Matt Boehnke

We have rescheduled the Legislative Latte for Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Tri City Regional Chamber of Commerce Business Center. Last Friday night I was caught up in a five-car pileup on Manastash Ridge on I-82 heading home to Kennewick. Thankfully no one was...

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA…Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, the new Republican leader on the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee, has introduced a bill ahead of the 2025 legislative session that aims to separate Washington from California’s vehicle-emission standards. Senate Bill 5091 would direct the state Department...

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA … Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, has been elevated to Ranking Member on the Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee (ENET) for the 2025 legislative session. He will continue on the Senate Ways and Means Committee and is joining the Senate Higher Education...

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick OLYMPIA… The state Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) held a special meeting on September 13 to approve the revised site certification agreement for the controversial Horse Heaven Wind Project. Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, believes the EFSEC’s process to approve the revised site certification agreement (SCA)...

On August 13, I had the honor of joining fellow federal and state lawmakers and representatives from the Department of Energy, Ecology, and Commerce for a ribbon-cutting ceremony of the $75 million Grid Storage Launchpad at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s (PNNL) north Richland campus. This momentous occasion marks a significant...

Sen. Boehnke rides in a tractor at the Farmer for a Day event Agriculture is the heartbeat of the Tri-Cities, fueling our economy and sustaining our communities. With deep roots as an agricultural hub, it is vital we acknowledge our local farmers’ incredible contributions daily. On August 14, I had...

Affordable childcare is a critical issue for thousands of Tri-Cities families. Unfortunately, the number of family childcare providers has dropped 20% over the past five years, making Washington State the third least affordable state for childcare. Since 2019, while median incomes in Washington have risen by 5%, childcare costs have...

Sen. Boehnke (right) talks with Brian Ace, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties.   The Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties are dedicated to creating a haven where every child and teen feels safe, comfortable, and valued just as they are....

For the past 76 years, the Benton Franklin Fair has been a cherished part of countless family summer traditions. As the Tri-Cities’ most significant event, the fair has always been about bringing kids and the community together in celebration. This year’s “Best Week of Summer” lived up to its name...

OLYMPIA … On July 12, the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families transferred 43 incarcerated men over the age of 21 from Green Hill School in Chehalis to the custody of the state Department of Corrections. One week later, a Thurston Co. Superior Court judge found the transfer...