Feb. 17, 2023 | Volume I, Issue 2
Today is the first major deadline of the 2023 session
  Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Today is the 40th day of the 2023 legislative session, and it represents the first in a series of milestones used to organize our legislative work. It’s what is commonly referred to as “the policy cutoff date.” In other words, in order for a bill to be considered eligible for further consideration, it has to be approved by its respective policy committee by the end of the day. Any bill that has not been approved by this deadline is considered “dead” for the year.
Bills that have a fiscal impact (meaning they have to do with imposing a tax or fee or spending money) and therefore were referred to one of the Senate’s fiscal committees have slightly more time to advance. The “fiscal cutoff date” is next Friday, Feb 24.
Another key date to watch is Wednesday, March 8 – the date by which any bill must be approved by the chamber where it originated – either the House or the Senate. Of course, any bill related directly to the budget can be brought up for a vote at any time. Those bills are known as NTIB – “necessary to implement the budget.”
Why all the deadlines? Well, the state constitution gives us 105 days to meet in what’s called “regular session,” so these deadlines help organize our work, make the most of valuable session time and weed out those bills with either limited support or fatal flaws. It also clears the way for deeper discussion of bills that have broad support or are of vital importance.
I have introduced a number of bills this session that I believe will help the people of the Mighty Eighth district, or our state as a whole. Some of those bills will survive today’s deadline. Other proposals will require a little more time for me to educate and convince my colleagues about their merits.
You can read more about the status of my legislation below.
As we continue our work this session, please remember that I am here to be your voice in Olympia. The best way for me to do that job is to hear directly from you. If you have a question, concern or idea for smarter government, please don’t hesitate to call, write, e-mail, or if you happen to be in Olympia, stop by. I’d love to hear directly from you!
Thanks again for the privilege of serving as your state senator.
Sincerely,
 Sen. Matt Boehnke
R-Kennewick
From the District: A taste of home – Clean Energy and Tri-Cities Days at the Capitol
 One of the best parts about being in the State Senate is being able to tell others from across the state about the Mighty Eighth, and help them learn about just what a tremendous, vibrant and critical region the Tri-Cities is. There is no better time to do that than during Tri-Cities Day.
Each year, some of our great citizens, industry representatives and employers come to the Olympia to share their expertise with lawmakers from across the state and hear briefings on issues affecting our community.
The event is sponsored by the Tri-Cities Legislative Council, which is comprised of representatives from the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce, TRIDEC, The Tri-City Visitor and Convention Bureau, the Pasco Chamber of Commerce, the West Richland Chamber of Commerce, and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
You can watch video of my Tri-Cities Day report by clicking here.
Along with Tri-Cities Day, our area’s energy producers were also in Olympia for Clean Energy Day, an outlook for next-generation nuclear energy that can help the state transition to zero-emission electricity. We were joined by our friends at the Port of Benton, Energy Northwest and Guggenheim Ptnrs., among others.
 Click here to watch video from Clean Energy Day 2023.
POLICY WATCH: House bill on police pursuit sees movement, but still fails to address auto theft crisis
 Senate Republican leaders are encouraged by a House committee’s approval of legislation to loosen restrictions on police pursuits but concerned that the bill still would not restore the ability of officers to pursue suspected car thieves.
Yesterday the House Community Safety, Justice, and Reentry Committee passed House Bill 1363, which would allow police more latitude on engaging in pursuits. It would exempt three more crimes from the current restrictions, adopted in 2021, but not vehicle theft. Also, the measure would expire in July 2025.
The Senate Law and Justice Committee has approved only Senate Bill 5533, which would keep the current pursuit restrictions in place and give the state Criminal Justice Training Commission until November 2024 to study the issue.
Click here to read more.
Bill to reform Energy Independence Act receives public hearing
Measure would streamline utility reporting, save money for ratepayers
 On Tuesday, the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee held a public hearing on my legislation aimed at modernizing Washington’s Energy Independence Act to avoid regulatory duplication and overlap with other laws.
We have a lot of clean-energy production in the Tri-Cities, and between nuclear, hydro and biomass, much of the power our utilities produce is already generated in a clean, carbon-free, renewable manner.
Despite this, we know that these producers are still being put in a position where they have to meet the reporting standards of the EIA. This bill is about reducing the costly and redundant administrative burden created by the EIA, which is no longer needed given the move to 100-percent clean energy under the Clean Energy Transformation Act. This will ultimately save money for rate payers, who are struggling to make ends meet for the families or small businesses.
Click here to read my release on this bill.
Legislative Update: As today’s policy cut-off deadline approaches, bills are up against the clock
Today is the final day for policy committees to advance bills in order for them to remain up for consideration this legislative session. I have introduced or “prime sponsored” nine bills so far this year. Here’s where they stand:
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Senate Bill 5166 would reauthorize the business and occupation (B&O) tax deduction for cooperative finance organizations. This bill passed out of the energy committee last month and was voted out of the fiscal committee last night. SAFE
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Senate Bill 5167 would give local communities a voice in the siting of wind and solar facilities. This important measure has yet to receive a hearing and time is running out. IN DANGER
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Senate Bill 5168 would lower prices for rate payers by reducing unnecessary bureaucracy linked to compliance with the Energy Independence Act. This bill received a hearing on Feb. 14 (see story above) but has not yet been scheduled for a committee vote. AT RISK
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Senate Bill 5518 deals with protecting Washingtonians from cyber security threats and ransomware. The Senate energy committee voted the bill out on Feb. 14 and it is now in the Ways and Means fiscal committee, awaiting action. SAFE
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Senate Bill 5594 would allow the operation of fully autonomous vehicles on public roadways, subject to certain requirements. This bill received a hearing on Feb. 7 in the transportation committee, which has until next week to complete its work on the bill. SAFE
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Senate Bill 5659 incentivizes the use of clean energy through a sales tax exemption for gas companies. The energy committee held a hearing on the bill on Feb. 14 but has not yet scheduled a vote. AT RISK
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Senate Bill 5660 would create a work group to study a mental health advance directive (MHAD) policy. Yesterday, the Health and Long-Term Care Committee voted to advance this bill. SAFE
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Senate 5661 deals with skill center class size. This bill has not yet received a hearing. IN DANGER
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Senate Bill 5721 would establish a B&O tax credit for aerospace manufacturing training and education expenses. The Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee is scheduled to vote on this bill today! LIKELY SAFE
You can click here to view the status of all of my bills, including the ones I have co-sponsored.
You're invited to our in-person town hall event
Finally, I want to thank those of you who took the time to participate in our virtual town hall on Feb. 9. It was a great event with 136 active attendees!
I am always pleased to see how actively engaged and thoughtful the people of the Mighty 8th District are. You have offered me some really intelligent and thought-provoking insights on some of the problems you face and some common-sense ideas on how we in Olympia should try to solve them.
I’ll also remind you to SAVE THE DATE for our next in-person town hall.
Join your 8th District Legislators for an in-person town hall meeting!
March 11, 2023
2-3:30 PM
at the ARC of Tri-Cities
(1455 SE Fowler St, Richland, WA 99352)
Hope to see you there!
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