Phil Fortunato

Dear Friends and Neighbors, Thank you to everyone who planned to attend this week’s town halls in Bonney Lake and Edgewood. I truly appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedules to stay engaged. Unfortunately, I lost my voice due to illness and had to cancel those meetings. I know it’s not easy to...

  Dear Friends and Neighbors, In this update, I’m inviting you to my upcoming town halls and diving into three topics that don’t always make for easy conversation: our family court system, abortion, and gun control. People have strong opinions on these issues, and that’s exactly why we need to talk about them. We don’t make things...

Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, discusses gun control in Washington, expressing concern that legislative restrictions, including magazine limits and storage requirements, disadvantage law-abiding citizens. He maintains that under the state constitution, requirements such as training mandates may be considered an impairment of the right to self-defense.

  Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, discusses Washington’s abortion laws, noting that while abortion remains legal in the state, the focus should shift to a women’s health approach that ensures full transparency about risks and long-term outcomes. He emphasizes that abortion is a medical procedure with potential complications and argues that women should be provided with clear,...

One issue I’ve been hearing about more and more, and one that deserves closer attention, is how our family court system is impacting women and children. You’ve likely seen the headlines about failures within Washington’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Those cases are heartbreaking and have rightly drawn public attention and demands for greater...

OLYMPIA — Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, is inviting residents of the 31st Legislative District to attend a series of in-person town halls later this month to discuss the 2026 legislative session and hear directly from constituents. The meetings will take place in Edgewood/Milton, Bonney Lake/Sumner, Buckley, and Orting. Fortunato will provide an overview of the...

OLYMPIA — Sen. Phil Fortunato is requesting that Gov. Bob Ferguson order flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of American service members killed in recent military operations involving Iran, including Washington native Capt. Ariana G. Savino of Covington. In a letter sent March 19, Fortunato, joined by Reps. Drew Stokesbary and Joshua Penner,...

We’ve reached the end of the 2026 legislative session. Sine Die was Thursday, March 12 — and as always, there’s a lot to report. This is a longer update than usual, but it’s important you have the full picture of what happened this session and what it means for your family. Let me start with...

Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, breaks down Washington’s exploding state budget, which has doubled in a decade, and asks what taxpayers have to show for it. From rising homelessness and energy costs to new tax proposals, Fortunato argues lawmakers should focus on accountability, spending priorities, and results for families across Washington today.

During Senate floor debate on House Bill 1710, Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, spoke in opposition to expanding the Washington Voting Rights Act, warning the proposal could create costly bureaucracy and encourage litigation against local election officials. Fortunato argued the bill could force county auditors to seek approval from the Attorney General’s Office for routine election...

OLYMPIA… Will Graham, a freshman at Auburn Riverside, recently spent a week working as a page for the Washington State Senate at the Capitol in Olympia. Graham was one of 27 students who served as Senate pages for the seventh week of the 2026 legislative session. He was sponsored by Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, who...

  OLYMPIA — During debate on the Senate’s proposed supplemental operating budget, Sen. Phil Fortunato, R–Auburn, introduced an amendment to require a phased-in zero-based budgeting review of state spending. The amendment was not adopted. The Senate proposed operating budget, Senate Bill 5998, passed on a party-line vote of 30–19, with all Democrats voting yes and...

  Thank you for the opportunity to serve our community in the 31st Legislative District. In Olympia, I’m focused on practical solutions that keep Washington affordable, ensure accountability, and reflect the common-sense priorities of the people I work for every day. Today marks another deadline — Policy Committee Cutoff in the opposite chamber. From here, the...

  In this update, Sen. Phil Fortunato explains how bills must clear specific deadlines, from committee hearings to executive action, through Rules, and onto the Senate floor, in order to stay alive. Miss a step, and the bill is dead for the session. Fortunato also walks through what unfolded in the final half hour before...

Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, shares his perspective on two controversial bills. First, he examines a proposal to seal records for individuals who change their gender identity, raising concerns about its potential clash with an initiative protecting girls’ sports. Then, he dives into a second bill that would impose new qualifications for elected sheriffs — requirements...

  Several major policy proposals are moving quickly in Olympia and will soon be debated on the Senate floor. These decisions will have real impacts on Washington families, workers, and small businesses — and I want to hear directly from you. One proposal would create a new state income tax under Senate Bill 6346. I’ve...

  In this legislative update, Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, explains why Washington’s proposed income tax, Senate Bill 6346, is anything but harmless. For years, Washington promoted itself as a great place to live and do business because it had no personal or business income tax. That changed with the adoption of the capital gains tax....

  Testifying before the Senate Transportation Committee, Sen. Phil Fortunato, 31st Legislative District, speaks in support of his Senate Joint Memorial 8016, which addresses the prolonged closure of the Fairfax Bridge. The shutdown has severely affected emergency response, tourism, and small businesses in Wilkeson and the surrounding communities near Mount Rainier. The hearing also includes...

Dear Friends and Neighbors, Among the bills debated and voted on this week on the Senate floor were two measures that stirred strong reactions across our state: Senate Bill 5855 and Senate Bill 5067. Both were heard and voted on Jan. 28, and I want to explain how I voted and why. Senate Bill 5855...

  In this legislative update video, Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, explains why fast-tracking the Fairfax Bridge replacement is critical for communities in the 31st Legislative District and access to Mount Rainier. Fortunato outlines his push to move the project to a design-build process — a step that could shave a year or more off construction...

I’ve heard from hundreds of you about what is happening with ICE and immigration enforcement in Washington state. Many of you have asked why enforcement now looks different than it did in years past. For some background, federal immigration enforcement isn’t new. ICE has operated under Republican and Democratic presidents alike. What has changed are Washington state...

OLYMPIA — Legislation sponsored by Sen. Phil Fortunato to fast-track the emergency replacement of the Fairfax Bridge will receive a public hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 27. Senate Bill 5987 is in response to the closure of the Fairfax Bridge on State Route 165, which cut off access to parts of...

In video one of State Sen. Phil Fortunato’s “What I Think” series, he discusses the rising cost of living in Washington, highlighting issues like housing, gas prices, and inflation. Fortunato has introduced a bill to help low-income residents relocate to more affordable states, aiming to reduce financial strain and broaden opportunities.

Thank you for trusting me to represent you in Olympia. I take that responsibility seriously. Our district values independence and common sense, and I will continue fighting to protect your individual rights and freedoms while standing up for our communities, families, and small businesses. The 2026 legislative session officially began today, Jan. 12, and will...

OLYMPIA…Sen. Phil Fortunato (R-Auburn) is proposing legislation aimed at confronting Washington’s worsening housing and affordability crisis. As everyday costs continue to rise faster than wages for individuals and families across the state, more and more households find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle of rising rents, unaffordable home prices, and difficulty covering basic necessities. SB...

Across the country and here in Washington, we have seen troubling examples of people being harassed or even attacked simply because of what they believe or even what hat they wear. Earlier this year, a student of color was assaulted by faculty at Washington State University just for wearing a “MAGA” hat. No one should...

A group of Washington state senators say Wednesday’s assassination of rising conservative influencer Charlie Kirk calls attention to the threat of violence across the entire political spectrum. Republicans Phil Fortunato, Jeff Wilson, Jim McCune and Leonard Christian say the Utah campus shooting demonstrates the state’s new Domestic Extremism and Mass Violence Task Force should broaden...

Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, issued the following statement after Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency in response to the White River Bridge closure on State Route 410: “I appreciate the governor’s swift action in declaring an emergency so the state can move quickly to stabilize the White River Bridge. That step is critical,...

Fortunato calls on the Governor to act and support SB 5002 to end protections for violent offenders and restore law enforcement cooperation.

