Tag Archives: pollinators

Wishing you a happy, safe Fourth of July!

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers July 2, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here.

Dear friends and neighbors,

This Thursday, people throughout the U.S. will celebrate Independence Day – America’s birthday. It was on July 4, 1776, when the 13 American colonies formally broke away from British rule and declared that they had become a new nation: the United States of America. (Seven years later, on September 3, 1783, the U.S. and Great Britain signed the Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the American Revolution and saw Great Britain recognize the U.S. as a sovereign nation.)

As some history buffs know, the Continental Congress actually voted for independence on July 2, 1776. After several members of the Continental Congress spent two days drafting a Declaration of Independence, the Congress approved it two days later, which is why we celebrate Independence Day on July 4. 

July 4 fireworks appear over the Capitol in Olympia.

Throughout our nation’s 248 years of existence, we have experienced great triumphs and tragedies, and other highs and lows. While America continues to change in different ways (some good and some bad), we remain united by constant ideals – our love of freedom and liberty, the blending of new American citizens, and a desire to make our country even better – “a more perfect union.”

For many people, July 4 means food and fireworks. As we enjoy gathering with family and friends on the Fourth, let’s also remember why we celebrate Independence Day and why it matters. Happy birthday, America!

If you have questions about how to participate in state government this year or thoughts to share on anything in this e-newsletter, please give me a call or send me an email. 

Thank you, as always, for the honor of representing you in Olympia!

Best Regards,

Senator Mike Padden

Pollinator-habitat workshop is a success

After weeks of planning, a pollinator-habitat workshop co-hosted by my office and the Spokane Conservation District was held June 25 at the conservation district’s headquarters.

Over 30 people attended the free event, including several who work in the landscaping or building-construction industries.

Special thanks to Spokane Conservation District Director Vicki Carter for emceeing and helping plan this event. Another big thank-you goes to the presenters at the workshop, including Katie Buckley of the state Department of Agriculture; Hannah Walker of Spokane Scape; Cathy Spokas, the city of Spokane’s landscaper; Beth Mort of Zinnia Designs; and Aubrey Hoxie of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Services.

Finally, I thank Julia Costello for attending the workshop. Julia deserves credit for asking me to sponsor legislation to enhance pollinator habitat in Washington. The result was Senate Bill 5934, which was approved by the Legislature and Governor Inslee this year and is now state law.

There is talk of hosting other pollinator-habitat workshops later this year. If such events are scheduled, information will be provided in a future e-newsletter.  

State revenue projection declining

The state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council last Wednesday adopted a second-quarter forecast that shows a $666 million revenue decline through the next two budget cycles: a drop of $477 million for the 2023-25 fiscal biennium and $189 million for the 2025-27 biennium. The decline was due mostly to a nosedive in the amount of revenue collected through the state’s tax on capital-gains income.

My colleague, Senator Lynda Wilson, who is Republican leader of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and is current chair of the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council, issued a statement last week in which she expressed concerned that the drop-off in income-tax revenue may prompt an effort from legislative Democrats to expand this tax.

Here is Senator Wilson’s statement:

“When we adopted the year’s first-quarter forecast in February, the state’s chief economist warned us to expect slow economic growth – but the economy is not to blame for this predicted drop in revenue. The change in this quarter’s forecast goes hand-in-hand with a sharp decline in the state’s capital-gains tax collections.

“In its first year the capital-gains tax took in about $800 million; here in year two the collections are on track to total about half that much. This is exactly the kind of volatility I and others predicted when the majority Democrats adopted the capital-gains tax.

“When a tax fails to bring in the anticipated level of revenue, it’s almost inevitable that someone will want to cast the net wider and capture more money. Our Democratic colleagues already proposed that idea, and we should expect they will do so again.

“The thousands of Washingtonians already subject to the capital-gains tax include people who have spent years building a business, then sell it to retire. Next thing you know, someone will suggest adding home sales to the list of things covered by the capital-gains tax, and that would hit far more people.

“I’ve said it before: The capital-gains tax doesn’t pay for anything that can’t be funded with other revenue. Our schools and other important things like access to childcare never should have been tied to such a volatile tax. Today’s forecast is proof.”

Our Democratic colleagues will have to fight their natural urge to expand a tax all to satisfy their constant craving for more money from you and other hard-working taxpayers. Republicans will be ready to stand with taxpayers if and when that time comes.

Tax credits for conversion to employee- ownership businesses now available

Last year, the Legislature and the governor approved Senate Bill 5096, which creates the Washington Employee Ownership Program at the Department of Commerce to offer technical support, and other services, to certain businesses considering certain employee-ownership structures. SB 5096 also provides a business-and-occupation tax credit for costs related to converting a qualifying business to an employee-ownership structure.

The state Department of Revenue has made that tax credit available as of yesterday (July 1). Here is DOR’s special notice about the tax credit.

Below is information I recently received from a Department of Commerce official about the upcoming tax credit:

On Monday, July 1st, the WA DOR will go live with the implementation of the tax incentive credit. It will be a very simple process using their existing portal, similar to other tax credits already in place. The DOR team anticipates that the process may take up to 60 days from the submission of the application to DOR issuing the tax credit. I am also enclosing a sample of the notice that businesses will receive via a notification in their portal accounts once the credit is issued.

On our end, our program webpage will also be live on Monday, July 1st. There is a section on this page that will talk about the tax credit and provide links to DOR. DOR will also provide a link to our page. http://www.commerce.wa.gov/eop and http://www.commerce.wa.gov/eop-commission

DOR and Commerce will continue to work together in identifying technical assistance needs for businesses and collaborating on troubleshooting if and when unexpected gaps or questions arise.

Senate Bill 5096 also created a state Employee Ownership Program Commission to oversee the program. I’m honored to be a member of this commission. Other commission members include Joey Nestegard of Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories. The EOP Commission’s next meeting is July 22.  

A full-time Legislature? No thanks.

An empty Senate chamber.

The Spokesman-Review last week published an excellent guest editorial by former state legislator Mark Harmsworth that is worth a read. Harmsworth, now with the Washington Policy Center, focused on a recent poll by the left-leaning Northwest Progressive Institute that claimed 59% of likely voters favor seeing Washington’s Legislature meet year-round. As all of you know, under the state constitution our Legislature meets for 105-day sessions in odd-numbered years and for 60-day sessions in even-numbered years, with the option of meeting in special session if necessary.

What the NPI poll failed to point out is the much higher cost that would be associated with a full-time, year-round Legislature.

Harmsworth’s opinion piece noted that on average, the cost to taxpayers for each of our part-time Washington legislators amount to $112,000 annually when salary, per-diem, medical/dental and pension benefits are included. That works out at $123 per hour based on the 60-105 day sessions. Moving to a full-time Legislature could more than triple that salary.

As someone who has served a legislator for 28 years, I think it would be a huge mistake to change from a part-time Legislature to a year-round one. The ideal of “citizen legislators” has been part of Washington since its territorial days. It works, and needs to be preserved.

Article points out sea lions, birds and water temperatures as causes for salmon decline in Snake River

Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River between Clarkston and the Tri-Cities.

As some of you know, there was recent news that the state Department of Ecology and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation are conducting a study – the Lower Snake River Water Supply Replacement Study – on the potential impacts if Congress decided to breach Washington’s four Lower Snake River dams between Clarkston and the Tri-Cities. DOE and the Bureau of Reclamation held two virtual meetings last week to talk about the study and the dams.  

Considering that the Biden administration several months ago struck a secret deal with several tribes and other groups that oppose the Snake River dams, it’s doubtful that the administration will drop its interest in removing the four dams, which provide cheap and clean electric power to our region and offer other benefits, including barge transportation for wheat and other products and goods, irrigation, recreation and flood control.

