Floor action and budget talks take center stage in Olympia
 Dear Friends and Neighbors,
A critical part of the legislative session has arrived – when among the flurry of bills on a variety of topics, the focus quickly pivots to the budget.
The Senate Republicans jump started the conversation by rolling out our budget proposal on Tuesday. It’s an honest budget that invests in our priorities, makes government work smarter, and balances without playing budget games, raiding our rainy-day fund or increasing the tax burden on Washington families. You can learn more about this commonsense approach below.
The 2025 legislative session has just passed its halfway point. The Senate spent this entire week voting on legislation that had been moved forward by the various Senate committees. We had until Wednesday (March 12) to wrap up that work. It’s the House of Origin Cut Off, because bills that originated in the Senate had until that deadline to pass out of the Senate, and bills that originated in the House had until then to pass out of the House.
Now that we’ve reached that milestone, we will go back to our committee hearing rooms to begin considering legislation approved by the House of Representatives. The House committees will do the same with the bills we passed.
Please remember to contact my office when you have questions or concerns about state agencies or what the Legislature is doing. I appreciate hearing your input and thoughts about the proposals coming before us, as it helps me better represent you and our district in Olympia.
Sincerely,
 Keith Wagoner
(R-39th District)
 My bill to help aging veterans moves to House
 Earlier this month, the Senate unanimously approved my legislation that would expand the number of available long-term care beds for veterans, simultaneously helping to address Washington’s homelessness crisis while also alleviating the pressure on the medical foster home system.
So many of our nation’s men and women in uniform serve and sacrifice for this nation, only to come home and find that as they age, they are left behind – without support and too often left to face serious physical or mental health challenges on the streets, without the comfort, security and dignity of a home.
Senate Bill 5200 would help make sure that our veterans are able to age with dignity in place. At the same time, it also relieves the pressure on resources for other people who are not veterans. This is a federal program, administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, that has been proven to be successful.
Click here to learn more.
On Air:
New Gun Laws Hurt Citizens, Won’t Stop Crime
The Lars Larson Show | Mar 10, 2025
Lars Larson and Sen. Keith Wagoner discuss Washington and Oregon gun laws restricting Second Amendment rights. Wagoner says Washington's House Bill 1163 forces costly, nonexistent training, hurting low-income citizens. With Democrat majorities, it is likely to pass, face legal battles, and fail to reduce crime—yet the media will remain silent.
Click here to listen now.
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In the News:
WA governor says he will limit his own emergency powers if lawmakers don’t
By Jerry Cornfield, WA State Standard | March 12, 2025
 Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson on Tuesday pledged to restrict his use of emergency powers following the apparent collapse of a Republican-led effort to have the Legislature do so.
…Senate Bill 5434, sponsored by Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley, has yet to get a vote. Wagoner, in a statement, praised Ferguson’s action but suggested legislation is still needed.
“It demonstrates his sincere understanding of the issue of unchecked governors’ emergency powers and the important role the Legislature plays,” he said. “This is a win for Washington’s citizens but, it is a perishable win. The Legislature needs to codify similar provisions into law.”
Click here to read more.
Budget News:
Senate Republicans release budget proposal to close budget gap without new taxes
By Albert James, Olympia News Bureau | March 11, 2025
 Click here to watch coverage of our budget plan roll out.
The $ave Washington budget funds the shared priorities of the people we serve… without raising taxes.
The Majority Party in Olympia has proposed wildly irresponsible ways to solve state government’s budget situation. One is a slash and burn approach, which they admit would be “catastrophic” and which no one takes seriously. The other would raise taxes by a record $13 billion in just four years, which would make living in Washington even less affordable.
Senate Republicans have proposed a third way, guided by priorities all Washingtonians can support:
- No tax increases: This budget does not rely on a single tax increase to close the deficit. The majority party proposal includes several property tax increases, wealth tax increases, a can/bottle deposit tax, a vehicle mileage tax, and more.
- No fee increases: This budget does not rely on a single fee increase to our state parks, hunting or fishing licenses to close the deficit
- Reasonable growth: $75.6 B spending, 5% growth
- Preserves “rainy-day” fund
- Fully funds our K-12 school system, with a focus on achieving positive, objectively measurable outcomes.
- Prioritize services and supports for our most vulnerable residents, including children, seniors, and those in crisis.
- Makes government work better through efficiencies and reforms that get a better bang for taxpayer dollars.
Click here to learn more about the $ave Washington Budget Plan.
In the News:
Prison reform bill passes state senate: Critics warn early releases threaten public safety
 Photo/Alex Brandon, Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
A bill designed to reshape how Washington’s prison system handles the release of incarcerated individuals passed the state Senate on Thursday, though critics argue it risks releasing criminals too soon.
Senate Bill 5219, which is supported by Governor Ferguson, seeks to overhaul partial confinement programs and release options, sparking heated debate over whether it strikes the right balance between rehabilitation and public safety.
It passed along party lines, with a 29-19 vote and one senator excused.
… Senator Keith Wagoner (R-Sedro Woolley) also tried to amend the bill by excluding people convicted of violent crimes, saying that some offenders should not be included in the new policy.
“We can all agree that people who’ve committed violent offenses shouldn’t be in these programs,” Wagoner said.
Click here to read the full article.
From the District:
Visiting Olympia? Stop by and say hello.
 I recently had the privilege of meeting with some representatives from Whatcom Educational Credit Union (WECU), who were in Olympia for “Washington Credit Union Day at the Capitol.” The annual event brings representatives from credit unions across the state together to advocate for the credit union movement and connect with elected officials. Nearly 230 advocates from credit unions across the state, including those from our district, participated in the event.
It's always great to hear from friends and neighbors from the district, to learn more about the issues important to them and share with them the latest news from Olympia.
If you plan to be in Olympia during the 2025 Session, please contact my office and let us know. We would love to welcome you to YOUR capitol!
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