'Affordability is first'

OLYMPIA — Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, and the Republican Caucus Chair for the Washington State Senate, shared her legislative priorities for the upcoming session, which include increasing affordability, enhancing public safety and improving access to education — issues she believes are vital for the welfare of Washingtonians. 

"Affordability is first," said.  

She said, as the state approaches new legislative deliberations, the government needs to assess whether proposed projects will incur additional costs that could strain the state's budget.  

"'Should we be introducing bills that are going to cost more for the state?' It’s an essential question we must confront," Warnick said.  

She said the state had an unbalanced budget by the end of the first quarter because revenues were not coming in as expected.  

Public safety is Warnick's second significant priority. She said she has growing concerns over the declining number of law enforcement officers in Washington State.  

"We are down at the bottom," she said, citing statistics that place Washington among the lowest in the nation regarding law enforcement personnel per capita.  

According to the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, Washington is ranked 51st out of 50 states and the District of Columbia. The 2024 statistics show Washington had 1.38 officers per 1,000 people, with the national average sitting at 2.31 per 1,000.  

"We want to ensure that we have enough state patrol officers to cover the state, and we’re actively working to establish training centers for recruits," she said. 

Warnick also said there is a pressing need to address overcrowding issues in juvenile facilities. She said facilities are taxed beyond their capacity due to recent legislative changes allowing offenders up to age 25 to be housed there.  

"We’re exploring ways to relieve the overcrowding in the juvenile centers," Warnick said. 

She said she doesn’t have a bill for this overcrowding as of yet, but she said she is working with some people.  

Warnick serves as the ranking member on the higher education committee. She is particularly concerned about the impact of funding cuts to the Washington College Grant program, which now restricts usage for private and for-profit colleges.  

"When we're restricting where students can go to school, we aren’t preparing our workforce," she said. "That’s an essential piece if we are serious about workforce development." 

The senator announced plans to introduce a bill designed to restore access to Washington College Grants for private institutions.  

"We have students who may find themselves in their second or third year of college suddenly losing access to crucial financial support," she said. "It's vital that we protect our young people’s education." 

Warnick said there is an immediate need for infrastructure funding in light of waters inundating various parts of the state, affecting both housing and agriculture.  

"Our state is underwater, literally," she said, referring both to the financial strain on the state budget and the physical flooding causing harm to farmland and residential areas.   

"We are going to have to figure out how to help those farmers recover," she said, also mentioning the cooperation required from the federal government to gain access to emergency funds. On Dec. 12, President Donald Trump approved the Emergency Declaration for Washington.  

Another issue on Warnick’s agenda involves proposed legislation aimed at increasing disclosure requirements for insurance companies regarding wildfire risk scores, particularly affecting property owners in high-risk areas.  

“We’re working with the insurance commissioner to ensure that homeowners understand why they may or may not receive coverage,” she said. 

In addition to these priorities, Warnick plans to reintroduce a resolution honoring women’s sports in the state.

"This resolution is not meant to target anyone but rather to acknowledge the achievements of women in sports," she said.

She expressed frustration over the challenges in discussing issues regarding gender equity in athletics, which has stirred controversy. She said if the resolution is shot down, she may introduce a bill regarding transgender women in women’s athletics.

“It’s an issue, a concern, all the way from high school to some college competitions. It’s been a concern all the way up to the Olympics,” Warnick said. “It’s been frustrating me that it’s difficult to talk about, to seriously talk about it. I have not introduced a bill, but if I can't get that resolution heard, well, we will see.” 

Warnick also said she would like to help get a committee formed on agri-tourism.

“This is the only thing I have planned that will cost a little bit of money, so it may not happen,” Warnick said.  

As she prepares for the upcoming session, Warnick acknowledges the necessity of fiscal budget measures. 

"With the chair of the operating budget reminding us not to ask for anything that costs money, we must navigate our priorities carefully," she said. "It’s important we remain focused on issues that will provide benefits to our constituents with our budget in mind."