Newsletter 2023 Sept. 12: Thank you for participating in my 7th annual listening tour! (west) Sept. 12: Thank you for participating in my 7th annual listening tour! (east) August 31: You’re invited: Monroe Town Hall – Sept 6th at 6:30 pm August 22: Please join me for my 7th annual listening tour! August 21: Update on SR 203/Tolt Hill Road Intersection August 8: A closer look at Washington’s K-12 school funding July 18: Interim period busy with 12th District visits July 6: Transportation Updates – Hwy 18, SR 522, and US 2 June 26: Delayed long-term care tax soon to take effect June 13: A warm spring has increased our wildfire threat (west) June 13: A warm spring has increased our wildfire threat (east) June 1: New drug possession law is a positive step forward May 12: Legislators to return to State Capitol to address state’s drug possession law April 24: Legislature approves budgets and adjourns session (east) April 24: Legislature approves budgets and adjourns session (west) April 18: Legislature approves Regional Sports Complex bill April 11: Renewable hydrogen to be produced in Washington! March 29: Confluence Parkway scheduled for funding in transportation budgets! March 28: A closer look into our property tax system (West) March 28: A closer look into our property tax system (East) March 23: Thank you, City of Carnation! March 23: Supporting Highway 18 improvements March 22: Apple Blossom Royalty visit State Capitol March 21: A closer look into the state operating budget March 7: Legislative session crosses its halfway point March 3: Supporting Highway 2 improvements in Sultan March 1: Status update on the State Route 522 project February 21: Legislature to develop state budgets for the next two years February 16: Take my survey on voter approval for school bonds February 7: Take my 5-minute housing survey January 24: Legislature on day 16 of its 105-day session January 10: Washington’s 2023 legislative session has begun! 2022 December 27: Looking ahead to the 2023 Legislative Session December 21, 2022: Please join me for my Legislative Session Previews! December 13, 2022: Questions & Answers about Regional Aquatic Center-Sports Complex December 6, 2022: Washington must continue its focus on wildfires (West) December 6, 2022: Washington must continue its focus on wildfires (East) November 23 2022: 2023 Legislative Session Aide position open now! November 21, 2022: Thank you for participating in my 6th annual Listening Tour November 9, 2022: Welcoming you to the 12th Legislative District! October 18, 2022: Working together to support housing solutions October 4, 2022: Regional aquatic center discussions continue September 20, 2022: Thank you for supporting my sixth annual listening tour! September 6, 2022: Regional aquatic center would benefit us all August 22, 2022: Please join me for my sixth annual listening tour! July 1, 2022: Wishing you and your family a Happy July 4th! May 11, 2022: Looking forward to a busy summer season! April 12, 2022: Take my five-minute survey on climate policies March 11, 2022: Legislature approves budget updates and adjourns session March 8, 2022: Legislature approves my bipartisan affordable housing bill March 1, 2022: A closer look into our property tax system February 22, 2022: Washington must continue its focus on wildfires February 15, 2022: Legislature approves Washington redistricting maps February 10, 2022: Democratic leaders release new transportation funding proposal February 8, 2022: 2022 legislative session reaches its halfway point February 1, 2022: Reviewing the 2021-23 state budgets January 25, 2022: My voluntary school district consolidation bill approved by Senate education committee January 17, 2022: Beginning the second week of the 60-day legislative session January 10, 2022: Washington’s 2022 legislative session begins today! January 3, 2022: Hawkins proposes Highway 2 traffic flow and safety bill 2021 December 13, 2021: Working together to find housing solutions December 6, 2021: A closer look at my school district consolidation proposal December 3, 2021: Serving the Methow Valley has been a tremendous honor – Thank You! November 16, 2021: Redistricting Commission does not pass final plan for statewide maps November 11, 2021: Thankful for our veterans today and every day! November 5, 2021: Some Washington school districts exploring school calendar reforms October 19, 2021: Reviewing the state’s new long-term care tax October 5, 2021: Thank you for supporting my fifth annual listening tour! September 24, 2021: Redistricting Commission releases proposed state legislative maps September 15, 2021: Answering some “frequently asked questions” August 30, 2021: Please join me for my 5th annual listening tour! August 25, 2021: Please take my survey about the COVID vaccine mandates! August 20, 2021: Thank you for sharing your concerns about state mandates August 18, 2021: As school begins across Washington, let’s not forget the importance of local control August 3, 2021: Police reform laws bringing sweeping changes to law enforcement July 29, 2021: Redistricting process to establish key boundaries for the next 10 years July 1, 2021: 12th District events continue in the interim months June 1, 2021: Proud to support Washington agriculture! April 29, 2021: Legislature adjourns the session following budget approvals April 22, 2021: Legislature continues its focus on Washington wildfires April 15, 2021: A closer look into our property tax system April 8, 2021: Updating the status of recent 12th District capital projects April 1, 2021: Please take my survey on voter approval for school construction bonds! March 25, 2021: Methow Valley’s biochar project funded in Senate budget March 18, 2021: Fewer bills remain as Legislature enters its second half of session March 11, 2021: A closer look into the state operating budget March 6, 2021: Why I voted “no” on state income tax proposal passed by Senate March 2, 2021: Review our transportation priorities and take my gas tax survey! February 23, 2021: State Legislature to develop budgets for 2021-2023 February 16, 2021: Proud to partner with Chelan PUD and DNR on utility wildland fire bill February 9, 2021: State should encourage schools to think differently about “learning loss” February 2, 2021: Virtual legislative session moving forward January 26, 2021: What to expect during this year’s legislative session January 18, 2021: State must protect our essential workers from COVID-19 January 11, 2021: Serving you is our number one priority! January 1, 2021: Wishing you a Happy New Year and answering some frequently asked questions! 