Action moves to the Senate floor

2015Banner

Dear Friends,

This is the 8th week of the 2017 legislative session and many measures are moving forward in Olympia. On Monday the Senate passed two of my bills with broad bipartisan support, and even more could be approved in the next couple of days.

We will continue voting on Senate bills through next Wednesday, March 8. Bills that haven’t moved forward by then are considered off the table for this session. After that we will move back to committee hearings where we will consider bills that passed the House of Representatives.

Of course, any bill that is necessary for one of our state budgets will remain alive.

As always, if there is anything I can do for you as your state senator, please give me a call or send an e-mail. I’d be happy to help however I can.  

Sincerely,

New Sig

Sharon Brown
State Senator
8th District

Watch my video update

Senate reaches fiscal cut-off as action moves to the floor

Week * Video Update

Click here to watch this week's video!

Senate passes two of my bills on first full day of voting

Senate floor

On Monday, the first day set aside solely for voting in the Senate chamber this year, the Senate approved two of my bills that are aimed at addressing statewide problems but were brought to me by Tri-Cities residents.

Substitute Senate Bill 5051, which passed unanimously, would require DNR to provide at least 180 days’ written notice and include documentation regarding the termination in any early-termination provision included in an agricultural or grazing state-land lease. It also makes it clear that “early termination” provisions are not required to be included in DNR leases.

By a vote of 48 to 1, the Senate also passed Substitute Senate Bill 5560 – my bill to create a special permit to sell wine through an auction and allow wine tastings at the auction.

This is a regulatory streamlining bill. Currently the state Liquor and Cannabis Board must cobble together all the permits that are required for each winery participating in a charitable wine auction. This requires hours of work on the part of the LCB. My bill would streamline the process, so the permits can be completed in several days instead of several months.

Under the bill, the LCB would be authorized to issue a special permit allowing a nonprofit organization to sell wine through a private auction. The permit holder could conduct wine tastings at the auction, as long as the wine offered for tasting is the same as that being auctioned.

Both bills now move to the House of Representatives for its consideration

Cougs come to the Capitol

Coug Day

It’s always great to welcome visitors to the Capitol, but never so much as when they are young people taking an interest in their government. It’s even better when they are from Tri-Cities.

On Feb. 20, more than 150 Washington State University students came to Olympia to push for higher education during the annual Coug Day at the Capitol event.

Organized by the Associated Students of Washington State University, the delegation included students from all WSU campuses — including about 25 from WSU Tri-Cities. (see picture above)

Also participating was a delegation of graduate students. I was pleased to welcome representatives of the WSU Graduate and Professional Student Association to my office. (see picture below)

Coug Day 2

Higher education has been a priority for our bipartisan Senate coalition since we became the majority in 2013. We will continue to make college affordability and access to college a priority moving forward.

Go Cougs!

March 1, 2017

 

Stay Connected

STAY CONNECTED

Send me an e-mail

Office Phone:

360-786-7614

Toll-Free:

800-562-6000

Address:
202 Newhouse Building
P.O. Box 40408
Olympia, WA 98504-0408

Committees

MY COMMITTEES

Ways & Means 
(Vice Chair)

Agriculture, Water & Rural Economic Development 

Energy, Environment & Telecommunications