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September 12, 2023
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Last week, I concluded my seventh annual 12th District listening tour. Traveling throughout our district with my staff has become a tradition every fall when legislators begin planning for the upcoming legislative session. This year’s listening tour was split between the eastern and western portions of the new 12th District. The first portion of the tour was dedicated to residents in Chelan and Douglas counties. The second portion of the tour was structured for the King and Snohomish counties portion of the district. I enjoyed many stops and visits with communities to discuss issues important to residents and local officials.
I enjoyed meeting with a variety of groups during my 7th annual listening tour completed last week. This photo is from a meeting with local chiropractors to discuss industry issues. Dr. Chad Hurst (left) and Dr. Thomas Ovenell (right) are active members of the Washington State Chiropractic Association.
Listening tours have become an annual tradition
Past listening tours have taken me all throughout the 12th District and helped connect me with issues important to our legislative district with visits to several communities, such as Leavenworth, Cashmere, Quincy, Wenatchee, East Wenatchee, Pateros, Twisp, Chelan, Grand Coulee, Bridgeport, Waterville, Rock Island, Mansfield, and Mazama. Many of these areas are no longer within the 12th District boundaries, which is why last year I made stops in Skykomish, Gold Bar, Sultan, Monroe, Carnation, and North Bend. This year’s tour included opportunities for all counties in the 12th District. It is always helpful to hear directly from you, the people I serve, on issues important to your community. During this year’s listening tour, issues that were discussed included the state budget, transportation, human services, education, land use, wildfire, outdoor recreation, and more. This feedback will be very helpful for me when casting important votes in Olympia.
Listening to you helps me serve you better
Hosting a listening tour each year allows me to hear directly from you in preparation for the upcoming session. Ideas shared during past listening tours have even turned into successful legislative action. A few examples: a suggestion by Leavenworth officials to dispose of brush and yard clippings resulted in a bill that became law in 2018. A funding request related to the Saddle Rock trail in Wenatchee became reality when it was included in the state capital budget two years ago, and a road-paving project to a popular fishing location in Okanogan County was recently funded. Improvements to the Wenatchee Community Center, Sultan’s park project, and Monroe’s city hall facility were also successfully funded. All were ideas first discussed with constituents during past listening tours. The information shared with me this year in our communities is so valuable to me and could also lead to legislative action. Besides legislative ideas, I also collect helpful comments that prepare me to make better decisions in Olympia.
 This year’s listening tour took me throughout our 12th District, including to many new communities assigned to the district in the recent redistricting. Included in this photo are immigrant justice advocates from the Wenatchee Valley.
Looking ahead to the 2024 legislative session
As I reflect upon discussions from this fall’s listening tour and look ahead to the legislative session, I will be better prepared to represent us in the Senate. When legislators convene in Olympia in January for the 2024 legislative session, the primary focus will be making adjustments to the three budgets for the 2023-2025 biennium. This two-year period covers July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025, so the upcoming session is a mid-budget period. Last session, legislators approved all three budgets. These budgets, as currently approved, include the operating budget ($69.8 billion), transportation budget ($13.5 billion), and capital budget ($9.0 billion). In addition to adjustments to the state budgets, lawmakers will also be considering approval of new laws and adjustments to existing laws. While traveling to Olympia during the session can be a long trip, I welcome your visit.
 The 2024 Legislative Session begins on January 8th and is scheduled for 60 days. If you have any questions about legislative issues during session, please contact me.
Thank you for your support
I hope you were able to participate in this year’s listening tour. The visits to communities in the 12th District were fantastic, and I look forward to many more. The encouragement and support have been terrific throughout my seven years of listening tours. Whether you were able to participate this year or not, please know that my position exists to serve you. If you have any questions, please contact me at senatorbradhawkins.org. Please call our Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 if you need immediate assistance. Like and follow me on Facebook @SenatorBradHawkins for my latest updates.
Sincerely,
 Brad Hawkins
State Senator Brad Hawkins
12th Legislative District
Website: senatorbradhawkins.org
P.O. Box 40412 | Olympia, WA 98504-0412
(360) 786-7622 or Toll-free: (800) 562-6000
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