In this week’s update, Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, shares the latest from Olympia as the Senate debates a proposed state income tax that has generated historic public response, with more than 100,000 people signing in CON. Boehnke outlines his concerns about how the proposal could affect families’ everyday costs, including groceries, gas, and small-business operations,...

OLYMPIA… Clara Kinion, a freshman at Kennewick High school, recently spent a week working as a page for the Washington State Senate in Olympia. Kinion was one of 19 students who served as Senate pages for the fifth week of the 2026 legislative session. She was sponsored by Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, who represents the...

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, takes a closer look at the new income tax approved by the Senate, warning it could create far-reaching consequences for Washington families and employers. He also spotlights bipartisan efforts to simplify the FAFSA process to expand access to higher education and support agriculture by advancing clean-energy fertilizer manufacturing.

During Senate floor debate, Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, opposes the Democrats’ proposed income tax bill, SB 6346, and warns that it acts as a “gateway drug” that opens the door to broader taxation on all Washington families. Boehnke argues the proposal will not stop with so-called millionaires. He says lawmakers will eventually expand the tax...

Sen. Matt Boehnke shares this week’s update from Olympia, including details about his upcoming in-district town hall on February 21 at Columbia Basin College (SWL 121). In this update, Boehnke discusses the Senate passage of the anti-sheriff bill, SB 5974, and raises concerns about shifting local control away from voters and toward unelected oversight. Boehnke...

The days have been long on the Senate floor as we debate and vote our way through stacks of bills. We’re officially at the halfway point of the 2026 session, and things are moving fast. We’ve already hit several important deadlines, and another big one is coming up on February 17 — House of Origin...