Author Archives: bookerstallworth

2025 session begins with cautious optimism

The 2025 Legislative Session is underway, and there is reason for cautious optimism. In contrast to outgoing Governor Inslee’s partisan farewell address, Governor Ferguson delivered a pragmatic, collaborative message.  Frankly, I was astonished as the Governor outlined reasonable proposals that align with my own values.

Citing issues from affordability to crime, he painted a realistic picture of problems faced by Washingtonians. He also highlighted commonsense Republican proposals he plans to actively support — like executive powers reform (legislation which I just recently introduced) and increased support for law enforcement. Finally, he declared that he was here not to defend government, but to reform it!

We have big problems to solve in Washington; solutions come easier when working together. I welcome the Governor’s stated intentions, but will be carefully watching for follow-through and leadership.

Click here to read the full update.

IN THE NEWS: Republicans blast Democratic bill that would allow tripling of property tax rates

Republicans in the Washington Senate are calling a property tax measure backed by Democrats “the single most destructive and far-reaching bill of the 2024 session.”

At least that’s how Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro Woolley, and a member of the Senate Ways & Means Committee, described Senate Bill 5770 in a Wednesday news release.

SB 5770 would allow local governments across the state to increase property taxes by up to 3% a year without voter approval. The law currently allows only non-voter approved property tax increases of 1% a year.

Members of the Senate Republican Caucus held a press conference Thursday morning at the state Capitol, with more than 50 concerned community members filling the room.

Click here to read the full story.

In The News: In reversal, more areas allow high-speed police chases

BY AMANDA HERNÁNDEZ  | STATELINE

In early March, Washington state lawmakers approved a measure that came to the legislature in the form of a citizen initiative. Under the policy, law enforcement officers again may give chase when there is reasonable suspicion a person has violated a law. The policy, which will go into effect in June, allows individual police agencies to impose stricter pursuit rules.

“In June, I think we’re going to see an immediate effect on how crime is treated in Washington state, and we’re going to bend that curve downward,” said Washington state Sen. Keith Wagoner, a Republican who voted for the measure, in an interview.

…“It wasn’t great policy, kind of a knee-jerk reaction,” Wagoner said. “The bad guys were waiting at the starting line and there was a starting gun, and auto theft just skyrocketed and crimes associated with that took off.”

In 2022, the number of reported motor vehicle thefts jumped by more than a third over the previous year, according to the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs’ annual crime reports. The Evergreen State had one of the highest rates of motor vehicle thefts in 2022 compared with other states, according to FBI crime data, a consistent trend since at least 1997.

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VIDEO: Sen. Keith Wagoner speaks out against a bill he fears could end retail firearm sales in Washington

The bill would require firearm dealers to install onerous security features and superfluous alarm and surveillance systems, and adopt redundant storage and excessively burdensome record-keeping practices. It also would set minimum insurance-coverage requirements and require employees to undergo yearly background checks.

IN THE NEWS: Washington lawmakers advance bill making it a felony to threaten election workers

By the Associated press | The Washington state Senate voted overwhelmingly Thursday to make harassing election workers a felony, three months after four county election offices received envelopes containing suspicious powder — including three testing positive for fentanyl — and had to be evacuated.

Some Republican lawmakers pushed for the bill to include protections for election observers and people gathering initiative signatures.

“They are physically, I would say, unprotected,” Republican Sen. Keith Wagoner said during a vote on an amendment to protect people collecting signatures. “They’re not inside impressive looking buildings like some of our elected election folks are. They don’t have access to security, but they are vulnerable.”

The amendments were voted down…

Click here to read the full story.

Wagoner succeeds in adding Skagit County Stabilization Center funds to Senate’s proposed construction budge

After inflation-driven increases in construction costs resulted in cancellation of one behavioral-health center in the North Sound, Sen. Keith Wagoner is determined not to let a second such project meet a similar fate.

Working with Senate budget writers, Wagoner has secured the $4.275 million needed to complete phase II of the Skagit County Stabilization Center in the Senate’s proposed supplemental capital budget.

“This is great news,” said Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley and a member of the budget-writing Ways and Means Committee. “This project is a key need for our community. Last year I was able to get $12.7 million in the capital budget for the completion of phase II of the Skagit County Stabilization Center. Unfortunately, inflation and other factors have increased the cost of the project, and additional funds are needed to complete construction. The same issue killed a similar project at Evergreen Health. We cannot allow the same thing to happen again here.”

