Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley, has been appointed as the Republican lead on the Behavioral Health Subcommittee for the 2019 and 2020 legislative sessions.

The newly formed Behavioral Health Subcommittee will take a closer look at mental health issues and substance use disorders affecting individuals throughout Washington state.

“I look forward to serving on this subcommittee and getting the right people in the room so we can come up with solutions,” said Wagoner. “I don’t want to just spend money on the problem, I want to see real results.”

Another new assignment for Wagoner will be to sit on the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee. Wagoner hopes to see continued progress on McCleary reforms and would like to go back and help school districts that didn’t benefit as much from the headway made last year, he said.

Wagoner will continue to serve on the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Wagoner was appointed to the state Senate in 2018 after serving two years as mayor of Sedro-Woolley.

The 2019 legislative session will begin on Jan. 14. It is scheduled to last 105 days.