Due to election-year restrictions that begin on Monday, this will be my last email update to you until after the November election results are certified. The exception is if we go into a special session. However, I am still able to respond to constituents who contact me throughout the year, so please feel free to email or call anytime. My email address is Matt.Boehnke@leg.wa.gov, and my district office number is (509) 315-2315. Additionally, if you would like to meet with me in district, please email my legislative assistant, Dinah, to set up a time.
8th District Legislative Update
Rep. Brad Klippert and I recently finished writing a six-page legislative update, which will be hitting mailboxes soon. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read it and let me know what you think.
Clicking on the image below will open the full PDF version.
It is an honor to serve you. I hope to hear from you soon.
In this six-page mailer, 8th District Reps. Matt Boehnke and Brad Klippert recap the 2022 legislative session, provide an overview of House Republican priorities, and discuss their sponsored legislation.
Rep. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, joins Mike McClanahan on TVW’s The Impact to discuss a bill he sponsored this session aimed at creating jobs and increasing education and training opportunities in the retail industry.
House Bill 2019, which has been signed into law, will require the state’s Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board to work with statewide retail employer organizations to identify existing gaps and engage with stakeholders to make recommendations on:
Strategies to develop additional courses, pathways, and apprenticeships to make retail certifications and credentials available for job seekers and current retail employees;
Strategies to build a network for students and job seekers who complete retail certification courses to connect with potential employers;
Options for engaging and partnering with retail employers to provide courses to incumbent frontline workers for the purpose of upskilling and promotions, including in-demand, higher paid, non-industry specific positions within the retail industry; and
Options for increasing training and job opportunities in the retail industry for underserved communities and previously incarcerated individuals.
The bill received backing from business and labor groups alike, as well as overwhelming bipartisan support in the House (approved 94-2) and Senate (approved 49-0). Boehnke, the ranking Republican on the House Community and Economic Development Committee, says his bill will strengthen the retail industry, which accounts for 42 percent of the state’s revenue and is responsible for nearly 400,000 jobs.
A bill sponsored by Rep. Matt Boehnke seeking to create jobs and increase education and training opportunities in the retail industry has been signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee.
Strategies to develop additional courses, pathways, and apprenticeships to make retail certifications and credentials available for job seekers and current retail employees;
Strategies to build a network for students and job seekers who complete retail certification courses to connect with potential employers;
Options for engaging and partnering with retail employers to provide courses to incumbent frontline workers for the purpose of upskilling and promotions, including in-demand, higher paid, non-industry specific positions within the retail industry; and
Options for increasing training and job opportunities in the retail industry for underserved communities and previously incarcerated individuals.
The bill received backing from business and labor groups alike, as well as overwhelming bipartisan support in the House (approved 94-2) and Senate (approved 49-0). Boehnke, the ranking Republican on the House Community and Economic Development Committee, says his bill is designed to grow Washington’s workforce and strengthen the retail industry, which accounts for 42 percent of the state’s revenue and is responsible for nearly 400,000 jobs.
“As we continue to try to grow our way out of the pandemic, our focus must be on innovation and fostering an economic environment that’s favorable for business and job growth,” said Boehnke, R-Kennewick. “House Bill 2019 is designed to develop additional pathways for Washingtonians to find jobs in the retail industry, while also ensuring the necessary education and training is available to help them succeed and achieve greater upward mobility. This bill is a product of strong collaboration between Republicans and Democrats, business and labor, employers and employees, and so many others who care about Washington’s workforce and the future of retail in our state. I am grateful for the overwhelming support it received from my fellow lawmakers, and want to thank the governor for signing it into law.”
For the first time since February 22, 2020, Rep. Brad Klippert and I are set to host an in-person town hall meeting in Richland. We’re really looking forward to meeting with all of you to share our thoughts on this year’s 60-day legislative session, take your questions, and discuss the most important issues facing our district and state.
Details are as follows:
Date: Tuesday, March 29, 2022 Time: 7-8 p.m. Location: The Arc of Tri-Cities Address: 1455 SE Fowler St., Richland
Earlier this year, we held a virtual town hall meeting that was really well-attended, so we’re hoping to see similar attendance on Tuesday. We’re fortunate enough to have 610 KONA’s Robb Francis as our moderator. If you have any questions about the town hall, please feel free to send me an email at Matt.Boehnke@leg.wa.gov.
