Legislature

Honeyford bill could lower energy costs in eastern Washington
April 24, 2013
Power rates in Washington could come down once Senate Bill 5400 becomes law. The measure – sponsored by Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside – deals with the costly provisions of the 2006 voter-approved Energy Independence Act, also known as Initiative 937. SB 5400 would help power companies with out-of-state customers find... Read More...
Halfway to the finish line of the 2013 session
March 26, 2013
We’ve passed the middle of the 2013 legislative session, and at this point the most significant deadline was reached on March 13. Known as “floor cutoff,” it was the last day most bills could be considered by their body of origin. In other words, all Senate bills considered not necessary... Read More...
Status of my bills in the House of Representatives
March 26, 2013
I am pleased to report the Senate passed 11 of my bills and sent them to the House of Representatives for consideration. Currently, 10 of my 11 bills have public hearings scheduled in various House Committees. The most important bill I sponsored this year is Senate Bill 5445 that provides... Read More...
Revenue forecast shows $2 billion more
March 26, 2013
On Wednesday, March 20, the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council announced we will have nearly two billion additional dollars for the 2013-15 operating budget. This news has been extremely well-received and has strengthened the resolve of the Majority Coalition Caucus to not raise your taxes. Despite reports to the... Read More...
Honeyford to host educational opportunity on unmanned aircraft
March 25, 2013
In an effort to bring attention to the positive, life-saving uses of unmanned aircraft in Washington, Sen. Jim Honeyford will sponsor an informational briefing Wednesday in the A/B/C conference room of the John A. Cherberg Building on the Capitol campus. The briefing will begin every hour on the hour from... Read More...
State Senate honors Filipino-Americans with Honeyford resolution
March 07, 2013
The Washington State Senate stood and applauded the Filipino-American community of Washington Wednesday after passing Senate Resolution 8617 sponsored by Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside. “There are large populations of Filipino-Americans in the 15th District and I’m proud to represent them in the Senate,” Honeyford said. “Their history and culture here... Read More...
State Senate honors Civil Air Patrol with Honeyford resolution
March 01, 2013
The Washington State Senate stood and applauded members of the Civil Air Patrol Thursday after passing Senate Resolution 8621 sponsored by Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside. “I’ve been involved with the Civil Air Patrol for more than four years now and I really enjoy the opportunities to guide and mentor some... Read More...
First deadline of the 2013 session has passed
February 26, 2013
Greetings, and thanks for reading my Olympia Report e-newsletter! The 2013 legislative session is well underway, and we’ve just passed our first cutoff deadline. Friday was the last day that policy committees in both the House of Representatives and the Senate could consider bills from their body of origin. This... Read More...
Funding schools – and school safety – first
February 26, 2013
I sponsored Senate Bill 5445, which is currently being considered by the House Capital Budget Committee. It would appropriate $10 million of capital funds to improve security at existing and future public schools based on the measures set forth in another bill, Senate Bill 5197. Two of the Majority Coalition... Read More...
More on my bills that survived cutoff
February 26, 2013
Senate Bill 5054 – Habitat and recreation lands. This bill would require the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources and State Parks to ask the Legislature for permission to acquire new land. Currently awaiting approval by the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Senate Bill 5056 –... Read More...