Chelsea Martin, the government relations and communications coordinator for Modern Electric Water Company, recently wrote an extensive and informative piece about the dams on the Snake and Columbia rivers in which she focuses on the dams’ importance, as well as factors other than the dams that contribute to the decline of the salmon population in the Snake River. You can also read the story here.

“Even if we reach 100% dam passage rates, our most robust mitigation efforts could be totally upended if salmon can’t survive threats,” Chelsea wrote, listing the following as threats to salmon: 1) hostile oceanic conditions, 2) warming rivers, 3) sea lions, 4) 6PPD-quinone, PCBs and other toxic pollution, 5) predatory birds and 6) non-native predatory fish.

Democrats consider ‘retail delivery fee’

As if there aren’t already too many taxes and fees taking money out of our wallets or bank accounts – another fee is being floated.

According to a recent story by KIRO Radio in Seattle, the idea of a “retail delivery fee” was discussed at a joint legislative transportation committee meeting in Vancouver June 18. The proposed fee would apply to taxable retail items delivered by motor vehicles, including packages from Amazon and goods shipped by companies like UPS and FedEx. You can watch TVW’s coverage of the joint transportation committee meeting here.

This part of KIRO Radio’s story was especially noteworthy:

A study conducted by consulting firm CDM Smith examined the potential impact on consumers and businesses. It also analyzed the experiences of Colorado and Minnesota, the only two states with a retail delivery fee. In Colorado, the fee, enacted in 2022, charges 28 cents per delivery, generating $75.9 million in its first year. Minnesota’s fee, implemented in 2023, charges 50 cents for deliveries over $100, raising an estimated $59 million for cities and towns.

For Washington, the consultants evaluated various fee scenarios. If applied universally to all taxable items without exemptions, the fee could generate up to $112 million by 2026 and $160 million by 2030.

Alternatively, if the fee only applies to deliveries exceeding $75 and exempts retailers with less than $1 million in sales, the potential revenue drops to $49 million in 2026 and $70 million in 2030.

The Association of Washington Business and Washington Retail Association expressed concerns about a retail delivery fee, which they called a “doorstep tax.”

“The doorstep tax is a double tax on top of one of the most regressive and highest sales taxes in the country,” they wrote in a report about the proposed fee. “While we acknowledge the need for innovative solutions to address environmental and budget challenges, taxing deliveries is not the answer.”

If this possible fee was to come up for a Senate vote before I retire in early January, I would be a resounding “no.” 

Contact us!

If you have a question or concern about state government, please do not hesitate to contact our office. During the interim we are conducting business from our district office in Spokane Valley. We are here to serve you!

Phone: 509-921-2460

Email address: Mike.Padden@leg.wa.gov

PLEASE NOTE: Any email or documents you provide to this office may be subject to disclosure under RCW 42.56. If you would prefer to communicate by phone, please contact Sen. Padden’s Olympia office at (360) 786-7606.

To request public records from Sen. Padden, please contact Randi Stratton, the designated public records officer for the Secretary of the Senate and Senate members.

Sen. Padden’s office and Spokane Conservation District hosting pollinator-habitat workshop June 25 

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers June 18, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here.

Dear friends and neighbors,

Area landscapers, home builders and others who plant shrubs are invited to attend a free pollinator-habitat workshop on Tuesday, June 25, that the Spokane Conservation District and I are co-sponsoring. 

The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the Spokane Conservation District headquarters at 4422 E. 8th Ave. In the Spokane Valley. 

People interested in attending are asked to RSVP. For that or additional information, contact my district office at 509-921-2460. 

Here is the program for the pollinator habitat workshop on June 25. 

This workshop allows landscapers, builders and city officials to hear about ways to install pollinator habitats in new home developments. Pollinators, including bees and butterflies, play a very important role in the pollination of crops, contributing to the production of fruits, vegetables and nuts. They play a vital role in sustaining agriculture. We hope the workshop will help landscapers and others to learn ways to protect and enhance pollinators in our region, which is very important to both agriculture and the environment. 

“Pollinator-friendly spaces in urban landscapes offer tremendous benefits,” said Spokane Conservation District Director Vicki Carter. “Not only do they contribute to the beauty of our communities, but they serve as educational platforms creating an awareness about the crucial role pollinators play in sustaining our ecosystems by preserving biodiversity and reducing resource-intensive practices.” 

Guest speakers will include Katie Buckley of the state Department of Agriculture, Beth Mort of Zinnia Designs, Aubrey Hoxie of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Services and Kristen Zimmer from the city of Spokane. 

During its 2024 session, the Legislature approved Senate Bill 5934, a bipartisan measure I introduced that aims to promote the use of pollinator-friendly shrubs or bushes in landscaping. The idea for the pollinator-habitat legislation came from Mount Spokane High School senior and Girl Scout Julia Costello, who requested that I sponsor the bill as part of a requirement for her to earn the Gold Award, which is the Girl Scout equivalent to earning the Eagle Scout as a Boy Scout. SB 5934 was signed on March 28 by Governor Inslee, with Julia and her parents in attendance. Julia will attend the workshop. 

Under the proposal, a local government may encourage applicants for project or commercial-building permits to include pollinator-friendly plants in any landscaped area, and it may provide pertinent information about such plants.   

If you have questions about how to participate in state government this year or thoughts to share on anything in this e-newsletter, please give me a call or send me an email. 

Thank you, as always, for the honor of representing you in Olympia!

Best Regards,

Senator Mike Padden

Police-pursuit initiative takes effect, should help reduce traffic deaths 

Nearly two weeks ago, Initiative 2113, which restores police pursuits in Washington, went into effect June 6th. This initiative, which was approved by the Legislature last March, should result in fewer traffic deaths in the state. 

Washington state is experiencing an increase in fatal and serious-injury crashes on our roads and highways that is shocking and heartbreaking. I-2113 will help officers apprehend dangerous drivers and make our roads and highways safer.  

A recent Washington Traffic Safety Commission report revealed the state has reached a 33-year high for traffic fatalities. The report showed 810 people were killed in crashes involving a motor vehicle last year, an increase from 743 killed in 2022.  

Of these 810 traffic deaths, nearly half (400) involved a drug- or alcohol-impaired driver, while 251 involved excessive speed, 171 involved not wearing a seatbelt or other restraint, and 135 involved a distracted driver.  

There are several factors that have resulted in the high number of traffic fatalities in recent years, but a key one has been the inability for officers to pursue vehicles in many situations. With I-2113 in effect, officers can pursue drivers in more instances and remove them from our highways. 

I-2113 should help reverse the growing crime problem in Washington. Crime is a great concern for citizens and communities throughout our state. In fact, we have reached a crisis point in our state because of skyrocketing crime. 

After the Legislature passed laws a few years ago that restricted law-enforcement officers from pursuing suspects, criminals became more emboldened. They have acted in a more brazen manner as they commit crimes. The result has been a sharp increase in auto theft, retail theft, burglary and other property crimes. Making matters worse, many auto thieves have used their stolen vehicles to smash into ‘pot shops’ to steal cash, or they use these cars as battering rams to break into other stores to steal merchandise.     

With Initiative 2113 now in effect, law-enforcement officers again are able to pursue suspects instead of watching them drive away. 

The Washington State Patrol recorded nearly 8,000 incidents of drivers refusing to stop for troopers in the years after a controversial 2021 state law restricted police officers from chasing suspects.  

Sen. Padden receives award at “Energy Summit” 

Modern Electric Water Company’s Chelsea Martin presented me with the company’s Statesmanship Legacy Award June 4. 

