Paul Harris

Rep. Paul Harris discusses the 2022 legislative session, including public safety, the operating budget, and the new transportation spending package in his post-session newsletter.

Now that the 2022 legislative session has ended it’s time to reflect on what happened over the course of the last 60 days in Olympia. Like all sessions, this one had both good and bad results. Unfortunately, there were also a lot of missed opportunities to pass legislation that would...

There are only two weeks left in this legislative session, but we still have many bills to debate and vote on before we’re scheduled to wrap up on March 10. One of the biggest issues we need to tackle is the state’s three budgets. Policy cutoff is this Thursday, and...

We’re already two weeks into the 2022 legislative session, which is scheduled to last 60-days and be a sprint to the finish line. However, we have much to cover over the next seven weeks that will affect everyone in Washington. Although I wish we could meet in-person this year, we...

As we approach another legislative session, a lot has happened this interim that affects us all. There are so many important issues we must address as a state Legislature, including police reform and public safety, deregulation of drugs, the homelessness crisis, and much more. Republican lawmakers have been calling for...

On May 21, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) released updated guidance that will, in part, require employers to confirm whether or not employees are fully vaccinated. For more than a year now, business owners have complied with every mandate and restriction placed on them. They’ve jumped...

Rep. Paul Harris will participate in a virtual classroom event this week to help promote STEM programs in local schools. Covington Middle School will be receiving an educational grant from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), Friday. The $2,500 grant will go toward the Evergreen School District Foundation...

Sen. Lynda Wilson, Rep. Vicki Kraft and Rep. Paul Harris, all R-Vancouver, are inviting 17th District citizens to join them for a virtual town hall meeting to recap and discuss the unprecedented 2021 legislative session, and to hear from constituents. “The pandemic is causing us to meet virtually once again, but...

The historic 2021 legislative session is over. This is my sixth term as a state representative, and I don’t think I’ve ever left a session feeling as concerned as I do now. As you know this session was done virtually, which was difficult to navigate, but by-in-large, our remote session...