Standing up for rural Washington

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Standing up for rural Washington

with Warnick
Sen. Brown with Sen. Judy Warnick, the Senate Republican lead negotiator on Hirst.

Dear Friends,

The second week of the 2018 legislative session is drawing to a close. It is hard to believe we are nearly one-quarter of the way through the 60-day regular session.

I spent most of this week with my colleagues in Senate hearings discussing bills and taking public testimony on measures before the Senate. Much of the news has not been fun. Many measures coming forth from the new majority deal with controversial issues that divide us, rather the issues that unite us, like jobs, education and a responsible budget.

This was also the case Wednesday and Thursday when we took to the floor of the Senate chamber to vote on bills.

But I am pleased to report that two measures we voted on, in a Thursday night session, will have a tremendous benefit for our entire state, our district and especially our friends in rural Washington. After months of debate, the Legislature finally approved a fix to the Supreme Court’s disastrous Hirst decision. Property owners across the state who rely on small wells for access to water will finally be able to develop and enjoy their property!

We also passed a capital budget that invests in mental health, important 8th District priorities and puts more than $1 billion into K-12 construction!

You can read more about these developments below.

As always, please let me know if I can be of assistance to you. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your state senator. 

Sincerely,

New Sig

Sharon Brown
State Senator
8th District

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'Hirst fix' on water rights approved for rural landowners

well

After nearly a year of negotiations, I am happy to announce that the Legislature has finally approved a compromise deal to bring needed relief for rural families seeking to drill a small household well.

Under a 2016 Supreme Court ruling known as the Hirst decision, the high court mandated that counties must evaluate whether there is adequate water available before permitting new buildings. The ruling ended long-standing policy that instead used information from the state Department of Ecology to make such decisions.

The Hirst decision upended decades of water law, defied common sense and had a devastating impact on rural areas where families need a well for their water supply. The ruling essentially shut down construction throughout rural Washington.

Late Thursday night, the Senate passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6091 by a vote of 35 to 14, and later the House of Representatives approved the compromise by a vote of 66 to 30. The bill would provide immediate relief – allowing property-owners in rural areas to use permit-exempt wells, while local committees in watersheds come up with longer-term mitigation plan. The deal also includes $300 million over the next 15 years for projects that improve stream flows.

Tri-Cities projects funded in approved capital budget

PNNL

With the Hirst fix finally adopted, the Legislature immediately moved to pass the state construction-spending plan, known as the capital budget. I am pleased the final approved plan for 2017-19 includes more than $40 million in funding for 8th District projects.

I fought hard to include $8 million for the Science Laboratories Infrastructure (SLI) project in Richland. These funds will be used to purchase two advanced scientific instruments to be housed in a new, world-class energy- and materials-research facility at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. It’s slated for a design/construction start this year.

If the SLI facility is completed, it is expected to result in approximately 300 jobs in Washington over a two-year period. State funding for the project is likely to boost PNNL’s anticipated matching-request for a U.S. Department of Energy science investment of approximately $89 million in federal fiscal years 2018-22. 

Other 8th District projects funded in the capital budget include:

  • The Whitehouse Addition Homeownership Program ($1.5 million);
  • Tri-Tech Skill Center - Core Growth ($10.8 million);
  • WSU Tri-Cities - Academic Building ($3 million);
  • Kennewick Automated Meter Reading Project ($6 million);
  • The Save the Old Tower project in Pasco ($300,000);
  • Public Works Assistance for US 395/Ridgeline Interchange in Kennewick ($6 million); and
  • Tri Cities Readiness Center ($800,000).

The capital budget will invest $4.2 billion overall in our state, including a total of more than $1 billion for K-12 education-facility construction, renovation or modernization. 

Mental-health needs, one of my top priorities, would receive $132 million in this budget. There is approximately $90 million in community behavioral health projects and another approximately $42 million in state hospital projects.

From the District...

ABATE members visit the Capitol

ABATE

Members of ABATE – a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting freedom of choice for motorcycle riders and fair motorcycle legislation – recently made their annual trip to Olympia to discuss several bills affecting motorcyclists this year.

On Thursday, I had the honor of addressing the motorcycle community, including several folks from the Tri-Cities, from the steps of the Capitol building. It was great to be able to discuss my support for two pieces of rider-choice legislation. I am the sponsor of Senate Bill 5156 and I support House Bill 1804 – these bills would allow motorcyclists 18 years and older to choose when, where, and if they would wear a helmet.

It is always great to see faces from the Tri-Cities here in Olympia.

If you or a group you are associated with is planning a trip to the Capitol, please call my office and let us know. We would love to see you!

In closing…

As always, I value hearing directly from you. I am here to be your voice, and your feedback on bills before the Senate is very important to me. If you would like to contact me please write, phone, e-mail, or stop by if you’re in the Olympia area. 

Jan. 19, 2018

 

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