On June 4, I was honored and humbled to receive an award while attending the Washington Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Energy Summit in Coeur d’Alene. 

Chelsea Martin, the government affairs manager for Modern Electric Water Company, presented me with the company’s Statesmanship Legacy Award “in recognition of his 28-year tenure in the Washington State Legislature.” 

In it’s news release about the award, Modern Electric CEO Joe Morgan said, “Senator Mike Padden’s unwavering dedication and tireless advocacy for the people of Spokane Valley and the state of Washington have left an indelible mark on our community.” 

Thanks to Modern Electric for this special award!  

Little progress made on retail theft 

Capitol Lake with the Legislative Building in the background. 

One of the most serious crime problems in our state, as well as America, is organized retail theft, which hurts businesses, workers and consumers in Washington. 

The Washington Retail Association last year said theft costs businesses $2.7 billion a year statewide. 

Earlier this month, the (Vancouver) Columbian published an editorial that focused on organized retail theft and the state’s efforts to combat it. Two years ago, the state Organized Retail Crime Theft Task Force was created. So far, the task force has announced only one prosecution – last November. One can only hope this task force will produce more prosecutions than just one. 

Organized retail theft is an issue that has been on the Legislature’s radar screen, but Democrats have refused to pass Senate Republican bills to address it, including my Senate Bill 5056, which would have allowed a court discretion to sentence a person found beyond a reasonable doubt to be a habitual property offender to an additional 24 months for a Class B felony, and an additional 12 months for a Class C felony. The Senate this year passed it 38-10, but the House refused to give it a vote. 

Another Republican measure that was not passed by the Legislature this year was Senate Bill 5160, prime-sponsored by 15th District Senator Nikki Torres, R-Pasco. Under Senate Bill 5160, a person would be guilty of second-degree organized retail theft for stealing property with a cumulative value of at least $750 with two or more accomplices who enter the store within five minutes of one another. 

The Legislature next year needs to take stronger steps to stop organized retail theft in our state. 

New 4th District Government Guide still available at many locations 

As mentioned before, there is a new 4th District Government Guide for districts residents to use. The free guide includes names and contact information for officials at the federal, statewide, legislative and local government levels. It also provides other helpful information. If you would like to have a copy of the new government guide mailed to you, please call my legislative assistant, Annalise Hemingway, at 509-921-2460 or email her at annalise.hemingway@leg.wa.gov. 

There also are copies of the updated government guide at these locations: 

  • Millwood City Hall (9103 E Frederick Ave., Spokane) 
  • Argonne Library (4322 N Argonne Road, Spokane) 
  • Spokane Valley City Hall (10210 E Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley) 
  • Spokane Valley Library (22 N. Herald Road, Spokane Valley) 
  • Liberty Lake City Hall (22710 E Country Vista Drive, Liberty Lake) 
  • Liberty Lake Library (23123 E Mission Ave., Liberty Lake) 
  • Otis Orchards Library (22324 E Wellesley Ave., Otis Orchards) 
  • Spokane Valley Senior Center (2426 N Discovery Place, Spokane Valley) 

Radio interview with Lars Larson

Last Tuesday, I did a live interview with Portland-based radio talk-show host Lars Larson, whose show is carried by many stations throughout the Northwest. We discussed two of the initiatives passed by the Legislature earlier this year – police pursuits and parental rights – and what the Legislature has and hasn’t done in addressing the fentanyl crisis. You can listen to the interview here.  

Local school district faces menu limits, thanks to the state 

Last week, The Center Square ran a story that should make many Valley residents take notice. The article was about how the Central Valley School District might raise the price of its breakfast and lunch options for the upcoming school year. 

This part of the article explains the state’s role in the potential cost increase for meals for students in the school district: 

The district’s Nutrition Services program relies on meal revenue and funding from state and federal programs to support itself, including the Community Eligibility Provision, or CEP, implemented last school year to provide free meals to qualifying students and schools.  

Groh said CVSD currently uses CEP to provide free meals to all students at 13 of its 27 schools and program sites, with one more location expected to join next year. However, the downside is that CEP limits the district’s ability to generate additional revenue through raising meal prices.   

Upon the end of the school year, CVSD estimates it will have served approximately 350,000 breakfasts and 1,012,383 lunches, including the meals of qualifying CEP students and schools and those who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals through other programs. 

The Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction estimates that CEP alone will cost taxpayers approximately $71 million annually for the over 575,000 students who qualify.  

A special anniversary 

In the area just outside my Olympia legislative office, I have several quotes by former President Ronald Reagan on the walls. Visitors to my office often paused to look at them before entering my office to chat with me about legislative matters. Last Wednesday marked the 37th anniversary of one of Reagan’s more famous quotes, which came from a speech he delivered at the Berlin Wall on June 12, 1987, during the period when Berlin was divided, and the east side of the city was walled off by the Communists: “Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” As older readers will remember, Mr. Gorbachev was then-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. 

Former President Reagan had a unique ability to eloquently and forcefully communicate his message. 

Contact us!

If you have a question or concern about state government, please do not hesitate to contact our office. During the interim we are conducting business from our district office in Spokane Valley. We are here to serve you!

Phone: 509-921-2460

Email address: Mike.Padden@leg.wa.gov

PLEASE NOTE: Any email or documents you provide to this office may be subject to disclosure under RCW 42.56. If you would prefer to communicate by phone, please contact Sen. Padden’s Olympia office at (360) 786-7606.

To request public records from Sen. Padden, please contact Randi Stratton, the designated public records officer for the Secretary of the Senate and Senate members.

Sen. Padden’s office and Spokane Conservation District hosting pollinator-habitat workshop June 25

Area landscapers and other businesses or people who plant shrubs are invited to attend a free pollinator-habitat workshop on Tuesday, June 25, sponsored by 4th District state Sen. Mike Padden and the Spokane Conservation District.

The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the Spokane Conservation District headquarters at 4422 E. 8th Ave. in Spokane Valley.

People interested in attending are asked to RSVP. For that or more information, contact Padden’s district office at 509-921-2460.

“Pollinator-friendly spaces in urban landscapes offer tremendous benefits,” said Spokane Conservation District Director Vicki Carter. “Not only do they contribute to the beauty of our communities, but they serve as educational platforms creating an awareness about the crucial role pollinators play in sustaining our ecosystems by preserving biodiversity and reducing resource-intensive practices.”

“This workshop allows landscapers, builders and city officials to hear about ways to install pollinator habitats in new home developments, said Padden, R-Spokane Valley. “Pollinators, including bees and butterflies, play a very important role in the pollination of crops, contributing to the production of fruits, vegetables and nuts. They play a vital role in sustaining agriculture. We hope the workshop will help landscapers and others to learn ways to protect and enhance pollinators in our region, which is very important to both agriculture and the environment.”

Guest speakers will include Katie Buckley of the state Department of Agriculture, Beth Mort of Zinnia Designs, Aubrey Hoxie of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Services and Kristen Zimmer from the city of Spokane.

During its 2024 session, the Legislature approved Senate Bill 5934, a bipartisan measure introduced by Padden that aims to promote the use of pollinator-friendly shrubs or bushes in landscaping. The idea for the pollinator-habitat legislation came from Mount Spokane High School senior and Girl Scout Julia Costello, who asked Padden to sponsor the bill as part of a requirement for her to earn the Gold Award, which is equivalent to earning the Eagle Scout as a Boy Scout. SB 5934 was signed on March 28 by Gov. Jay Inslee, with Costello and her parents in attendance.

Under the proposal, a local government may encourage applicants for project or commercial-building permits to include pollinator-friendly plants in any landscaped area, and it may provide pertinent information about such plants.

