Brown named a vice chair of budget-writing Ways and Means Committee Today State Sen. Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick, was named a vice chair of the key Senate budget-writing committee – Ways and Means – as the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus set committee rosters for the 2017 legislative session. “This is expected to be one of the most challenging and important budget years... Read More...

House passes Brown bill to support local infrastructure and jobs Today the House of Representatives passed a measure sponsored by Sen. Sharon Brown that is aimed at stimulating private development and creating jobs by assisting local governments with public-infrastructure investments. Approved with a broad bipartisan vote of 94-3, Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5109 would direct the Department of Commerce... Read More...

House passes Brown’s Cyber Security Jobs Act On Thursday, the House of Representatives voted 95-0 to approve the Cyber Security Jobs Act – a measure sponsored by Sen. Sharon Brown, aimed at making Washington a national leader in cyber security. “Washington is home to groundbreaking cyber security research and development,” said Brown, R-Kennewick. “Pacific Northwest National Laboratory... Read More...

Jason’s Law passes out of the House unanimously Today the House of Representatives unanimously approved Jason’s Law, sponsored by Sen. Sharon Brown to allow stiffer prison sentences in vehicular-homicide cases. Brown introduced her measure in response to an April 2, 2015, hit-and-run in Pasco that took the life of 36-year-old Kennewick father Jason E. Smith. A gang member was... Read More...

Jason’s Law one step closer to being law after clearing House Public Safety Committee Today the House Public Safety Committee unanimously approved Jason’s Law – a measure sponsored by Sen. Sharon Brown that would strengthen the state’s vehicular-homicide sentencing guidelines.  The measure was introduced in response to an April 2, 2015, hit-and-run in Pasco that took the life of 36-year-old Kennewick father Jason E. Smith.... Read More...

Brown measure would take ‘real-world’ look at economic impact of revenue bills On Wednesday the Senate unanimously approved a fiscal-reform measure sponsored by Sen. Sharon Brown that would establish a new approach for looking at the impact large-scale revenue measures would have on the economy.    “The fiscal notes we are all familiar with only ask agencies to determine their actual cost of... Read More...

Brown bill to support local infrastructure and jobs passes Senate with broad bipartisan support This release was corrected on Feb. 18, 2016 Today the Senate passed a measure sponsored by Sen. Sharon Brown that is aimed at stimulating private development and creating jobs by assisting local governments with public-infrastructure investments. Approved with a broad bipartisan vote of 40-9, Senate Bill 5109 would change the application... Read More...

Brown bill to lower energy costs and create jobs moves to House for third straight year SB 5094 would allow federal hydro efficiency improvements to count as renewable Sen. Sharon Brown is once again calling on the House of Representatives to set politics aside and allow a vote on her bill to reduce energy costs for residents and employers by formally recognizing federal incremental hydropower as... Read More...

Senate unanimously passes Brown’s Cyber Security Jobs Act On Thursday the Senate unanimously approved the Cyber Security Jobs Act – a measure sponsored by Sen. Sharon Brown, aimed at making Washington a national leader in cyber security. “Washington is home to groundbreaking cyber security research and development,” said Brown, R-Kennewick. “Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in the Tri-Cities is... Read More...

Senate unanimously passes Jason’s Law Sen. Sharon Brown’s bill to allow longer vehicular-homicide sentences moves to the House of Representatives Today the Senate unanimously approved a bill that would let Washington judges hand down stiffer sentences for vehicular homicide. The measure, known as Jason’s Law, is sponsored by Sen. Sharon Brown and was introduced in response to... Read More...