract the restaurant part of their business to individuals or entities... Read more »

Rep. Kevin Waters’ bill that would change the definitions under the alcohol server permit statutes is headed to the Senate after receiving unanimous approval from the Washington State House of Representatives this week. House Bill 1698 would clarify that all persons selling and serving alcohol for on-premises consumption at a licensed facility need to obtain... Read more »

This Friday, Feb. 28, is fiscal cutoff, meaning all bills must be passed out of their respective fiscal committees to still be alive this session. This week, we have been voting on numerous bills in the fiscal committees, including the House Capital Budget Committee where I serve. On Monday, March 3, we start 10 consecutive... Read more »

A bill from Rep. Kevin Waters that would change the definitions under the alcohol server permit statutes is one step closer to becoming law. On Tuesday, the House Consumer Protection and Business Committee unanimously passed House Bill 1698, which would clarify that all persons selling and serving alcohol for on-premises consumption at a licensed facility... Read more »

Rep. David Stuebe, R-Washougal, discusses his experience as a new state representative and his efforts to make Washington better for everyone by making communities safe, creating more jobs, addressing homelessness, and making life more affordable. He also discusses the state’s operating budget and the need to better manage and spend state revenue. Click below to... Read more »

We are closing in on the final month of the 2025 legislative session, which is scheduled to end on April 27. Last week, was House of Origin cutoff, when all bills had to be passed out of their original chamber to stay alive, except for bills considered necessary to implement the budget. Good and Bad... Read more »

Rep. David Stuebe joins Mark Bailey on KIHR to discuss the latest happenings of the 2025 legislative session. Stuebe expresses gratitude for the people he works with, shares his experience in trying to pass good legislation, and explains how the majority is passing several bad bills and why that will negatively impact Washington. Stuebe also... Read more »

Washington continues to deal with the third-largest homeless population in the nation, and the problem is not getting better. Homeless encampments are spreading into more communities, and crime in homeless camps is increasing, including murder, sexual assault, human trafficking, and substance abuse. These camps create environmental hazards and are bad for public health and safety.... Read more »

Thanks to a bill from Rep. David Stuebe, Washington backcountry search and rescue teams could soon receive a boost in their emergency response efforts. On Wednesday, the House Technology, Economic Development, and Veterans Committee unanimously passed House Bill 1625, Stuebe’s first bill as a state representative. HB 1625 would create a grant program to support... Read more »

Rep. John Ley, R-Vancouver, discusses the new operating and transportation budgets unveiled by House and Senate Democrats recently, and how they both rely on major tax increases for funding. Ley details several of these news taxes and shares how they are going to hurt hard-working Washingtonians. Click below to watch.

There is a lot to talk about as we head back to our policy committees for the next several weeks to consider all the bills recently passed in the Senate. The Senate will do the same with the legislation passed in the House. Several House Republican-sponsored bills are still alive, including House Bill 1857, which... Read more »

Rep. John Ley, R-Vancouver, speaks on the House floor and shares a constituent’s experience when he was shot at and had to use his gun in self-defense. Ley explains that this experience is exactly why people should have the right to own firearms. Click below to watch.

We are debating and voting on hundreds of bills on the House floor this week and next. House and Senate members are working long hours to find solutions to the state’s biggest issues. I will have further updates in the coming days and weeks, but in this email, I simply want to make you aware... Read more »

This week, we begin 10 consecutive days of voting on hundreds of bills on the House floor until we reach the 5 p.m. deadline for House of Origin cutoff on March 12. By then, we will have a much better idea of which bills have a chance to become law and which ones are dead... Read more »