Matt Boehnke

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...

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,...

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...

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;...

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....

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...

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/Courtesy of the Washington State Senate Last month marked a historic milestone for Hanford — and a turning point for the Tri-Cities region that has stood at the center of America’s nuclear legacy for generations. After decades of research, construction, and collaboration, the Hanford Site has officially...

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/CREDIT: Washington State Legislature OLYMPIA… Senator Matt Boehnke today issued a strong warning about the Pacific Northwest’s energy future, citing a new analysis that projects potential power shortfalls in the region during extreme conditions. The analysis, conducted by Energy + Environmental Economics for the region’s largest utilities,...

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/CREDIT: Washington State Legislature OLYMPIA… Although employment in Washington’s manufacturing sector is already forecast to increase over the next several years, Sen. Matt Boehnke thinks big growth is possible if lawmakers and government regulators would understand and focus on the needs of manufacturers. “Manufacturing is how Washington...

Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/CREDIT: Washington State Senate An August article in The Seattle Times about July’s federal energy spending reforms either downplayed or completely ignored state-government policies that are already increasing energy costs in Washington. Despite numerous references to climate and clean energy, it remained silent about the state’s 2021...