Dear Friends and Neighbors, Now that the 2026 legislative session has wrapped up, I wanted to reach out on a couple of important topics. First, to invite you to my upcoming town hall this Saturday, April 11. Next, as promised in my previous update, to share a brief dive into...

Sen. Matt Boehnke and Reps. April Connors and Stephanie Barnard secured key investments for the 8th District and the Tri-Cities region in the 2026 supplemental capital budget, building on major investments in last year’s budget and bringing total funding for the biennium to more than $100 million. In a joint...

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, Rep. Stephanie Barnard, R-Pasco, and Rep. April Connors, R-Kennewick/CREDIT: Washington State Legislature OLYMPIA… Sen. Matt Boehnke, Rep. April Connors, and Rep. Stephanie Barnard have secured critical investments for the 8th District and broader Tri-Cities region in the 2025–27 capital budget. Working collaboratively, they not only delivered millions in direct...

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… Before the 2025 legislative session concludes in 12 days, lawmakers must adopt three new state budgets – the largest being the operating budget, which funds most state agencies and the services they provide. Our state does have a budget gap caused by...

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, Rep. Stephanie Barnard, R-Pasco, and Rep. April Connors, R-Kennewick/CREDIT: Washington State Legislature OLYMPIA… Sen. Matt Boehnke, Rep. April Connors, and Rep. Stephanie Barnard are championing critical 8th District investments included in the proposed 2025-27 House and Senate capital budgets. Both proposals must still be reconciled before final...

The final supplemental capital budget allocates $1.33 billion, including $130.6 million in bonds. The plan entails significant investments throughout the state in K-12 school construction, behavioral health and substance abuse treatment facilities, and early learning facilities, leaving $547,000 in remaining bond capacity. With this budget’s unanimous approval, we are delighted...

OPERATING BUDGET The final supplemental operating budget appropriates $72 billion (NGF-O), a $2.2 billion increase over current 2023-25 spending. While the budget pays for many important core services, it once again contains no meaningful tax relief for working families. The state has a moral imperative to provide tax relief. The...

OLYMPIA… Washington State Senator Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, has helped secure $300,000 in the state capital budget for the 8th legislative district, which includes Benton and Franklin Counties. Sen. Boehnke’s capital budget requests were $240,000 from the 2025 local and community projects funding for the Port of Benton Inland that will...