Tag Archives: Sen. Jeff Holy

E-newsletter: Spokane Wildfire Resources

Dear Friends,

Like many of our neighbors in the Medical Lake/Four Lakes area, my family was notified to evacuate our home Friday afternoon because of the Spokane Gray Wildfire.

This situation is grave for those who have lost everything; and it is extremely difficult for those who have had to relocate and cannot get home.

I have been in many meetings over the weekend with the Mayor of Medical Lake Terri Cooper and state/local officials. I prioritized spending time at the Red Cross station at Spokane Falls Community College to meet with displaced families.

On Sunday, we were able to see first-hand the devastation at the Spokane Gray Wildfire site. The extent of the damage cannot be overstated. I am proud and thankful that our community has stepped up with volunteers and donations to give whatever they have, to those who have lost so much.

I am including state and local resource information below for you to use and to share with anyone who may need them as we navigate this disaster. Since the Spokane County Commissioners and the Governor have declared both a County-wide and State Emergency – I will be sharing more information on available government assistance and resources as they become available.

The Washington Emergency Management Division
Spokane County Emergency Management
Emergency Alert and Warning Notifications for Spokane County – Register for ALERT Spokane
Spokane County
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
Department of Social and Human Services: Washington Connection offers you a way to find and apply for a variety of services and assistance online. By entering in basic household information, Washington Connection will let you know what programs or services you or your family may be qualified to receive from various state, federal or local sources. As always, people can apply in person at a local CSO (Office Locator | DSHS (wa.gov)) or by calling the Customer Services Contact Center at 877-501-2233.

As always, if you are having difficulty contacting a state agency for assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office: 509-456-2747.

Best,

Governor signs Holy bill to address nurse shortage

A bipartisan bill sponsored by 6^th District Sen. Jeff Holy that helps address Washington’s nursing shortage was signed by Gov. Jay Inslee today.

Senate Bill 5582 aims to increase the number of nurses in the state by reducing barriers and expanding educational opportunities in this field.

Holy said the state Employment Security Department has reported that nursing is the occupation most in demand by employers in Washington.

“We have a great demand for nurses but there are many nursing positions that are unfilled,” said Holy, the ranking Republican on the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee. “Our nursing shortage could have a negative impact on our state’s health-care system. The nurse shortage is a problem not only for hospitals but also nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. This bill is a good way to encourage more people to become registered nurses and licensed practical nurses so we can address this important need.”

SB 5582 gives the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges until December 2024 to develop a plan to train more nurses. The plan must prioritize expanding or creating programs that increase capacity to train nurses at the Bachelor of Nursing level, expand training opportunities for rural and underserved students, and are in partnership with public four-year universities. The bill also directs the SBCTC to develop an online curriculum to earn a licensed practical nurse credential.

Holy’s measure also creates a pilot project that brings high-school students in training to become certified nursing assistants together with understaffed rural hospitals, to help address workforce shortages while promoting nursing careers in rural hospitals.

“Rural communities in our state have especially been affected by the nursing shortage,” said Holy, R-Cheney. “The lack of nurses in rural hospitals is forcing patients to drive long distances to see a nurse and receive treatment. This bill will help ensure there will be enough nurses in rural hospitals.”

SB 5582 was passed by the Senate 48-0 on March 6 and 97-0 by the House of Representatives on April 7.

Sen. Holy statement on Senate Democrats’ proposal to raise property taxes

After Senate Democrats introduced a measure today (Senate Bill 5770) that would allow state and local property taxes in Washington to grow at a rate triple the current limit, 6^th District Sen. Jeff Holy, R-Cheney, issued this statement in opposition to the proposal.

“The Legislature should not consider bills that would raise property taxes, especially this late in the session. So many people in our state are still struggling with inflation and the return of higher fuel prices. Raising property taxes at a time like this is about the worst idea you can consider. It is unreasonable and insensitive. If this bill becomes law, it just shows how in love Democrats are with taxes and taking away money from hard-working people.

“This bill is a slap in the face of Washington voters who passed Initiative 747 in 2001 to cap property-tax increases to 1 percent annually. More than 57 percent of the state’s voters approved this measure, including about 60 percent in Spokane County. It’s insulting to the voters that Senate Democrats think it’s OK now to dramatically raise property taxes.

