Sen. Brad Hawkins’ bill to promote hydrogen-powered vehicles is now a state law. Gov. Jay Inslee today signed Senate Bill 5000, which establishes an eight-year statewide pilot project for the reduction of sales tax on purchases of fuel-cell electric vehicles. The Senate passed the bill 49-0 in March and the...

Sen. Brad Hawkins’ bill to promote hydrogen-powered vehicles has been approved by the Legislature. The House of Representatives today voted 93-4 to approve Senate Bill 5000, which would establish an eight-year statewide pilot project for the reduction of sales tax on purchases of fuel-cell electric vehicles. The Senate last month...

A proposal introduced by 12th District Sen. Brad Hawkins to implement recommendations of a key electric utilities wildfire group was approved today 98-0 by the House. Senate Bill 5158 would direct state Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz to work with the Utility Wildland Fire Prevention Advisory Committee to implement...

News that state government can expect a very large increase in future revenue simply reinforces arguments by legislative Republicans that the state’s financial condition is solid and that a Democratic proposal to create a state income tax on capital gains is unnecessary, said 12th District Sen. Brad Hawkins. The state...

The Senate today voted 25-24 to pass Senate Bill 5096, a proposal that seeks to create a state income tax on capital gains. Following the bill’s passage today, 12th District Sen. Brad Hawkins, who voted against the proposal, issued this statement: “The Senate’s passage of a state income tax is...

Sen. Brad Hawkins’ bill to promote hydrogen-powered vehicles has cleared a major hurdle. The Senate today voted 49-0 to approve Senate Bill 5000, which would establish an eight-year statewide pilot project for the reduction of sales tax on purchases of fuel-cell electric vehicles. “I’m pleased to see such strong support...

A bipartisan bill that 12th District Sen. Brad Hawkins introduced this year after a request by a tow-truck operator located in his district is now one major step closer to becoming law. The Senate today voted 47-1 to pass Senate Bill 5406, which would help tow-truck operators gain payment for...

Legislation introduced by 12th District Sen. Brad Hawkins to implement recommendations by the Electric Utilities Wildland Fire Prevention Task Force on ways to prevent wildfires was approved today 46-0 by the Senate. Senate Bill 5158 would direct state Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz to work with the Utility Wildland...

A bill prime-sponsored by 12th District Sen. Brad Hawkins aimed at learning recovery due to impacts of the COVID pandemic, including a pilot project to help districts voluntarily reform their school calendars, was approved today by the Senate Ways and Means Committee. As amended and passed by the committee, Hawkins’...