A look at the three supplemental budgets the Legislature passed this session
As I shared in my last email update, there were a number of missed opportunities this session, including the Legislature’s failure to deliver tax relief. Instead of using some of our record $15 billion budget surplus to provide a permanent half-point sales tax cut, which is what House Republicans proposed, Democrats chose instead to spend nearly all of that money. In the end, they didn’t even end up passing their own bill to provide a three-day sales tax holiday in September to help families with back-to-school costs. With inflation at a 40-year high, the most expensive gas prices we’ve seen since 2008, and ongoing supply chain shortages, we should’ve taken advantage of the opportunity to ease some of your financial burdens. The majority simply has no excuse for their failure to prioritize tax relief.
The state’s operating budget has more than doubled in size since the 2011-13 biennium. I don’t know anyone who has seen their household budget increase 111% in the last 10 years. It’s unfortunate the prevailing priority for the majority is growing the size and scope of government instead of returning your tax dollars back to you.
While bipartisan collaboration and agreement on the state’s operating budget is difficult due to our differing approaches on taxes and spending, the same cannot be said for the capital budget, which funds various construction projects throughout the state. In recent years, the budget has made significant investments in mental and behavioral health, water, sewer and broadband infrastructure, affordable housing, school seismic safety, and more.
The 2022 supplemental capital budget spends a total of $1.5 billion, building on the $6.3 billion 2021-23 capital budget the Legislature passed last year. Highlights include:
$300 million for rapid capital housing acquisition for quick conversion into shelters, permanent supportive housing, or transitional housing.
$120 million for the Public Works Board to issue grants and loans to local governments for infrastructure projects.
$114.5 million for the Housing Trust Fund, including $25 million for projects benefiting first-time home buyers.
$100 million for broadband infrastructure grants.
$100 million for seismic safety retrofits to school buildings at high risk of severe earthquake damage.
$60 million for grants to expand and add capacity for crisis triage and crisis stabilization facilities for adults, including $12 million for at least two residential crisis stabilization facilities for youth.
$26.3 million in Behavioral Health Capacity grants for community mental health services, including long-term civil commitments, triage, diversion, detox, and adolescent services.
Here locally, highlights include:
$1.5 million in additional funding for the Three Rivers Behavioral Health Recovery Center project, which will fill a major unmet need in our region upon completion. In the 2021-23 capital budget, $2.75 million was provided for planning-related costs. The funds allocated in this year’s supplemental budget will be used to acquire an existing hospital facility that is no longer used and is suitable for renovation to accommodate the new behavioral health facility.
$500,000 for the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic. Funding will allow for an additional 2,000 dental appointments to be made by residents.
$270,000 for a replacement boat for Columbia Basin Dive Rescue, which is a not-for-profit, all-volunteer agency that provides water rescue and recovery services to law enforcement, fire, and other emergency service agencies.
The 2022 supplemental capital budget was approved 49-0 in the Senate and 98-0 in the House. It is currently on the governor’s desk awaiting his signature.
The 2022 supplemental transportation budget approved by the Legislature this session will provide $11.6 billion for the 2021-23 transportation budget. Funds in the budget are allocated for the maintenance and preservation of current transportation systems, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), the Washington State Ferry system, the Washington State Patrol, and other state transportation agencies. The budget was approved 45-4 in the Senate and 93-5 in the House. It, too, is on the governor’s desk awaiting his signature.
In addition to the 2022 supplemental transportation budget, there was a separate transportation package the majority pushed through this session without bipartisan cooperation. It’s a 16-year, $17 billion package that is heavily focused on the Puget Sound region. As with the operating budget, important projects are funded in it, but I had to vote no out of respect for Washington taxpayers. Not only does the package raise fees on Washingtonians, but it uses fees from policies that will further increase the cost of fuel.
I’m looking forward to talking about all of these spending plans, and more, on Tuesday.
Contacting me
Although session is now over, please know I am here to serve you year-round. I encourage you to continue contacting me with your comments, questions, or concerns. My email address is Matt.Boehnke@leg.wa.gov, and my office number is (509) 315-2315.