Padden bill requested by Girl Scout to help pollinators signed by Inslee

What began as a Mount Spokane High School student working to earn a major Girl Scout award is now a new state law, signed today by Gov. Jay Inslee, that will help bees and other pollinators.

Senate Bill 5934 is a bipartisan measure introduced by 4th District Sen. Mike Padden that aims to promote the use of pollinator-friendly shrubs or bushes in landscaping.

“Pollinators, including bees and butterflies, play a very important role in the pollination of crops, contributing to the production of fruits, vegetables and nuts,” said Padden, noting that 75% of the world’s food supply depends on pollinators. “They play a vital role in sustaining agriculture.  Taking steps to protect and enhance pollinators is very important to both agriculture and the environment.”

Padden credits Mount Spokane High School senior and Girl Scout Julia Costello for asking him to sponsor the pollinator bill. Costello was in attendance when Inslee signed SB 5934 during a bill-signing ceremony in Kent.

“Julia is trying to finish requirements to earn the Gold Award, which is equivalent to earning the Eagle Scout award as a Boy Scout,” said Padden, R-Spokane Valley. “One of Julia’s Gold Award requirements is working with a legislator on sponsoring a bill, which is why she reached to me last fall about this bill. Julia made a strong case why improving pollinators’ habitat is important and beneficial. It has been an honor working with her on this bill. I’m pleased the governor has signed her bill.”

Costello’s testimony in favor of the bill during its public hearing before the House Local Government Committee last month can be viewed here.

Spokane Conservation District Director Vicki Carter sent a letter to Padden in January in support of the proposal. Part of Carter’s letter reads: “Pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and other insects, play a fundamental role in the pollination of crops, contributing to the production of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Their vital role in sustaining agriculture cannot be overstated, as approximately 75% of the world’s food crops depend on pollinators for successful reproduction. Therefore, taking steps to protect and enhance pollinator populations is essential for ensuring food security and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.”

Under the proposal, a local government may encourage but need not require applicants for project or commercial-building permits to include pollinator-friendly plants in any landscaped area.

(CAPTION: Gov. Inslee shakes hands with Julia Costello after signing Senate Bill 5934, a measure that Costello asked Sen. Mike Padden to sponsor.)

Legislature approves initiative restoring police pursuits, plus 2 other initiatives

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers March 7, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here.

Dear friends and neighbors,

This year’s 60-day legislative session is on track to end later today. During the past two days, the Legislature approved final versions of the state supplemental operating, capital and transportation budgets. These spending plans make adjustments to the original two-year budgets enacted by the Legislature last spring. There is more information about the three budgets later in this e-newsletter.

Last Monday, a very historic event happened when the Legislature passed three initiatives that were sent to us in January.

I-2113 – restoring police pursuits

The Senate voted 36-13 to pass Initiative 2113, which would fully restore the ability of Washington police officers to engage in vehicular pursuits. The House then approved it 77-20.

I-2113 is a major step toward making Washington communities safer and reversing the growing crime problem in Washington.

Among the many problems plaguing Washington now, crime is perhaps the greatest concern for citizens and communities. In fact, our state has reached a crisis point because of skyrocketing crime.

Thanks to state laws like the one passed by majority Democrats in 2021 that placed tight limits on when law-enforcement officers can engage in vehicle pursuits of suspects, criminals have become more emboldened. They are acting in a more brazen manner as they commit crimes. The result is many people throughout Washington have been victims of auto theft, retail theft, burglary and other property crimes. Making matters worse, many auto thieves use the stolen vehicles to smash into “pot shops” to steal cash, or use these cars as battering rams to break into other stores to steal merchandise.

Fortunately, once I-2113 goes into effect on June 6, law-enforcement officers will once again be able to pursue suspects instead of helplessly watching them drive away.

According to the Washington State Patrol, between 2014 and 2020 an average of 1,200 suspects per year fled from police. In 2022, after the pursuit standard was changed to probable cause, 3,100 suspects fled — an increase of more than 150%. Before the change in the pursuit law, the statewide record for stolen cars in a single year was 30,000. That record increased to nearly 47,000 stolen vehicles in 2022. Washington is now fourth in the U.S. for auto thefts per capita.

As I noted during my floor speech in favor of this initiative, it’s not only the owner of the vehicle that suffers, it’s the victims of all the crimes that are committed with these stolen vehicles. Some of these crimes have led to the deaths of our citizens.

Many sheriffs and police chiefs throughout Washington have voiced their frustration about the tighter pursuit restrictions, to little avail. Although the Legislature last year passed a law restoring some ability for law-enforcement officers to pursue suspects, it was still far short of the pre-2021 police-pursuit policy. It is good to see that the state’s police pursuit law will return to where it was thanks to I-2113.

Several articles were published by Spokane-area media outlets about the Legislature passing I-2113, including stories by the Washington State Standard/Spokane Radio, KXLY-TV , KHQ-TV and Seattle-based Crosscut.

The other two initiatives that were approved by the Legislature on Monday are:

  • Initiative 2081, which would give parents the right to review K-12 instructional materials and require parental notification of school-provided medical services. It was passed by the Senate 49-0. The House later approved it 82-15.
  • Initiative 2111, which would ban any state or local income tax in Washington. The Senate approved I-2111 on a 38-11 vote. The House then passed it 76-21.

I voted for all three measures. As is the case with I-2113, Initiative 2081 and Initiative 2111 will go into effect June 6.

If you have questions about how to participate in state government this year or thoughts to share on anything in this e-newsletter, please give me a call or send me an email.

Thank you, as always, for the honor of representing you in Olympia!

Best Regards,

Senator Mike Padden

Legislature takes no action on three other initiatives

The Olympics appear to the north during a recent sunny morning at the Capitol.

The other three initiatives sent to the Legislature this session will not be passed by the Legislature before we adjourn and go home. They are:

  • I-2109, which would repeal the state capital-gains income tax that was passed by the Democrat-controlled Legislature in 2021.
  • I-2117, which would repeal the state’s costly climate policy that was enacted by majority Democrats in 2021 and took full effect early last year.
  • I-2124 , which would allow individuals to opt out of the mandatory payroll tax for the state-run long-term care program called “WA Cares.”

These three initiatives did not even receive public hearings this session, which was very disappointing. Had they reached the Senate floor for votes, I would have voted for each of them.

Since the Legislature did not pass these three initiatives this session, they automatically will be placed on the statewide ballot this fall for Washington voters to decide.

4th District projects funded in supplemental capital budget

The Legislature on Wednesday unanimously approved the compromise version of this year’s supplemental state capital budget. As was the case with the Senate version of the capital budget, this final version includes funding for several projects in the 4th District:

  • $975,000 to help with the recovery from last summer’s Oregon Road wildfire near the community of Elk, as well as the Gray fire near Medical Lake. The wildfire-recovery effort will be administered by the Spokane Conservation District.
  • $4.8 million to replace the boiler at the Kaiser Aluminum plant in Spokane Valley. This is about meeting state emission requirements, so this funding is a huge plus for Kaiser and its over 1,100 workers. Kaiser is matching the capital budget funds.
  • $2 million for Seven Nations Healing Lodge youth expansion.
  • $1 million for Broadway Senior Housing.
  • $300,000 in phase two funding for Spokane Scale House Market in Spokane Valley. The 2023-25 budget included $750,000 for Spokane Scale House Market, located at Spokane Conservation District.
  • $258,000 for a playground at The Intersection Preschool and Childcare on North McDonald Road.
  • $150,000 for the city of Spokane Valley Cross Country Course.
  • $32,000 for the West Valley Centennial Middle School baseball field’s fences and dugout.

It’s good to see taxpayers’ money coming back as investments in local projects.

