Rep. Harris bill to allow judges to consider harsher penalties for negligent driving signed into law
The governor signed a bill on Tuesday that allows judges to hold negligent drivers to greater accountability and give justice to vulnerable victims of accidents. House Bill 1112, from Rep. Paul Harris, will allow judges, at their discretion, to impose criminal penalties for negligent driving involving the death of a...
Read More
Please join us for our 17th District virtual town hall on Wednesday
I hope this short letter finds you well. Thank you again for allowing me to serve you in Olympia. I wanted to remind you that I will join my 17th District seatmates this week, Rep. Kevin Waters, R-Stevenson, and Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, for a virtual town-hall meeting to discuss...
Read More
Session recap from Rep. Paul Harris: Public safety, final state budgets, and successful bills
The 2023 legislative session ended as scheduled, on Sunday, April 23. Like every session, this one had pros and cons. Unfortunately, there were also a lot of missed opportunities to pass legislation that would have made a real difference. As your state legislator, I understand I represent everyone from the...
Read More
Lawmakers from the 17th District to host virtual town hall on Wednesday, May 3
State lawmakers serving eastern Clark County and Skamania County, Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, and Reps. Paul Harris, R-Vancouver, and Kevin Waters, R-Stevenson will hold a virtual town hall meeting Wednesday, May 3, from 6 to 7 p.m. The one-hour meeting held over the Zoom platform will give constituents an opportunity...
Read More
Rep. Harris bill to expand medical assistants’ responsibilities signed into law
Washington state medical assistants’ duties and responsibilities have officially expanded after the governor signed into law a bill from Rep. Paul Harris on Thursday. House Bill 1073 does several things, including extending the expiration of a certified medical assistant interim permit to the issuance of a certified medical assistant certification....
Read More
Southwest Washington lawmakers oppose new tolling bill for I-5 bridge replacement project
The Washington State House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 5765 on Tuesday, which would open the door for tolling on the Interstate 5 bridge replacement project between Vancouver and Portland. The bill would allow for tolls to be set by mutual agreement between the two state Transportation Commissions, and a...
Read More
Update from Rep. Paul Harris: Police pursuit, drug possession, and state budget proposals
We are in the last few days of the 2023 legislative session. We still have a few remaining issues to resolve before we wrap up on April 23, including finalizing and passing the three state budgets – operating, transportation, and capital – for the next biennium. Vehicular Pursuit Update But first, one of the...
Read More
Harris bill to protect victims of negligent driving is one step closer to becoming law
A bill from Rep. Paul Harris designed to hold negligent drivers to greater accountability was unanimously passed by the Senate Wednesday. House Bill 1112 would allow judges, at their discretion, to impose criminal penalties for negligent driving involving the death of a vulnerable victim. It would also create a gross...
Read More
Senate sends Harris bill to expand medical assistants’ responsibilities to the governor
A bipartisan bill that would help increase access to certain medical care and procedures is headed to the governor’s desk, after passing the state Senate on Thursday. House Bill 1073, sponsored by Rep. Paul Harris, would extend the expiration of a certified medical assistant interim permit to the issuance of...
Read More