It is an honor to serve you. I hope to see you on Tuesday!
Eighth District lawmakers Rep. Brad Klippert and Rep. Matt Boehnke will host an in-person town hall meeting on Tuesday, March 29, at The Arc of Tri-Cities.
During the meeting, the legislators will provide a recap of the 2022 legislative session and take questions from attendees.
Details are as follows:
Date: Tuesday, March 29, 2022 Time: 7-8 p.m. Location: The Arc of Tri-Cities Address: 1455 SE Fowler St., Richland
Constituents seeking more information may contact the legislators’ offices:
We just passed the final major deadline of this year’s 60-day legislative session, which is scheduled to adjourn next Thursday. Tonight marked the final opportunity for lawmakers in the House to pass bills that originated in the Senate, and vice-versa. The only bills exempted from this deadline are those deemed necessary to implement the budget.
While House Democrats found the time tonight to pass a bill that would make pickleball Washington’s official state sport, they did not find the time to pass the Senate’s emergency powers reform bill. Instead of voting to take power away from the governor, they instead voted to take power away from law-abiding gun owners through Senate Bill 5078. If signed into law, the bill would—after going into effect on July 1—prohibit the sale, manufacture and distribution of gun magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. That clearly violates the Second Amendment and Article 1, Section 24 of our state’s constitution, which reads: “The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired.” It is deeply disappointing that the last major bill the majority passed before cutoff is one that would infringe on responsible gun owners’ rights and their ability to defend themselves in life-threatening situations.
Tonight was the latest in a string of long nights spent debating bills on the House floor, including the 2022 supplemental operating budget and a $16.8 billion transportation package. The operating budget we passed last Saturday contains a lot of good things, as most budgets do. However, we missed an opportunity to use our record $15 billion budget surplus to provide meaningful tax relief for you and your family. House Republicans introduced an amendment that would’ve cut the state sales tax by a half-point, but it was rejected. The budget we passed spends $65 billion in state funds, an increase of $6.2 billion (10.5%) over current 2021-23 spending, but does nothing to alleviate the financial pressures so many of you are facing due to skyrocketing inflation, the highest gas prices we’ve seen in years, and supply chain shortages.
We also missed an opportunity to allocate $100 million in unspent federal stimulus funds to fund the police through:
$5,000 signing and retention bonuses.
$90,000 grants to local law enforcement agencies for body camera costs.
Funding for 10 additional Basic Law Enforcement Academy classes in each fiscal year, for a total of 25 classes per year.
$150,000 for a study and recommendations on police officer recruitment and retention efforts, police staffing levels and how those compare to recommended levels, how much is spent on policing in Washington as compared to other states, and how to address police recruitment and retention over the long term.
Our amendment to allocate these funds was rejected, which makes me concerned that we will not see a decrease in crime or more police officers joining the force any time soon. It is unacceptable that our state ranks last in the nation in terms of the number of police officers per thousand people. We have to support our men and women in law enforcement and we have to get serious about public safety. There is no other option.
I mentioned we also passed a $16.8 billion transportation package. Much like the operating budget, it too will do some good things for communities in our state. However, it’s very focused on western Washington. That’s not surprising since the majority never reached out to any House Republican members to get their input. The worst thing about the package is that it levies a number of new taxes and fees on Washingtonians. Again, we should be cutting taxes, not raising them or adding new fees that make life more expensive.
Last year, House Republicans introduced a plan to modernize transportation funding by utilizing the general fund, preserve and maintain our existing infrastructure, complete the state’s backlog of projects (including Connecting Washington projects), and redirect vehicle sales tax to transportation projects across the state—all without raising taxes and fees on anyone or anything. I believe that would have been a better way forward for our state.
An update on my bills
In my last email update, I provided an overview of House Bills 2019 and 2044, both of which were unanimously approved by the House earlier this session.
House Bill 2019, which is designed to grow Washington’s workforce and strengthen the retail industry, also received unanimous approval in the Senate. As I’ve said before, as we attempt to navigate an ever-changing landscape due to the pandemic, our focus must be on creating an economic environment that’s favorable for business and job growth. House Bill 2019 would help us develop additional pathways for Washingtonians to find jobs in retail, while also developing the education and training necessary for employees to succeed and achieve greater upward mobility. I’m grateful for the support it received in the House and Senate, and am glad it’s now on the governor’s desk.