Supplemental transportation budget includes 4th District projects

Earlier today, the Legislature passed this year’s state supplemental transportation budget. I voted for this budget, as it provides funding for several projects in the 4th District, including:

  • $24 million for improvements to Interstate 90 improvements to interchanges and nearby roads.
  • $10.4 million for Spokane Transit Authority’s Argonne Station park-and-ride.
  • $10.348 million for corridor design work on an Interstate 90 project between Sullivan Road and the Idaho state line.
  • $6 million for the Barker Road/Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad grade separation project.
  • $6 million for the Bigelow Gulch/Forker Road realignment project.
  • $5.8 million for the Millwood Trail project from Spokane Community College to Fancher Road. The overall plan is to eventually connect this new trail with the trail that starts just north of the West Valley High School sports fields in Millwood and then to the Centennial Trail.

Supplemental operating budget funds training for corrections officers

The Legislature today also approved the state supplemental operating budget. It provides funding to expand the state Corrections Academy so it can add additional classes. I’m working with state officials so that part of that funding can go to the new Spokane County Sheriff Regional Training Center, near Fairchild Air Force Base.

Legislature keeps Padden policy in bill passed to combat impaired driving

At a time when traffic deaths in Washington have reached their highest point in over 30 years, the Legislature took a major step toward addressing this serious problem last night by passing House Bill 1493, a measure that would combat impaired driving.

The passage of this bill is a major step toward making our roads and highways safer. It includes provisions that will keep more repeat impaired drivers off the road.   

HB 1493 includes policy that I have proposed the past four years. An amendment approved by the Senate last week added language from Senate Bill 5032, a measure that I introduced that would expand the period for reviewing prior convictions of impaired driving to 15 years, from the 10 years now in state law, when determining whether a new offense of impaired driving is charged as a felony.

The policy language from SB 5032 that is now part of HB 1493 also would increase the penalty to a felony offense, rather than a gross misdemeanor, for any person who has three or more prior DUI offenses within that “lookback” period.

Washington has seen a significant increase in traffic deaths over the past few years. Drunken driving and drug-impaired driving, especially by repeat offenders, are two leading causes. House Bill 1493 will help remove the most dangerous drivers from our roads and highways and get them into treatment or they will be held accountable by the state criminal justice system. This bill provides good balance, as it is strong on treatment while also being strong on accountability.

Many traffic fatalities in the state involve drivers who have had as many as eight DUI offenses, but the current 10-year lookback period is not long enough to allow the state to impose stronger punishment against such offenders.

According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, there were 740 traffic deaths in the state in 2022 (the highest in over 30 years), including 389 fatalities involving drug- or alcohol-impaired driving. There were 674 traffic deaths in 2021, including 345 fatalities involving impaired driving. In 2020, Washington had 574 traffic fatalities, including 282 involving impaired driving.

The final version of the impaired driving measure, HB 1493, was passed last night by the House on a 69-27 vote. The Senate approved it 49-0 on February 29. It now goes to Governor Jay Inslee for final consideration.

Legislature OKs pollinator bill requested by Mount Spokane HS student

Last fall, Mount Spokane High School student Julia Costello approached me about helping her with part of her pollinator project, which she has been doing to earn a major Girl Scout award.

What began as her request became Senate Bill 5934, a bipartisan measure to promote the use of pollinator-friendly shrubs or bushes in landscaping. It was passed by the Legislature this week and now goes to the governor for final consideration.

Pollinators, including bees and butterflies, play a very important role in the pollination of crops, contributing to the production of fruits, vegetables and nuts. Seventy-five percent of the world’s food supply depends on pollinators. They play a vital role in sustaining agriculture.  Taking steps to protect and enhance pollinators is very important to both agriculture and the environment.

It was an honor to work with Julia on this bill and to help her as she works to finish requirements to earn the Gold Award, which is equivalent to earning the Eagle Scout award as a Boy Scout. One of Julia’s Gold Award requirements is working with a legislator on sponsoring a bill. Julia made a strong case why improving pollinators’ habitat is important and beneficial.  I’m pleased the Legislature has passed her bill.

Julia’s testimony in favor of the bill during its public hearing before the House Local Government Committee last month can be viewed here.  

Spokane Conservation District Director Vicki Carter sent a letter to Padden in January in support of the proposal. Part of Carter’s letter reads: “Pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and other insects, play a fundamental role in the pollination of crops, contributing to the production of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Their vital role in sustaining agriculture cannot be overstated, as approximately 75% of the world’s food crops depend on pollinators for successful reproduction. Therefore, taking steps to protect and enhance pollinator populations is essential for ensuring food security and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.”

Under the bill, a local government may encourage but need not require applicants for project or commercial-building permits to include pollinator-friendly plants in any landscaped area. 

Legislature OKs second Padden bill removing red tape from construction of smaller condominiums

For the second year in a row, the Legislature has unanimously approved a bill of mine that helps encourage home ownership in Washington by making it easier to construct smaller condominium buildings. It now goes to the governor.

Senate Bill 5792 would exclude buildings with 12 or fewer units that are no more than three stories high from the definition of “multiunit residential building” if one story is utilized for above- or below-ground parking or retail space.

This bill builds on last year’s efforts to have more housing options for Washington’s middle class. The law created last year by Senate Bill 5058 exempts buildings with 12 or fewer units that are no more than two stories high from the definition of “multiunit residential building.”

When SB 5792 received a public hearing in the House Housing Committee last month, Spokane Valley Mayor Pam Haley and an official with the Building Industry Association of Washington testified in favor of it. During its public hearing in the Senate Law and Justice Committee early this session, Spokane City Council President Betsy Wilkerson and Spokane Valley City Council Deputy Mayor Rod Higgins testified in support of the bill.

Condominiums provide an affordable path to homeownership for first-time homebuyers. The combination of SB 5058 and this year’s new bill should result in more homeownership in our state. Washington has one of the lower homeownership rates in the nation, and both SB 5792 and last year’s condo-building law can help our state address this problem. These smaller condominiums would still have the same building requirements that a townhouse or single-family house would have. 

Farewell to ‘Team Padden’ this year

A big thank-you goes to my Senate office staff this session for all of its terrific work, especially in responding to constituents’ emails and phone calls. Earlier this week, we gathered at my Senate floor desk for a group photo. From left to right are legislative assistant Annalise Hemingway, session assistant Ethan Mettlin and session intern Vandee Pannkuk. Annalise will continue as my legislative assistant and will work in our 4th District office during the interim months.  

Starting Wednesday, March 13, we will be back in the district office. The phone number is 509-921-2460. The office address is 5105 E. Third Ave., Ste. 102, Spokane Valley, WA 99212.  

Contact us!

If you have a question or concern about state government, please do not hesitate to contact our office. During the session we are conducting business from our Senate office in Olympia. We are here to serve you!

Phone: (360) 786-7606

Olympia Office: 215 Legislative Modular Building, Olympia, WA 98504-0404

Email address: Mike.Padden@leg.wa.gov

PLEASE NOTE: Any email or documents you provide to this office may be subject to disclosure under RCW 42.56. If you would prefer to communicate by phone, please contact Sen. Padden’s Olympia office at (360) 786-7606.

To request public records from Sen. Padden, please contact Randi Stratton, the designated public records officer for the Secretary of the Senate and Senate members.

Padden bill requested by Girl Scout to help pollinators passed by Legislature

Last fall, a Mount Spokane High School student working to earn a major Girl Scout award approached 4th District Sen. Mike Padden to help with part of her pollinator project.

Several months later, what began as a request is now a bill to help bees and pollinators that has been approved by the Legislature.

