Governor signs Braun legislation to extend insurance to student volunteers
March 30, 2016
Gov. Jay Inslee today signed Senate Bill 6293, sponsored by Sen. John Braun. The new law, which won unanimous legislative approval, will allow businesses to offer industrial insurance to unpaid interns and student volunteers. “This legislation will help expand opportunities for students to gain valuable experience in the workforce,” said... Read More...
Bipartisan agreement reached on 2016 supplemental budget
March 28, 2016
Budget leaders from the Washington State Senate and House of Representatives today announced they have reached agreement on an update of the state’s current two-year operating budget. Work on a supplement to the 2015-17 budget has been under way since the 2016 regular legislative session gave way to a special... Read More...
Senate moves ahead with updated supplemental budget proposal  
March 12, 2016
Senate budget leaders Sens. Andy Hill and John Braun released an updated 2016 supplemental budget proposal today, which will receive a public hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee at 2 p.m. The new plan comes at the beginning of a special session as lawmakers continue work to find... Read More...
Senate approves Braun bill to rein in authority of state agencies
February 17, 2016
Today the state Senate approved legislation introduced by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia to limit the power of state agencies by changing the way they make rules. Senate Bill 6396 would require proposed rules to be submitted to the state attorney general’s office for an opinion on their constitutionality. In addition,... Read More...
Braun bill to boost state’s mental-health system approved
February 16, 2016
Today the state Senate approved legislation introduced by Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia to expand the pool of medical professionals capable of addressing mental-health needs of Washingtonians. Senate Bill 6445, which cleared the Senate unanimously, would clarify state law to include physician assistants in the delivery of mental-health services. “Our state... Read More...
Senate approves Braun bill to bring timber money back to schools
February 16, 2016
The state Senate today approved Sen. John Braun’s legislation that would make permanent a state policy that returns money from federal timber sales to local schools. Senate Bill 6292 would eliminate the reduction of state school funding to districts based on what they receive in federal forest revenues. The measure... Read More...
Report from Olympia: Don’t miss these important updates!
February 09, 2016
Greetings Friends and Neighbors, You received this email report because you are a 20th Legislative District resident. Under election-related rules, Senators who are up for re-election later this year – including me – are allowed to send two e-newsletters to those who have not actively subscribed to them. If you... Read More...
District survey results
February 03, 2016
Late last year I conduced a survey of our legislative district to receive input on issues that the Legislature would possibly be considering this session. Please take a look at how our neighbors responded to the survey. Read More...
Braun legislation would make collective bargaining more transparent
February 02, 2016
Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia reintroduced legislation, Senate Bill 5329 that would require public employees’ union negotiations to be open to the public. Currently these negotiations are exempt from Washington’s progressive open meetings requirement.   “I believe that this is an important policy for our state because the current process is... Read More...