Unfortunately, House Bill 2044 (ransomware protection) did not receive a hearing in the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee. That surprised me because businesses, agencies and other entities in Washington experienced more ransomware attacks than ever before last year. According to the Attorney General’s 2021 Data Breach Report, ransomware attacks accounted for 61% of all cyberattacks (150 of 245) and more than half of all data breaches (150 of 280). It is clear we have a cybersecurity problem in Washington. At some point, we have to get serious about protecting Washingtonians and safeguarding their personal data.
Washington must divest from Russia
My heart breaks over what we’ve been seeing in Ukraine since February 24. Earlier this week, I signed on to a bill sponsored by House Republican Reps. Drew Stokesbary and Drew MacEwen that takes a stand against Vladimir Putin and his authoritarian regime. It would require all state agencies in Washington to cancel their outstanding contracts with Russian companies, while also requiring the State Investment Board to divest from its pension and other investments in Russian companies.
Part of the bill declares: “Washington stands firmly in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and strongly condemns Russia’s military actions against Ukraine.” It is important for us to make that declaration as lawmakers, but we also must go a step further by ensuring Vladimir Putin’s regime doesn’t receive a dime of Washington taxpayers’ dollars.
House Bill 2135 has been referred to the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee.
Honored to be recognized by the Washington Economic Development Association
Two weeks ago, I received an email from the executive director of the Washington Economic Development Association (WEDA) letting me know I had been named one of their Legislative Economic Development Champions. While it is a tremendous honor to be recognized in this way by WEDA, I know I could not do this job as successfully without the support and guidance I continually receive from legislative staff, community leaders, small business owners, and all of you. Working on public policy is truly a team effort, and I am so grateful to be in a position to make a positive difference for the mighty 8th District and communities across the state. As the ranking member of the House Community and Economic Development Committee, I have been and will continue to be intently focused on growing jobs and revitalizing communities as our state continues to recover from the pandemic.
Contacting me
Please continue contacting me with your comments, questions and concerns. My email address is Matt.Boehnke@leg.wa.gov, and my office number is (509) 315-2315.
Today marks the end of the fifth week of the 2022 legislative session. We have 27 days to go and a lot of things left to tackle. Before I get to legislative updates, however, I wanted to offer my deepest condolences to all who knew and loved Justin Krumbah. His senseless murder was a shock to me, as I know it was to all of you. I want to thank those of you who took the time yesterday to gather at Howard Amon Park to remember Justin and support his family. Please keep them in your prayers, as well as Mark Hill, who was shot by the perpetrator and is currently in critical condition.
While the police are still gathering details, one thing we know about the gunman is that he suffers from serious mental health issues. The Tri-City Herald editorial board put it perfectly yesterday when they wrote: “Our community needs to surround the families and friends of Krumbah and Hill with comfort and support. And then we need to work harder to ensure the Tri-Cities has the resources to help those at risk of hurting themselves and others.”
Mental and behavioral health care must become more of a priority here locally and around the state. A lot of people are in crisis and not able to get the help they need in a timely manner. That needs to change, and I am committed to doing everything I can to make sure that it does. I will work with anybody and everybody on this issue.
Town hall recap and an update on my bills
Last Monday’s virtual town hall meeting was a success thanks to the strong participation we had. Rep. Klippert and I spent just over 90 minutes providing a session update and taking your questions. We tackled a lot of different topics, including tax relief, long-term care, public safety, emergency powers, and more. Hopefully we can hold an in-person town hall later this year. I’ll keep you posted on that.
As far as session goes, February 3 marked policy committee cutoff and February 7 marked fiscal committee cutoff. Unless deemed necessary to implement the budget, bills that have not advanced out of their respective committees by now are considered “dead” for the session. Thankfully, two of my bills survived cutoff.
