July 16, 2025

Energy policy discussion at Tri-City Regional Chamber’s “Behind the Bill” advocacy roundtable

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Courtesy of the Washington State Senate In early July, I spoke at the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Regional Advocacy Roundtable: Behind the Bill – How Policy Shapes Your Energy Costs—a timely forum examining how state-level decisions are directly influencing rising utility bills and the future of...
Read More
July 16, 2025

Boehnke joins Western Energy Caucus and international delegation to Denmark

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick (4th from the left) with the Western Energy Caucus in Denmark. Photo courtesy of the Western Energy Caucus. This June, I  joined an elite bipartisan group of lawmakers from across the western United States to help launch the new Western Energy Caucus (WEC)—a regional initiative focused...
Read More
July 07, 2025

Empower our clean-energy future

By Washington State Sen. Matt Boehnke, In this part of Washingtons, we don’t just talk about innovation – we embody it. For generations, Richland, Kennewick, Pasco, and the surrounding communities have stood at the epicenter of American scientific progress. Our region played a vital role in winning World War II,...
Read More
May 29, 2025

May 29, 2025 | E-newsletter | 2025 Legislative Wrap-Up

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate Dear Friends and Neighbors, As the 2025 legislative session came to a close, one thing became clear: Washington State missed a key opportunity to deliver a sustainable, balanced budget that would not hurt hardworking families and small businesses. On May 21, the governor...
Read More
May 19, 2025

Governor signs bipartisan Boehnke bill, fortifying Washington’s election security

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… Washington is taking a giant leap forward in election security. Thanks to a groundbreaking bipartisan bill championed by Sen. Matt Boehnke, the state’s elections will be more secure and resilient against cyber threats than ever before. On Saturday, the governor proudly signed...
Read More
May 15, 2025

New law breaks down barriers to college for Washington’s most vulnerable youth

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… Yesterday, Senator Matt Boehnke celebrated the signing of Senate Bill 5543 into law. This bipartisan effort expands access to the College Bound Scholarship program. It ensures automatic enrollment for eligible students, streamlining the process and eliminating bureaucratic barriers for some of Washington’s...
Read More
May 15, 2025

Lawmakers from the 8th and 16th legislative districts to host joint town hall in Pasco

Lawmakers representing the 8th and 16th legislative districts will hold a combined in-person town hall on Saturday, May 31, to hear from constituents, answer questions, and provide updates on the 2025 legislative session. WHAT: Joint Town Hall Meeting WHEN: Saturday, May 31 | 1-3 p.m. WHERE: Columbia Basin College Gjerde...
Read More
May 15, 2025

Solar meets soil: Boehnke’s landmark clean-energy bill becomes law

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Credit: Washington State Senate OLYMPIA… On Tuesday, the governor signed a bipartisan measure from Sen. Matt Boehnke that accelerates the deployment of distributed energy technologies like solar, storage, and agrivoltaics across the state. The new law is a major step forward for clean energy and land stewardship...
Read More
May 07, 2025

8th District lawmakers help deliver nearly $100 million for Tri-Cities projects in 2025-27 capital budget

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...
Read More
May 06, 2025

Governor signs Boehnke’s bipartisan bill to strengthen Washington’s climate transparency

Front row, L to R: Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, Gov. Bob Ferguson, and Virginia Hall, SLA, Office of Sen. Boehnke. Back row, L to R: Dawn Boehnke, Derrek Wilson, Dept. of Ecology, Anthony “Tony” Abbot, Dept. of Ecology, Cameron Long, SRC Policy, WA State Senate, Ken Camp, Dept. of Ecology,...
Read More