The Senate today voted 49-0 to concur or agree with the House of Representatives’ amendments to Senate Bill 5934, a bipartisan measure introduced by Padden that aims to promote the use of pollinator-friendly shrubs or bushes in landscaping. The proposal now goes to Gov. Jay Inslee for final consideration.

“Pollinators, including bees and butterflies, play a very important role in the pollination of crops, contributing to the production of fruits, vegetables and nuts,” said Padden, noting that 75% of the world’s food supply depends on pollinators. “They play a vital role in sustaining agriculture.  Taking steps to protect and enhance pollinators is very important to both agriculture and the environment.”

Padden credits Mount Spokane High School senior Julia Costello for asking him to sponsor the pollinator bill.

“Julia is a Girl Scout working to finish requirements to earn the Gold Award, which is equivalent to earning the Eagle Scout award as a Boy Scout,” said Padden. “One of Julia’s Gold Award requirements is working with a legislator on sponsoring a bill. Julia made a strong case why improving pollinators’ habitat is important and beneficial. It has been an honor and pleasure working with her on this bill. I’m pleased the Legislature has passed her bill.”

Costello’s testimony in favor of the bill during its public hearing before the House Local Government Committee last month can be viewed here.

Spokane Conservation District Director Vicki Carter sent a letter to Padden in January in support of the proposal. Part of Carter’s letter reads: “Pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and other insects, play a fundamental role in the pollination of crops, contributing to the production of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Their vital role in sustaining agriculture cannot be overstated, as approximately 75% of the world’s food crops depend on pollinators for successful reproduction. Therefore, taking steps to protect and enhance pollinator populations is essential for ensuring food security and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.”

Under the proposal, a local government may encourage but need not require applicants for project or commercial-building permits to include pollinator-friendly plants in any landscaped area.

(CAPTION: Mount Spokane High School student Julia Costello testifies in favor of Senate Bill 5934 earlier this legislative session.)

Three initiatives to Legislature to receive hearings next week

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers February 22, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here.

Dear friends and neighbors,

After weeks of no action on any of the six initiatives sent to the Legislature early this session, Senate Democratic Leader Andy Billig of Spokane and House Speaker Laurie Jinkins announced last Friday that the Senate and House finally would schedule public hearings on three of the measures.

These three initiatives will receive public hearings next week:

  • Initiative 2111, which would ban any state or local government in Washington from imposing an income tax, will receive a public hearing in House Hearing Room A in the John L. O’Brien Building next Tuesday, February 27, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
  • Initiative 2081, which would give parents the right to review K-12 instructional materials and require parental notification of school-provided medical services, will be heard in House Hearing Room A in the John L. O’Brien Building next Wednesday, February 28, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
  • Initiative 2113, which would restore police pursuits, will receive a hearing Wednesday, February 28, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. in Senate Hearing Room 4 of the John A. Cherberg Building.

If you want to testify on any or all of the initiatives, either live or in written form, go here for more information about the process. Or you can use the links below:

Click here to sign in about Initiative 2111 (ban on income taxes in Washington).

Click here to sign in about Initiative 2081 (parental rights concerning their children’s education).

Click here to sign in about Initiative 2113 (restore police pursuits).

A Senate committee room in the John A. Cherberg Building. 

TVW’s viewing schedule for next week has not been released, but it is likely that TVW will televise all three hearings, either live or delayed. Go to TVW’s website to watch any or all of these important hearings online.

All three initiatives reportedly will be passed on Friday, March 1, by the legislative committees to which they were referred.

Democratic leaders said the other three initiatives sent to the Legislature this session will not receive public hearings, meaning they automatically go on the statewide ballot this November for Washington voters to decide. Those are:

  • I-2117 would repeal the state’s costly climate policy, called “cap-and-trade” by some but “cap-and-tax” or “cap-and-gouge,” by opponents who note this law has caused gas prices to rise substantially. The climate policy became state law in 2021 and took full effect early last year. It is now in the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee.
  • I-2109 would repeal the state capital-gains income tax that was passed by the Democrat-controlled Legislature in 2021. It is now in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
  • I-2124 would allow people to opt out of the mandatory payroll tax for the state-run long-term care program. It is before the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee.

It’s very disappointing that our Democrat colleagues are waiting this long to consider measures literally sponsored by “the people of Washington.”. The petitions in support of these six measures each received more than 400,000 signatures and collectively over 2.6 million signatures in 2023. It’s especially disappointing that the other three initiatives won’t receive hearings at all.

Legislators have three options with initiatives to the Legislature: 1) adopt the initiative as written, in which case it becomes law; 2) refuse to pass it, which would result in the measure automatically being placed on the statewide ballot next fall; 3) propose and approve an alternative initiative, in which case both the original initiative and the alternative would both appear together on the fall statewide ballot.

If you have questions about how to participate in state government this year or thoughts to share on anything in this e-newsletter, please give me a call or send me an email.

Thank you, as always, for the honor of representing you in Olympia!

Best Regards,

Senator Mike Padden

Senate capital budget includes 4th District projects

With the end of this year’s legislative session 14 days away, the Legislature is in the midst of a very important and anticipated time – “budget week.”

This is the week when the Senate released its 2024 state supplemental operating, capital and transportation budgets.

The Senate’s capital budget plan actually was released last Thursday and passed by the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Monday. It was approved by the full Senate 49-0 today.

The Senate’s supplemental capital budget plan, Senate Bill 5949, funds the construction and maintenance of state buildings, public-school matching grants, higher-education facilities, public lands, parks and other assets.

The Senate capital budget includes funding for some key projects in the 4th Legislative District.

There is $975,000 to help with the recovery from last summer’s Oregon Road wildfire near the community of Elk, as well as the Gray fire near Medical Lake. The wildfire-recovery effort will be administered by the Spokane Conservation District.

There is also $4.8 million to replace the boiler at the Kaiser Aluminum plant in Spokane Valley. This is about meeting state emission requirements, so this funding is a big win for Kaiser and its over 1,100 workers. Kaiser is matching the capital budget funds.

Other 4th District projects in the budget include:

  • $118,000 in phase two funding for Spokane Scale House Market in Spokane Valley. The 2023-25 budget included $750,000 for Spokane Scale House Market, located at Spokane Conservation District.
  • $150,000 for the city of Spokane Valley Cross Country Course.
  • $32,000 for the West Valley Centennial Middle School baseball field’s fences and dugout.

It’s a good capital budget for the 4th District and for the state, and it’s good to see taxpayers’ money coming back to be invested in local projects.

Pollinator bill buzzes through House committee

Mount Spokane High School senior Julia Costello testified this week before a House committee in support of Senate Bill 5934, which would help bees and other pollinators. 

It was good to see that the House Local Government Committee yesterday passed Senate Bill 5934, a bipartisan measure that aims to promote the use of pollinator-friendly shrubs or bushes in landscaping.

Mount Spokane High School senior Julia Costello, who approached me this past fall about sponsoring the bill, came over to Olympia to testify in favor of the proposal during its public hearing before the House committee on Tuesday. You can watch Julia’s testimony here. Julia made a compelling case why improving pollinators’ habitat is beneficial.

Julia is a Girl Scout working to finish requirements to earn the Gold Award, which is equivalent to earning the Eagle Scout award as a Boy Scout. One of Julia’s Gold Award requirements is working with a legislator on sponsoring a bill. It has been an honor to work with Julia on this measure.

Also testifying in favor of SB 5934 earlier this week in the House was Spokane Conservation District Director Vicki Carter. You may watch her testimony here. In late January, Vicki sent this letter in support of SB 5934.

Under the bill, a local government may encourage but need not require applicants for project or commercial-building permits to include pollinator-friendly plants in any landscaped area.