House Bill 2019, which was approved 94-2 by the House last week, is designed to grow Washington’s workforce and strengthen the retail industry, which accounts for 42 percent of the state’s revenue and is its third largest employer. The bill would require the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board to work with statewide retail employer organizations to identify existing gaps and then engage with stakeholders to make recommendations on:
Strategies to develop additional courses, pathways, and apprenticeships to make retail certifications and credentials available for job seekers and current retail employees;
Strategies to build a network for students and job seekers who complete retail certification courses to connect with potential employers;
Options for engaging and partnering with retail employers to provide courses to incumbent frontline workers for the purpose of upskilling and promotions, including in-demand, higher paid, non-industry specific positions within the retail industry; and
Options for increasing training and job opportunities in the retail industry for underserved communities and previously incarcerated individuals.
As we continue navigating an ever-changing landscape due to the pandemic, our focus must be on creating an economic environment that’s favorable for business and job growth. House Bill 2019 would help us develop additional pathways for Washingtonians to find jobs in retail, while also developing the education and training necessary for employees to succeed and achieve greater upward mobility.
House Bill 2044 was unanimously approved by the House earlier tonight. It’s focused on stopping ransomware attacks in our state. Ransomware is a unique type of malware (malicious software developed by cybercriminals) that holds data hostage in hopes of receiving a ransom payment from the breached entity. Last year, Washington businesses, agencies and other entities experienced more ransomware attacks than ever before. According to the Attorney General’s 2021 Data Breach Report, which was released in November, ransomware attacks accounted for 61% of all cyberattacks (150 of 245) and more than half of all data breaches (150 of 280).
My bill would:
Require the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) to design, develop, and implement enterprise technology standards for malware and ransomware protection, backup, and recovery.
Require the OCIO to establish a ransomware education and outreach program to educate employees of public agencies on the prevention, response, and remediation of ransomware.
Require certain state agencies to perform an assessment of their applications and resources containing data and provide the OCIO with a confidential list of prioritized applications based on mission criticality and impact to constituents in the event of system failure or data loss.
Require various reporting by the OCIO on information relating to mission critical applications, business essential applications, the status of immutable backups for each application, and the breadth of threat landscape.
This is a crisis that requires immediate action and effective solutions, which is why I’m glad House Bill 2044 is advancing. We must do a better job thwarting cybercriminals and safeguarding Washingtonians’ personal data.
One bill I introduced this session that did not advance is House Bill 1864, the Advanced Technology Leadership and Security Act. The bill is designed to help Washington achieve a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions future through technological innovation and research and development tax credits. If we’re going to reach our greenhouse gas reduction goals and achieve net-zero climate pollution by 2050, we’re going to need to speed up the innovation cycle. Starting businesses, launching strategic initiatives, and taking risks all require a strong business climate that encourages innovation and development. My bill seeks to position Washington as a leader in the clean technology sector, not through mandates, but incentives. I want to help bring the best research talent to our state, keep that talent here, and help train up the next generation of innovators, all while cutting taxes for small businesses so they can create the technology and jobs of the future. Unfortunately, this just wasn’t the year for HB 1864.
Democrats shutting down Republican solutions this session
One of the biggest disappointments of session so far has been the lack of willingness by Democrats to work with Republicans to fix the major problems facing our state. These problems include:
A homelessness crisis that has only gotten worse.
A child care affordability and accessibility crisis.
A bottom 10 ranking in housing affordability.
Drug overdose deaths at an all-time high.
Violent crime at a 25-year high.
Heartbreaking outcomes for children in our foster care system.
2.7 million acres of unhealthy forests, which contribute to catastrophic wildfires.
Significant cost overruns for transportation projects.
In my last update, I provided an overview of the bills we sponsored this session to provide tax relief and make life more affordable, strengthen public safety in our communities, hold government accountable, and empower parents. Most of these bills did not make it out of their respective committees.
Unfortunately, it appears there won’t be any significant tax relief this session despite our massive budget surplus. In fact, Democrats are going in the opposite direction. The $16.8 billion transportation plan they introduced earlier this week would raise 14 licensing taxes and fees. The plan includes:
increasing fees for an enhanced driver’s license by 75%;
increasing fees for a state identification card by 75%;
increasing fees for vehicle license plates by 500%;
increasing fees for motorcycle plates by 500%;
increasing fees for a new photo for a driver’s license or ID card by 100%;
a potential 2% tax increase on heating homes with natural gas;
a potential 2% tax increase on telephone landlines; and,
a potential increase in the state sales tax by another tenth of a cent.