Evergreen Health in Monroe was unable to use a $4.275 allotment from the 2022 supplemental budget, which was intended for a new behavioral-health wing. The project was canceled due to cost increases similar to those endangering phase II of the Skagit Behavioral Health Center.

Wagoner convinced Senate budget writers to reallocate the funds from the canceled Evergreen Health project toward completion of the Skagit Behavioral Health Center.

“As we deal with a host of issues from public safety to homelessness to drug abuse, completion of this facility will go a long way toward creating a comprehensive, integrated system of behavioral health services across the northern Puget sound region,” said Wagoner.

“By repurposing these funds within the same district, what would have been two failed behavioral-health projects in the North Sound District becomes a win that meets the critical needs for our region.”

Phase I of the project, the North Sound Treatment and Evaluation Center in Sedro-Woolley, was completed in 2022 and is already fully operational and providing 16 beds for mental-health services. It treats adults with acute psychiatric symptoms, providing 24-hour support, with reintegration of patients into communities or transition to other community-based programs.

Phase II of the project will add 16 stabilization beds, as well as 32 treatment/detox beds.

“This funding will be critical to helping people in need,” said Wagoner. “This is a benefit to those individuals, as well as a vital step to improving public safety.”

The state capital budget provides for the acquisition, construction, and maintenance of capital assets across Washington – such as schools and projects with recreational and economic-development value.

In addition to the support for behavioral health, the Senate’s proposed supplemental capital budget includes $121.5 million for construction and maintenance for K-12 schools and $119 million in housing-related funding.

“I am pleased that the 39th District has seen some of its tax dollars come back from Olympia as support for key projects in our community,” added Wagoner, pointing to $200,000 for the Skagit PUD Olsen Creek Waterline Relocation and $860,000 for fish-barrier improvements on Carpenter and English creeks and the Pilchuck Tributary Watt Crossing. The budget plan also includes $100,000 for the design of a new municipal campus in Lake Stevens to consolidate services at a single location.

IN THE NEWS: Legislators from the 39th District take part in Concrete town hall

By Racquel Muncy / Skagit Valley Herald  |

Residents of the state’s 39th Legislative District gathered at Concrete Theatre on Saturday for a town hall with Sen. Keith Wagoner and representatives Carolyn Eslick and Sam Low. 

…Each of the legislators had an opportunity to speak about what is important to them before taking questions from the audience. 

Wagoner mentioned that in 2024 there are six initiatives from constituents and he is in favor of all six. 

…One resident asked if the Legislature had thought to reinstate institutions such as Northern State Hospital to help those in the homeless population in need of behavioral health treatment. 

Wagoner said the existing large state behavioral health institutions are not well run, so he would prefer to see more smaller, local institutions. 

Click here to read the full story.

DENVER HAINSTOCK SERVES AS PAGE FOR SENATOR KEITH WAGONER

Denver Hainstock, a 10th grader from Sedro-Woolley High School, spent a week working as a page for the Washington State Senate at the Capitol in Olympia. Hainstock was one of 16 students who served as a Senate page for the fifth week of the 2024 Legislative session.

Hainstock was sponsored by 39th Legislative District Senator Keith Wagoner, who represents Skagit and Snohomish counties.

“Denver did an amazing job this week as a page and I feel honored to have been a part of his experience while learning more about the legislative process,” said Wagoner.

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 session.

“My favorite part of this experience was being able to be on the Senate floor and have that experience under my belt,” said Hainstock. He also stated that he enjoyed learning hands-on about the legislative process and understanding more about the state in which he lives.  It’s an experience he says he would recommend to anyone who is able to take advantage of this “amazing opportunity.”

Hainstock, 15, enjoys competing in the javelin during spring track and field. He is also a history enthusiast and likes to spend his free time outdoors hiking and camping. His parents are Michael Hainstock and Stacey Baker.

Students interested in the Senate Page Program are encouraged to visit:

http://leg.wa.gov/Senate/Administration/PageProgram/

IN THE NEWS: WA Democrats ditch bill repealing voter-backed cap on property tax hikes

Senate Democrats’ controversial bill allowing local governments in Washington to exceed the 1% cap on annual property tax increases won’t be acted on this session, its author said Friday.

The legislation sought to repeal the voter-backed limit and give cities and counties the ability to levy hikes up to 3%. But it ran into fierce opposition from Republicans and residents across the state who warned the measure would drive up living and housing costs.

…Republican senators credited pressure from their caucus and residents for persuading Democrats to abandon the bill.

“This is unexpected and happy news,” said Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley. “We felt the other side would get the message if we and the public pressed hard enough.”

Click here to read the full story.