By Jerry Cornfield | Washington State Standard | May 15, 2023 State lawmakers announced an agreement Monday to toughen the penalty for drug possession and expand pathways into treatment and away from jail for those arrested. The deal comes hours before legislators convene a special session and, barring another setback,...

Today the Senate voted 49-0 to approve Sen. Keith Wagoner’s measure to assist Washingtonians who have difficulty accessing drug- or alcohol-treatment programs because they can’t obtain a complete copy of their driving records.   “When someone is trying to better themselves and get much-needed substance abuse treatment, we should do...

Governor Jay Inslee’s rhetoric on guns isn’t sitting well with some Republican state Senators. In his State of the State speech, Inslee said “One of the most meaningful measures we can take is requiring that people have safety training before they purchase a gun.” Senator Keith Wagoner supports training but...

Dear Neighbor, It has been a whirlwind start to this year’s short legislative session and an extremely busy week. I want to jump right in and update you on several issues I’ve been working on this week. Governor’s salmon recovery plan conflicts with Growth Management Act Salmon recovery has been an...

Dear Neighbor, As we begin a new legislative session, I wanted to thank you for the honor of representing our district in the Washington State Senate. This has continued to be an extremely difficult year for all of us and I am honored to be your voice in Olympia to...

Gov. Jay Inslee’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate will only create a greater public safety risk, says Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley. The mandate, which took effect Oct. 18, requires all employees in agencies under the governor’s control to receive vaccinations for COVID-19 or be terminated from their jobs. Wagoner noted that the...

Read full report here With goal of ‘reducing incarceration,’ governor and Legislature create new public safety risks As if new restrictions on law enforcement weren’t enough, an effort by Washington lawmakers to empty prison cells and return convicted felons to the street is creating new public safety risks across the...

Dear Neighbor, As the legislature continues to work remotely, I wanted to update you on some of the bills I’ve sponsored this session, legislation that’s been heard in the Law & Justice Committee and provide a video update on our state’s reopening plan. Senate Bill 5081, which I’m sponsoring, would...

Dear Neighbor, This week’s newsletter will have an unfamiliar tone. It reflects my frustration with the unfortunate politicization of our current situation. I have tried hard to be supportive of the governor during this extremely difficult time and, in fact, I think many of the early steps we took as...