“At the same time Democrats are expressing concern about homelessness, their bill to increase the property tax at this compounding rate could result in making homeless those who are just hanging on to a home when the cost of living is rapidly increasing and so many people live on fixed incomes. The American promise always has been that if you work hard, pay your debts and save much of your money, you will be self-sufficient when you retire. Yet in conversations with many constituents, the comment I’ve heard many times has been that the monthly cost of taxes is now greater than the monthly mortgage payment they paid to buy the property. This is wrong. Senate Bill 5770 will make things worse for many homeowners.

“At $6,220 a year in taxes paid per person, Washington already has the 13th highest state and local tax burden per capita in the nation – higher than Idaho or Oregon. Instead of looking for yet more ways to take money away from taxpayers, we should instead look for ways to make better use of existing tax dollars.”

SB 5770 has been sent to the Senate Ways and Means Committee for consideration.

The 2023 legislative session is scheduled to end April 23.

Holy: Senate capital budget funds projects in Airway Heights, Medical Lake

The 2023-25 state capital budget unanimously approved by the Senate today includes funding for three important community projects in Airway Heights, Medical Lake and Spokane.

The Senate’s proposed capital budget includes $2 million for community projects that include improving the Airway Heights Public Safety Campus, additional funding for the Spokane International Airport Transload Center and building a stormwater mitigation system in Medical Lake.

The proposed spending plan also provides $16.8 million for the renovation of the Spokane Hatchery. This renovation plays a major role in protecting and preserving the trout that are raised in the hatchery.

“I am pleased with the capital budget that was approved by the Senate today,” said Holy, R-Cheney. “This budget will fund community projects in Airway Heights and Medical Lake, as well as provide funding to improve social and health services and to renovate the hatchery in Spokane.”

The Senate capital budget allotted $35.6 million to the Department of Social and Health Services to make improvements to health-care facilities within the 6^th District. The funding is for a predesigned study to assess and make recommendations necessary to modernize the existing agency telecommunications system.

The Senate’s capital budget will also fund these projects in the 6^th District:

Eastern State Hospital commissary building repairs ($5.43 million)
Eastern State Hospital Activity Therapy Building HVAC upgrades ($3.71 million)
Department of Veterans Affairs – burial and columbarium expansion grant ($3.3 million)
Conservation project at Riverside State Park Little Spokane River Robinson property ($1.46 million)

The House of Representatives is expected to release its proposed capital budget next week. After the House passes its version, capital budget leaders from the Senate and House will meet to negotiate a final version of the plan.

The 2023 legislative session is scheduled to end April 23.

Holy bill to create rare-diseases advisory council moving through Senate

A bill that would add Washington to the handful of states with advisory councils on rare diseases is once again moving through the Senate.

Senate Bill 5097, a bipartisan proposal introduced by 6th District Sen. Jeff Holy, would establish an advisory council on rare diseases within the state Department of Health to advise on research, diagnosis, treatment and education related to rare diseases. Under the measure, the advisory council must submit annual reports on the council’s work and other findings and recommendations to the governor and Legislature starting Dec. 1, 2026.

“This bill would benefit those in Washington who suffer from a rare disease, as well as those who might be afflicted with a rare disease in the future,” said Holy, R-Cheney. “Rare diseases take a substantial financial and emotional toll on patients and their families. This bill could help this vulnerable population by creating an advisory council to focus on the concerns of rare-disease patients in our state. Hopefully, that work will provide better support for all patients with rare diseases in Washington, as well as fewer deaths, through early diagnosis and intervention. The bill also would help physicians by giving them access to a database on rare diseases.”

Senate Bill 5097 was unanimously passed last week by the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee. It now is before the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

A rare disease is defined as any condition that affects fewer than 200,000 people in America. Rare diseases include genetic conditions, infections, cancers and autoimmune diseases. The National Institutes of Health estimates there may be as many as 7,000 rare diseases, and that 25 million to 30 million Americans may be living with a rare disease.