2020 December 29, 2020: NCW continues to lead on clean energy December 16, 2020: Please take my three-question survey about the COVID vaccine December 11, 2020: Thank you for supporting my virtual listening tour! December 2, 2020: Please join me for my 4th annual listening tour! May 8, 2020: Wenatchi Landing sewer extension project moving forward May 1, 2020: Governor extends his “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order through May 31 April 2, 2020: Governor extends “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order through May 4 March 24, 2020: COVID-19 resources and information links March 17, 2020: Washington state taking aggressive steps to respond to COVID-19 virus March 13, 2020: 60-day legislative session adjourns, statewide school closures March 9, 2020: Legislature begins final week of session March 3, 2020: Senate approves its budget proposals February 26: Apple Blossom Court visits the State Capitol February 24, 2020: Water transfer study proposed in Senate budget February 21, 2020: Updated capital budget proposed by Senate February 17, 2020: Hydropower tax incentive bill approved by Senate February 10, 2020: 2020 session proceeding quickly February 3, 2020: Take my three-question survey on comprehensive sex education January 27, 2020: Apple license plate bill receives positive hearing January 20, 2020: Celebrating Washington apples with special license plate January 13, 2020: 2020 legislative session begins 2019 November 27, 2019: A fast legislative session is approaching November 8, 2019: Honoring our veterans! October 23, 2019: 12th District capital projects update October 1, 2019: Legislature begins pre-session activities September 13, 2019: Thanks for supporting my recent listening tour! September 5, 2019: You’re invited to the Chelan Butte community hike Sept. 7 at 9 a.m. August 5, 2019: Visit with me during district listening tour in early September July 1, 2019: Wishing you and your family a Happy Fourth of July June 10, 2019: Interim time begins with events in 12th District April 29, 2019: Legislature adjourns on final day of session April 22, 2019: Reinvigorating hydropower…at the state Capitol April 18, 2019: Squilchuck forest health treatment to conclude this year April 10, 2019: Honoring the Methow headwaters April 9, 2019: PUD “renewable hydrogen” bill approved by Legislature April 4, 2019: Please take my three-question survey about the vaccine bill March 29, 2019: Wenatchi Landing sewer extension will provide lasting economic benefits March 27, 2019: Apple Blossom Court visit the State Capitol March 12, 2019: 2019-21 state capital budget in development February 26, 2019: DNR’s 10-year wildfire strategic plan February 22, 2019: Supporting education funding and property owners February 12, 2019: Two-year transportation budget being developed January 29, 2019: Legislature to develop new state operating budget January 14, 2019: 2019 legislative session begins January 2, 2019: A new year and new session 2018 November 28, 2018: NCW officials host important pre-session discussions November 9, 2018: Session Aide Position Open for 2019 Session November 1, 2018: Reviewing local transportation priorities and state funding October 1, 2018: Thanks for the support for my recent listening tour! August 30, 2018: Visit with me during my district listening tour August 1, 2018: Crews work to contain four NCW wildfires July 2, 2018: Wishing you and your family a Happy July 4th June 1, 2018: Interim time devoted to district meetings May 8, 2018: Honoring our teachers – We appreciate you! April 17, 2018: Work to reduce our wildfire risk continues March 27, 2018: Governor signs my two bills that won unanimous approval March 9, 2018: 60-day Legislative session adjourns with approval of state budgets March 8, 2018: Approved transportation budget supports important local projects March 1, 2018: Spotlight moves to budgets as session enters homestretch February 22, 2018: Apple Blossom Royal Court brightens the Capitol for a day February 19, 2018: Please take my 5-minute survey on the proposed carbon tax February 14, 2018: Busiest week of 2018 session concludes later today February 6, 2018: Committees pause while work moves to Senate floor January 30, 2018: Advocating for Saddle Rock in Olympia…and enjoying it back home! January 23, 2018: New law intended to resolve Hirst issue about rural water availability January 19, 2018: Long-awaited capital budget receives legislative approval January 18, 2018: Committee considers legislation stemming from my ‘listening tour’ January 11, 2018: Traditions, local voices featured as session opens January 4, 2018: Session to begin Monday, with changes in Senate 2017 December 1, 2017: Thinking big and working together to meet regional needs November 9, 2017: Thanks for making my first listening tour a success! October 5, 2017: Saddle Rock Community Hike this Saturday (Oct. 7) at 9 a.m. September 26, 2017: Visit with me in our district on October 5, 6 or 7 September 6, 2017: Update on remaining 2017 issues, activities in and around 12th District August 7, 2017: Forest Health Summit in Wenatchee is latest positive step toward reducing wildfire risk July 1, 2017: New state budget passed by Legislature is bold step forward April 13, 2017: Forest-health bill advances to the governor’s desk April 7, 2017: Senate approves transportation budget with new support for local project April 4, 2017: Senate capital budget includes investments for 12th District March 27, 2017: New Senate budget has strong emphasis on education March 23, 2017: Apple Blossom royalty visit state Capitol March 21, 2017: Budget proposals released; new progress on ag-wage bill March 16, 2017: Senate’s focus turns to finishing work on trio of budget proposals March 9, 2017: First round of voting completed, senators return to committee work March 2, 2017: A busy week as Senate passes halfway point of 2017 session Feb. 24, 2017: Committees concluding work on Senate bills; resolution honors Wilfred Woods Feb. 15, 2017: Committee unanimously supports ‘megafire’-inspired forest-health bill Feb. 7, 2017: ‘Megafires’ and my wildfire bill are focus of committee meeting Thursday Feb. 3, 2017: Important progress toward full funding of K-12 education Jan. 26, 2017: Week 3 brings change to Senate Jan. 19, 2017: Legislature moves into second week of session Jan. 13, 2017: 2017 session under way at the state Capitol