Kennewick High School student serves as page for Sen. Matt Boehnke
OLYMPIA… Addi Boleware, a student at Kennewick High School, recently spent a week working as a page for the Washington State Senate in Olympia. Boleware was one of 19 students who served as Senate pages for the fourth week of the 2026 legislative session. She was sponsored by Sen. Matt...
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NEWS: Sen. Matt Boehnke’s bill streamlining financial aid tracking for high school students passes Senate unanimously
OLYMPIA — The Washington State Senate today approved Substitute Senate Bill 5841, sponsored by Sen. Matt Boehnke, to improve how students track progress on state and federal financial aid applications. SSB 5841 seeks to strengthen Washington’s universal High School and Beyond Plan platform by requiring it to import financial aid...
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OPINION: Neighborhoods and families deserve safety, accountability
The following opinion-editorial appeared in the Free Cheney Press on Feb. 11, 2026: Kennewick is facing a decision that will affect families for years to come: whether a home for sexually violent predators is placed in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Parents are asking reasonable questions. Law enforcement is...
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PODCAST: The Mighty 8th Podcast Ep. 1 | Sen. Matt Boehnke on Kennewick LRA fight and the income tax push
Welcome to the first episode of The Mighty 8th Podcast, coming to you from Olympia and focused on giving the 8th District a strong voice in state government. Sen. Matt Boehnke joins the show to discuss two of the most pressing and controversial issues facing the 8th Legislative District and...
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OPINION: Sexually violent predators do not belong next door to children
The following opinion-editorial appeared in the Tri-City Herald on Feb. 8, 2026: During a recent town hall meeting in Kennewick, a teenage girl bravely stood up and told a room full of adults that if a home for sexually violent predators is approved in her neighborhood, she would no longer...
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Protecting our neighborhoods as LRA placements are proposed
First, I want to thank the families and community members who joined us last Monday night in Kennewick for the town hall on the proposed less restrictive alternative (LRA) placement. I was encouraged by the strong turnout and deeply appreciate everyone who took the time to show up, ask questions,...
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VIDEO: Sen. Matt Boehnke puts community safety first in Kennewick LRA discussion
Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, shares a legislative update on ongoing efforts to address the proposed less-restrictive alternative (LRA) housing placement in Kennewick. From Olympia, he discusses how community input, town hall feedback, and constituent concerns are shaping legislation to protect families, children, and neighborhoods while ensuring public safety across the Tri-Cities and...
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NEWS: Boehnke, Torres advance public safety package to tighten restrictions on sexually violent predator placements
OLYMPIA — Sen. Matt Boehnke and Sen. Nikki Torres have introduced a comprehensive package of legislation to close dangerous gaps in Washington’s handling of less restrictive alternative (LRA) placements for sexually violent predators, prioritizing the safety of families, neighborhoods, and children across the state. “These are not abstract policy debates;...
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Legislative update from Olympia
The 2026 legislative session is well underway, and work is moving quickly in Olympia. As key decisions begin to take shape, I want to keep you informed about what’s happening at the Capitol, what I’m working on, and how the priorities of the 8th Legislative District are guiding my work....
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Standing up for Washington families as SNAP funding resumes
Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/CREDIT: Washington State Legislature As many of you know, the 43-day federal government shutdown has ended. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed that the spending package signed on November 12, 2025, will fund the government and restore key programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program...
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