Under the proposal, the rare-diseases advisory council would consist of 12 voting members serving three-year terms, including four clinicians and researchers specializing in rare diseases, four people representing patients, the director of the program for children with special health-care needs, a representative from the state Health Care Authority, and two representatives from the life-sciences industry focusing on developing therapeutic products for rare-disease patients or related research efforts. The bill calls for the secretary of the state Department of Health to serve as an ex-officio nonvoting member and to select the council’s chair.

The bill calls for the council to establish, by 2026, a centralized, publicly accessible repository of information that catalogs rare-disease research underway in Washington. The repository also would provide best-practice standards of care for health-care providers, containing the most effective strategies for recognizing and treating rare diseases, and informational resources for rare-disease patients seeking access to clinical care.

Last year, Holy prime-sponsored a similar proposal, Senate Bill 5886, that was unanimously approved by the Senate before stalling in the House Health Care and Wellness Committee.

Senate panel passes Holy bill to help communities hire more officers

A bipartisan bill sponsored by 6^th District Sen. Jeff Holy that aims to reestablish public safety across Washington by halting an exodus of law-enforcement officers has been passed by the Senate Law and Justice Committee.

Senate Bill 5361 would provide cities and counties with more funding to hire more officers.

“Washington now has fewer law-enforcement officers per capita than any state. This decrease in officers, combined with the sharp increase in crime, is making communities less safe,” said Holy, R-Cheney. “Restoring public safety is one of the main priorities for our Senate Republican Caucus this session. This bill would help cities and counties hire more officers, which can only help reduce crime.”

During the committee’s public hearing on SB 5361 on Tuesday, several officials with local-government agencies or organizations and law-enforcement agencies testified strongly in favor of the proposal, including the Washington State Association of Counties, Association of Washington Cities, Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, Clark County Sheriff John Horch, Port Angeles Police Chief Brian Smith and Lewis County Commissioner Sean Swope. Representatives with the Downtown Spokane Partnership and Washington Retail Association also testified in support of the measure.

“The positive testimony on this bill by local government and law enforcement clearly shows this would be an effective way to reduce crime and improve public safety in our communities,” said Holy. “Smaller cities and counties often can’t afford to pay their portion for future officers to attend a police academy, and they sometimes can’t afford to replace officers who are leaving the force or retiring. This bill would promote having an adequate number of officers on the streets to keep our communities safer.”

Holy’s proposal has two components. First, it would direct 0.1% of the current state sales tax to local governments to let them hire more law-enforcement personnel. The bill is expected to produce about $250 million a year to help cities and counties hire more officers. The revenues would be used by local governments to hire law-enforcement officers up to at least the national average per capita (2.4 per 1,000). Once that threshold is reached, local governments could use the funds in ways they consider best to reduce crime.

“This bill would not raise taxes but instead would redirect existing revenue toward hiring more law-enforcement officers,” explained Holy.

SB 5361 also would increase the number of training classes at the state’s basic law enforcement academy to a minimum of 25 per year.

“There is a long backlog at the academy, which is causing hired officers to have to wait several months to get the training they need to be on patrol. More training slots mean more hired officers can get to work in communities sooner,” said Holy.

SB 5361, which was approved by the Law and Justice Committee late last week, now goes to the Senate Ways and Means Committee for further consideration.

Holy: Supplemental capital budget funds key housing project in Airway Heights

The supplemental state capital budget approved by the Legislature today includes money for two important housing projects in Airway Heights and Spokane, said 6th District Sen. Jeff Holy.

The updated capital budget includes $3 million requested by Holy for the Highland Village housing project in Airway Heights. The money will help fill an unforeseen funding gap in an effort to create an additional 50 units of affordable housing.

“The greater Spokane region has a real need to create new and affordable housing options for our community members who need them, and we need to act now because rent prices continue to rise,” said Holy, R-Cheney. “I’m optimistic that the Highland Village project can significantly help our area’s housing crisis, and I’m thankful the capital budget provides critical funding to move the project closer to being finished.”

Highland Village is a collaborative initiative, primarily led by Community Frameworks and Habitat for Humanity, with plans to create both rental and homeownership options for people with lower incomes. The project’s developers are promoting the housing opportunities to residents of mobile-home parks near Fairchild Air Force Base.