Pollinators, including bees and butterflies, play a very important role in the pollination of crops, contributing to the production of fruits, vegetables and nuts. In fact, 75% of the world’s food supply depends on pollinators. Taking steps to protect and enhance pollinators is very important to the environment but also important to agriculture practices.

House Housing Committee passes two Padden bills

On Monday, the House Housing Committee passed two bills that I’ve introduced this year, including one that helps encourage home ownership in Washington by making it easier to construct smaller condominium buildings. Both proposals had previously passed the Senate this session. 

The panel approved Senate Bill 5792, which would exclude buildings with 12 or fewer units that are no more than three stories high from the definition of “multiunit residential building” if one story is utilized for above- or below-ground parking or retail space.

This bill builds on last year’s successful measure to have more housing options for Washington’s middle class. Condominiums provide an affordable path to homeownership for first-time homebuyers.   

When SB 5792 received a public hearing in the Housing Committee last week, Spokane Valley Mayor Pam Haley testified in favor of it, as did an official with the Building Industry Association of Washington. Earlier this session, Spokane City Council President Betsy Wilkerson testified in support of the bill.

The law created last year by Senate Bill 5058, which I also prime-sponsored, exempts buildings with 12 or fewer units that are no more than two stories high from the definition of “multiunit residential building.”

Washington has one of the lower homeownership rates in the nation, and both last year’s new law and this year’s bill can help our state address this problem. These smaller condominiums would still have the same building requirements that a townhouse or single-family house would have.

My other proposal approved by the Housing Committee is Senate Bill 5840, which would simplify the process of leasing property – a change requested by the Real Property section of the Washington State Bar Association to bring Washington in line with other states.

Washington is the rare state that requires commercial leases that are over a year to be acknowledged before a notary. Many legal documents do not need to be notarized. By eliminating the notary, these transactions will be a little easier.

Both SB 5792 and SB 5840 now go to the House Rules Committee, the final hurdle before bills reach the House floor for a full House vote.

Children’s Day in the Senate

Senator Padden’s granddaughter, Annie Kay Padden, sits at her grandpa’s desk on the Senate floor during Children’s Day in the Senate Monday. The senator’s son, Justin, and Justin’s wife, Whitney, brought Annie Kay to Olympia earlier this week. 

Two Senate pages sponsored this week

Senator Padden with Senate page Evangeline Morgan.

I’ve had the privilege of sponsoring two Spokane-area students who are serving as Senate pages this week.

One of them is Evangeline Morgan, a sophomore at St. Michael’s Academy. She is the daughter of Joe and Missy Morgan of Mead.  

The other page is Parker Ebel, a sophomore at Gonzaga Prep. Parker is the son of Erich and Kelly Ebel of Spokane. 

The Senate Page Program is an opportunity for Washington students to spend a week working in the Legislature. Students are responsible for transporting documents between offices, as well as delivering messages and mail. Pages spend time in the Senate chamber and attend page school to learn about parliamentary procedure and the legislative process. Students also draft their own bills and engage in a mock committee.

Thanks to Evangeline and Parker for doing such a good job as pages this week!

Senate page Parker Ebel sitting at Senator Padden’s floor desk.

Snake River dams continue to be key issue

Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River near Clarkston.

In recent years, the future of the four dams on the lower Snake River dam in southeast Washington has become a very controversial issue, with dam opponents, including Governor Inslee, pushing for their removal. Meanwhile, many people throughout eastern Washington have argued the dams should stay in place for several reasons, including the abundant clean hydropower they provide, as well as transportation for wheat barges and other vessels, recreation, irrigation and flood control.

All of my fellow Republicans in the Senate and I support the four Snake River dams and want them to remain. We recently sent this letter to U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers in support of the dams.  

This issue is not only important in Olympia but also in communities throughout our side of the Cascades. Earlier this week, the Spokane Valley City Council heard a presentation on preserving the lower Snake River dams. The presentation was by Chelsea Martin of Spokane Valley’s Modern Electric Water Company and Dan Wilson, past president of Local 338 of the Steelworkers Union. You may watch a video of their presentation here. 

Contact us!

If you have a question or concern about state government, please do not hesitate to contact our office. During the session we are conducting business from our Senate office in Olympia. We are here to serve you!

Phone: (360) 786-7606

Olympia Office: 215 Legislative Modular Building, Olympia, WA 98504-0404

Email address: Mike.Padden@leg.wa.gov

PLEASE NOTE: Any email or documents you provide to this office may be subject to disclosure under RCW 42.56. If you would prefer to communicate by phone, please contact Sen. Padden’s Olympia office at (360) 786-7606.

To request public records from Sen. Padden, please contact Randi Stratton, the designated public records officer for the Secretary of the Senate and Senate members.

 

Public pressure helps kill bill raising property tax cap

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers February 15, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here.

Dear friends and neighbors,

A key deadline has been reached as the 2024 legislative session enters its final three weeks.

Tuesday was “Senate floor cutoff,” the last day for the Senate to vote on bills that originated in our chamber. Bills that are considered necessary to implement the upcoming state supplemental operating, capital and transportation budgets are exempt from it, meaning we may consider them anytime before the Legislature adjourns March 7.

Now the session shifts into its next phase, in which the Senate is again devoting much of its time to committee meetings, and public hearings on bills passed by the House prior to its own floor cutoff.

Many bills, both good and bad, “die” when floor cutoff arrives due to a lack of support. Those that died include what many Republicans viewed as the worst bill of this session: Senate Bill 5770, which would have tripled the allowable growth rate of annual property taxes collected by local governments in Washington.

Cities, counties and other local governments currently may collect an additional 1% annually in property tax without having to seek voter approval. This limit was set by the voters in 2001’s Initiative 747 and confirmed by the Legislature in 2007, after I-747 was invalidated by the state Supreme Court. SB 5770 would have raised the annual cap from 1% to 3%. The most recent estimate provided by our budget and tax policy expert was that SB 5770 would cost Washington taxpayers $6 billion over 12 years and would compound from there.

The Legislative Building rotunda.

When SB 5770 received a public hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee a few weeks ago, more than 9,300 people signed in to testify. Over 92% of them were against the bill, a clear sign of how unpopular it is with Washingtonians.

Despite the strong public opposition to the tax increase, Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee passed it out anyway. However, a continuous wave of calls and emails to senators demanding that the bill not be passed led the prime sponsor of SB 5770, 43rd District Senator Jamie Pedersen of Seattle, to announce late last week he would not seek further passage of the bill this session.

This is a huge win for taxpayers! But don’t be surprised if Democrats bring this bill back next year or sometime in the future.     

If you have questions about how to participate in state government this year or thoughts to share on anything in this e-newsletter, please give me a call or send me an email. 

Thank you, as always, for the honor of representing you in Olympia!

Best Regards,

Senator Mike Padden

Senate budgets to be considered soon

This is the time of the legislative session when state budget proposals are unveiled and considered. 

The Senate is expected to unveil its supplemental operating, capital and transportation budget proposals over the next several days after budget writers have worked closely with Senate staff the past several weeks in crafting these spending plans. 

In fact, the Senate capital budget will receive its public hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee this afternoon.

The Senate operating and transportation budgets are expected to be unveiled early next week. 

Budget writers in the House of Representatives also will come out with their operating, capital and transportation budget proposals. After the Senate and House each passes its own versions of these three budgets, leaders from each chamber will meet to work on compromise versions for the Legislature to consider in the final week of session.  

Senate passes bill helping bees and other pollinators

A bill I introduced that was requested by a Mount Spokane High School student to help bees and other pollinators cleared the Senate this week.