With regard to public safety, Democrats have not made it a major focal point so far. Earlier this year, Republicans unveiled the Safe Washington Plan, which contains a suite of bills focused on stopping crime, supporting law enforcement, and putting victims first. Of the following bills in the plan, only HB 1788 is still making its way through the legislative process.
House Bill 1737 would roll back the harmful provisions in last year’s police reform legislation that created confusion and made volatile situations more dangerous.
House Bill 1788 would allow law enforcement to engage in vehicular pursuits when there is reasonable suspicion someone has committed, or is committing, a criminal offense.
House Bill 1656, would amend the definition of theft to include concealment. Last year, Washington lost $2.7 billion due to retail theft. This bill would make a major difference going forward.
House Bill 1787 would provide funding for the recruitment, retention, and support of law enforcement. For the past 11 years, Washington has ranked dead last in terms of the number of police officers per thousand people.
House Bill 1873 would address the growing problem of catalytic converter theft.
As far as government accountability goes, it remains to be seen whether Democrats will advance a bill to curb the governor’s emergency powers and restore the balance of power between the legislative and executive branches. Even if they do send a bill to the governor’s desk, I’m not sure he won’t veto it. I talked about that and more during a radio interview I had on KONA earlier this week.
Leading the Supply Chain Legislative Caucus
One of the most critical issues facing our state and nation is the ongoing supply chain crisis. In December, I helped form the Supply Chain Legislative Caucus (SCLC), of which I’m currently serving as chair. The SCLC, which is bipartisan and bicameral, is working in conjunction with the Department of Transportation, Department of Licensing, local governments, and supply chain stakeholder groups, such as growers, manufacturers/processors, transporters (e.g., trucking, rail, air, and waterborne cargo interests), retailers, ports, labor organizations, and other supply chain-impacted associations. There are a lot of bright people working hard to develop solutions that would bring more resilience to Washington’s supply chain. We will continue meeting throughout the year.
Contacting me
Please continue contacting me with your comments, questions and concerns. My email address is Matt.Boehnke@leg.wa.gov, and my office number is (509) 315-2315. I look forward to hearing from you!
Last year, Washington businesses, agencies and other entities experienced more ransomware attacks than ever before. According to the Attorney General’s 2021 Data Breach Report, which was released in November, ransomware attacks accounted for 61% of all cyberattacks (150 of 245) and more than half of all data breaches (150 of 280).
Ransomware is a unique type of malware (malicious software developed by cybercriminals) that holds data hostage in hopes of receiving a ransom payment from the breached entity. It’s a problem Rep. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, is seeking to address through House Bill 2044. The bill, which was unanimously approved by the state House on Friday, would do the following:
Require the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) to design, develop, and implement enterprise technology standards for malware and ransomware protection, backup, and recovery.
Require the OCIO to establish a ransomware education and outreach program to educate employees of public agencies on the prevention, response, and remediation of ransomware.
Require certain state agencies to perform an assessment of their applications and resources containing data and provide the OCIO with a confidential list of prioritized applications based on mission criticality and impact to constituents in the event of system failure or data loss.
Require various reporting by the OCIO on information relating to mission critical applications, business essential applications, the status of immutable backups for each application, and the breadth of threat landscape.
Boehnke, who serves as the director and lead professor of the cybersecurity division at Columbia Basin College, says House Bill 2044 would meet an urgent need following last year’s startling increase in ransomware attacks.
“Ransomware is a growing threat that is wreaking havoc on individuals, businesses and agencies in Washington state,” said Boehnke. “Last year, we saw more ransomware attacks against our citizens than we had seen in the five previous years combined. This is a crisis that requires immediate action and effective solutions. We must do a better job thwarting cybercriminals and safeguarding Washingtonians’ personal data. House Bill 2044 represents a positive step forward for our state, and I’m glad it received unanimous approval by the House tonight.”
House Bill 2044 now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
Rep. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, joins KONA to provide an update on this year’s 60-day legislative session. Topics include bills he’s sponsored, the chances of emergency powers reform legislation being approved by the Legislature, and potential fixes to the disastrous police reform bills passed by the majority last year.