Holy singled out three Community Frameworks officials – President and CEO Deb Elzinga, Development Finance Manager Chris Venne and Real Estate Development Director John Chatburn – for bringing the project to his attention and meeting with him during the legislative session to help ensure the project would be included in the capital budget that was passed today.

“Deb Elzinga, Chris Venne and John Chatburn are passionate about creating more affordable housing in our area for those who need it, and they have been absolutely committed to making sure there was funding included in the capital budget to help Highland Village become closer to reality,” said Holy.

Other 6th District projects funded in the capital budget include:

St. Agnes House in Spokane ($1.5 million)
Eastern State Hospital emergency electrical system upgrade ($1.45 million)
South Area commercial sewer infrastructure extension in Airway Heights ($300,000)
West Plains Childcare Center in Airway Heights ($191,000)
Department of Corrections projects at Airway Heights Corrections Center ($1.8 million)

Senate and House negotiators reached a final agreement on the state capital budget earlier this week. The House passed the supplemental capital budget 98-0 Tuesday night. The Senate voted 49-0 today to concur, or agree, with the amended version of the capital budget that was approved by the House.

The 2022 legislative session is scheduled to end Thursday.

Senate approves resolution honoring former EWU football star Cooper Kupp

Two weeks after he was named most valuable player in the Los Angeles Rams’ 23-20 Super Bowl win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Yakima native and former Eastern Washington University football star Cooper Kupp received an honor closer to home when the Senate today passed a resolution celebrating his football career, work ethic and humility.

The resolution recognizing Kupp was sponsored by 6^th District Sen. Jeff Holy, R-Cheney, and 14^th District Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima. The resolution can be viewed here.

Kupp, who starred in football and basketball at Davis High School in Yakima, set several national records as wide receiver at Eastern before being drafted in the third round by the Rams in 2017. Kupp was named first-team All-Pro for the recently concluded 2021 season after leading the National Football League in receptions (145, second most in a season in NFL history), receiving yards (1,947, also second most in a season in league history) and receiving touchdowns (16).

During his floor speech on the resolution, Holy, whose district includes EWU, said there is more to Cooper Kupp than his amazing athletic performances.

“Let’s talk about being a role model,” said Holy. “Cooper Kupp is a family man who, along with being a man of strong faith and moral base, also seems to understand that he has an opportunity to provide an example for others and to be a role model for those coming behind him.

“Cooper Kupp seems to live his faith in his involvement in the community and several charitable organizations, including Spokane’s own Second Harvest. Focus, achievement, loyalty, role model. Today I’m proud to honor Cooper Kupp, not only as a role model for so many, but the quality of man that we’d all like to have as a friend,” added Holy.

TVW’s coverage of the reading of the floor resolution and Holy’s comments about Kupp can be viewed here.

Local-government, law-enforcement officials testify in favor of Holy bill to help communities hire more officers

Sen. Jeff Holy’s effort to reestablish public safety across Washington by halting an exodus of law-enforcement officers received strong support when it came before the Senate Ways and Means Committee yesterday.

Officials with local-government organizations and law-enforcement agencies testified firmly in favor of the 6th District senator’s proposal, Senate Bill 5841, which would provide cities and counties with more funding to hire more officers.

“The positive testimony clearly shows this would be an effective way to reduce crime and improve public safety in our communities,” said Holy, R-Cheney. “Smaller cities and counties often can’t afford to pay their portion for future officers to attend a police academy, and they sometimes can’t afford to replace officers who are leaving the force or retiring. This bill would promote having an adequate number of officers on the streets to keep our communities safer.”

Officials with the Association of Washington Cities, Washington Association of Counties, and Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs testified in support of SB 5841, as did Wenatchee Police Chief Steve Crown and Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict.

“Washington now has fewer law-enforcement officers per capita than any state, and the decrease in officers, combined with the sharp increase in crime, is making communities less safe,” said Holy. “Restoring public safety is one of the main priorities for our Senate Republican Caucus this session. This bill would help cities and counties hire more officers and reduce crime.”

SB 5841 also would increase the number of training classes at the state’s basic law enforcement academy to a minimum of 25 per year.

“There is a long backlog that is causing hired officers to have to wait several months to get the training they need to be on patrol. More training slots mean more hired officers can get to work in their communities sooner,” said Holy.