The Senate voted 48-1 to pass Senate Bill 5934, a bipartisan measure that aims to promote the use of pollinator-friendly shrubs or bushes in landscaping. The proposal now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

During my floor speech on the measure, I told Senate colleagues how pollinators, including bees and butterflies, play a very important role in the pollination of crops, contributing to the production of fruits, vegetables and nuts. In fact, 75% of the world’s food supply depends on pollinators. Taking steps to protect and enhance pollinators is very important to the environment but also important to agriculture practices.

Mount Spokane High School senior Julia Costello approached me this past fall about sponsoring the bill.

Julia is a Girl Scout working to finish requirements to earn the Gold Award, which is equivalent to earning the Eagle Scout award as a Boy Scout. One of Julia’s Gold Award requirements is working with a legislator on sponsoring a bill. Julia made a compelling case why improving pollinators’ habitat is beneficial. I’m pleased the Senate passed this bill. Hopefully, Julia will be able to testify in person when this bill receives a public hearing in the House Local Government Committee on Tuesday next week.

In late January, Spokane Conservation District Director Vicki Carter sent a letter in support of SB 5934.    

Under the bill, a local government may encourage but need not require applicants for project or commercial-building permits to include pollinator-friendly plants in any landscaped area.   

UPDATE: Democrats still refuse to hold public hearings on the six initiatives

This chart shows the six initiatives sent to the Legislature this session. Democrats have refused to schedule public hearings on them.  

Democrat leaders in the Senate and House have continued to refuse scheduling public hearings on the six initiatives that were sent to the Legislature earlier this session. These measures each received more than 400,000 signatures and collectively over 2.6 million signatures.

Here’s what each would do:

  • Initiative 2113 deals with police pursuits. It would erase certain requirements that since 2021 have prevented law-enforcement officers from pursuing a suspect unless they think someone has committed certain crimes, including a violent offense or driving while impaired. It has been sent to the Senate Law and Justice Committee for consideration.
  • I-2117 would repeal the state’s costly climate policy, called “cap-and-trade” by some but “cap-and-tax” or “cap-and-gouge,” by opponents who note this law has caused gas prices to rise substantially. The climate policy became state law in 2021 and took full effect early last year. It is now in the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee.
  • I-2081 would give parents the right to review K-12 instructional materials and require parental notification of school-provided medical services. It has been referred to the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee.
  • I-2109 would repeal the state capital-gains tax that was passed by the Democrat-controlled Legislature in 2021. It is now in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
  • I-2111 would ban any local or state government in our state from imposing an income tax. Like I-2109, this measure is in the Ways and Means Committee.
  • I-2124 would allow people to opt out of the mandatory payroll tax for the state-run long-term care program. It is before the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee.

Legislators have three options with initiatives to the Legislature: 1) adopt the initiative as written, in which case it becomes law; 2) refuse to pass it, which would result in the measure automatically being placed on the statewide ballot next fall; 3) propose and approve an alternative initiative, in which case both the original initiative and the alternative would both appear together on the fall statewide ballot.

Senate Republican staff recently created interesting videos about several of these initiatives. They are worth watching. The videos cover:

  • I-2109 and I-2111 (repealing capital gains tax, banning income taxes)
  • I-2117 (repealing “cap and trade”)
  • I-2113 (restoring police pursuits)

The latest news on the initiatives is that Senate Democratic Leader Andy Billig and House Speaker Laurie Jinkins announced yesterday that they will not hold hearings on I-2117 or I-2109. That means both measures will almost certainly be placed on this November’s statewide ballot.

Speaker Jinkins said she didn’t know yet whether hearings would be held on the other four initiatives.

It is disappointing that the Democrats have not scheduled hearings on these six measures. Citizens’ voices should be allowed to be heard on them.

It is very likely that all six measures will wind up on the statewide ballot this fall for Washington voters to decide.

Three Padden bills receive House hearings yesterday

Senator Padden testifies before the House Housing Committee Wednesday.

Yesterday was especially busy, as three bills that I introduced received public hearings in House committees after being approved by the Senate earlier this session.

Senate Bill 5056 was heard by the House Community Safety, Justice, and Reentry Committee. This proposal would allow prosecutors to seek up two additional years on a sentence for first-degree robbery offenders if they can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is a habitual property offender. There has been an explosion of property crimes, including thefts of vehicles, catalytic converters and electric-charging equipment. This bill tries to keep habitual, repeat offenders behind bars for longer periods of time. That would reduce the property-crime rate substantially.

The House Housing Committee held public hearings on two of my proposals:

Senate Bill 5792 – Would exclude buildings with 12 or fewer units that are no more than three stories high from the definition of “multi-unit residential building” if one story is utilized for above- or below-ground parking or retail space. This bill builds on my condo-construction measure from 2023 (SB 5058, signed into law), which is aimed at creating more housing options for Washington’s middle class. Condominiums provide an affordable path to homeownership for first-time homebuyers. 

Senate Bill 5840 – Under this proposal, leases would not require acknowledgement, witnesses or seals.

Next Wednesday, February 21, is the deadline for House policy committees to pass Senate bills.

Contact us!

If you have a question or concern about state government, please do not hesitate to contact our office. During the session we are conducting business from our Senate office in Olympia. We are here to serve you!

Phone: (360) 786-7606

Olympia Office: 215 Legislative Modular Building, Olympia, WA 98504-0404

Email address: Mike.Padden@leg.wa.gov

PLEASE NOTE: Any email or documents you provide to this office may be subject to disclosure under RCW 42.56. If you would prefer to communicate by phone, please contact Sen. Padden’s Olympia office at (360) 786-7606.

To request public records from Sen. Padden, please contact Randi Stratton, the designated public records officer for the Secretary of the Senate and Senate members.

Senate approves Padden bill to help pollinators

A bill requested by a Mount Spokane High School student to help bees and other pollinators has cleared the Senate this year.

The Senate voted 48-1 to pass Senate Bill 5934, a bipartisan measure introduced by 4th District Sen. Mike Padden that aims to promote the use of pollinator-friendly shrubs or bushes in landscaping. The proposal now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Prior to today’s vote, Padden told the Senate how pollinators, including bees and butterflies, play a very important role in the pollination of crops, contributing to the production of fruits, vegetables and nuts.

“They play a vital role in sustaining agriculture. It really can’t be overstated since 75% of the world’s food supply depends on pollinators. Taking steps to protect and enhance pollinators is very important to the environment but also important to agriculture practices,” said Padden, R-Spokane Valley.

Mount Spokane High School senior Julia Costello approached Padden this past fall about sponsoring the bill.

“Julia is a Girl Scout working to finish requirements to earn the Gold Award, which is equivalent to earning the Eagle Scout award as a Boy Scout,” said Padden. “One of Julia’s Gold Award requirements is working with a legislator on sponsoring a bill. Julia made a compelling case why improving pollinators’ habitat is beneficial. I’m pleased the Senate passed this bill and I hope the House will do likewise this session. It has been an honor and pleasure to work with her.”

Costello’s testimony in favor of the bill during its Jan. 11 public hearing before the committee can be viewed here.

Spokane Conservation District Director Vicki Carter sent a letter to Padden in January in support of the proposal. Part of Carter’s letter reads: “Pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and other insects, play a fundamental role in the pollination of crops, contributing to the production of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Their vital role in sustaining agriculture cannot be overstated, as approximately 75% of the world’s food crops depend on pollinators for successful reproduction. Therefore, taking steps to protect and enhance pollinator populations is essential for ensuring food security and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.”

Under the amended version of the bill, a local government may encourage but need not require applicants for project or commercial-building permits to include pollinator-friendly plants in any landscaped area.