Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Thank you to everyone who came out to our recent 8th District town hall. I appreciate you taking the time to be there, ask questions, and stay engaged.
We covered a lot — some of it easy, some of it not. I appreciated hearing directly from you about the pressures you’re feeling, from the new state income tax and rising energy and fuel costs to the ongoing challenge of housing affordability.
We also spent time on the recent Less Restrictive Alternative (LRA) proposal in Kennewick. LRAs allow certain sexually violent predators to be placed in supervised housing within communities instead of total confinement.
In this case, the proposed site was in a residential neighborhood near schools, parks, and child care facilities, which raised serious concerns for families. While that specific site was shut down, the broader issue remains. I’m continuing to work with local leaders and state agencies to push for stronger safeguards and practical solutions, so no other community is put in the same position.
Missed my recent newsletter?
 If you weren’t able to attend the town hall or want a more detailed breakdown of the session, the latest 8th District print newsletter has recently arrived in mailboxes. It highlights the key issues, what we pushed back on, and where we delivered real results for our communities. I encourage you to take a look.
Transportation update
As promised in my previous update, let’s talk transportation.
The 2026 supplemental transportation budget builds on the current two-year plan, bringing total spending to about $16.7 billion. It includes additional funding for maintenance and preservation, which is where the focus should be. The roads and bridges we rely on every day need to be maintained first, and projects already underway need to be finished.
At the same time, I consistently hear this question from people across the district: with some of the highest fuel costs in the country, what are we getting in return?
Part of the reason those costs are so high goes beyond what’s happening nationally or globally with fuel prices. It also comes down to policy choices here at home. As recent reporting from The Seattle Times highlights, Washington already has one of the highest gas taxes in the nation, and state climate policies are also contributing to higher fuel costs. When you layer those together, families are paying significantly more just to get to work, school, or the grocery store.
That’s why it’s fair to ask what those dollars are delivering, and whether we’re focusing on the basics people rely on every day.
That question has also come up with the reaction to the 5-mph speed reduction on U.S. 395 between Pasco and Mesa. I’ve heard from many of you on this. It’s important to be clear that the speed limit change is not connected to the new crash prevention zone law passed this session. That decision was made separately.
The crash-prevention zone law is intended to take a more focused approach. It gives local governments the ability to identify high-risk stretches of road based on actual crash data, not guesswork. Once a zone is designated, it requires a full engineering and traffic safety review, along with coordinated enforcement and targeted improvements. That can include changes to road design, lighting, signage, traffic patterns, or speed, based on what will actually improve safety.
The idea is straightforward: go where the problem is and fix it, instead of applying the same solution everywhere and hoping for a different result.
8th District transportation projects
 Closer to home, we secured important transportation investments for the 8th District. That includes continued work on SR 224 Red Mountain improvements, SR 240 corridor improvements in Richland, and the US 395 Ridgeline intersection. There is also progress on the Island View to Vista Field pedestrian and bicycle connection, along with investments supporting Ben Franklin Transit.
These are practical projects that improve safety, reduce congestion, and keep people and goods moving through our region — making a difference every day.
Let’s stay in touch!
 Thank you for taking the time to read this update. If you ever have questions, concerns, or ideas about legislation or state government, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Hearing directly from you helps guide the work I do on your behalf.
You can also stay informed between updates by following the Senate Republican Caucus on Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram, or by visiting my legislative webpage for the latest news and updates from Olympia.
It is an honor to serve you in Olympia.
Senator Matt Boehnke
8th Legislative District
|