Dear Friends, The 2025 legislative session has officially ended, and sadly, it ended just as it was conducted behind closed doors and at the expense of Washington’s working families. The $77.9 billion budget was negotiated in secret by a handful of Democrats for most of the month, only being released to the public, and Republicans,...

State Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, voted against the final passage of the 2025-27 operating budget Sunday, warning that the real threat to Washington’s economy isn’t just the spending plan itself, but the damaging policies that have led to the state’s growing budget shortfall. While others debated the budget’s specifics, Fortunato focused on the Legislature’s pattern...

Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, is urging the Legislature to reverse course on what he calls misguided sanctuary policies that are forcing Washington taxpayers to shoulder the cost of incarcerating undocumented immigrants while federal authorities are sidelined. Fortunato introduced Senate Bill 5818 in the final days of the 2025 session that would authorize the state Department...

Just weeks after Senate Democrats rejected an amendment from Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, to include political affiliation in Washington’s hate crime law, a violent incident at Washington State University (WSU) underscored exactly why those protections are needed. House Bill 1052 was approved by the Legislature late last week, expanding the state’s hate crime statute, but...

State Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, is calling for an end to Washington’s sanctuary state policy following a violent assault in King County that left a 58-year-old woman hospitalized after she was kidnapped, tortured, and left for dead. One of the suspects reportedly has ties to Tren de Aragua, a violent Venezuelan gang. Fortunato said the...

Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, continues to voice strong opposition to House Bill 1163, calling the proposed firearms permitting law “a blatant and dangerous assault on constitutional rights.” Despite his broader objections to the bill, one amendment sponsored by Fortunato was adopted by the Senate. HB 1163 would require Washington residents to obtain a permit to...

State Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, issued the following statement Wednesday in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order titled “Protecting American Energy from State Overreach,” which could upend Washington state’s controversial Climate Commitment Act (CCA), also known as cap-and-trade. “President Trump’s executive action is a critical step toward reining in extreme, unconstitutional and costly climate...

OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington State Senate rejected amendments proposed by Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, that aimed to expand the state’s hate crime statute to include protections for individuals targeted based on their economic choices—such as driving a Tesla—or political affiliation. “If we are serious about protecting people from targeted attacks based on personal characteristics,...

Dear Friends, As we enter the final weeks of the 2025 legislative session, we’ll be working late into the evenings voting on bills and negotiating the various budgets (operating, transportation, and capital). This past Saturday the Senate adopted the majority party’s $78.5 billion proposal, funded with over $20 billion in new taxes, the largest increase...

State Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, voted against the Senate Democrats’ proposed two-year, $78.5 billion budget and issued the following statement: “Today’s budget vote is a stark example of fiscal irresponsibility. Instead of addressing the $7 billion budget shortfall caused by their own poor planning, the legislative majority has chosen to rely on an unprecedented $20 billion...

Dear Friends, I want to personally invite you to a town hall meeting on Tuesday, March 25, from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM at the Bonney Lake Senior Center. This is a great opportunity for us to connect, discuss the issues that matter most to you, and update you on what’s happening in Olympia. We keep hearing about the $12-15...

On the final day to approve legislation originating in the state Senate, three bills sponsored by Sen. Phil Fortunato, were passed with bipartisan support. Tackling issues ranging from civic education in schools to improving fairness in divorce proceedings and modernizing knife laws, the Auburn Republican’s eclectic proposals now head to the House of Representatives for...

Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, is condemning legislative Democrats for failing to act on his proposal, Senate Bill 5012, which would have ensured fairness and safety for girls in sports by preserving single-sex competition in Washington schools. The refusal to advance this common-sense legislation comes as concerns grow over the impact of allowing biological males to...

I want to bring your attention to a troubling misuse of taxpayer dollars. The Washington State Department of Commerce is awarding grant funds to organizations that actively work against our Second Amendment rights. Most recently, these funds are being spent to support an elaborate gala for an anti-gun group—an unacceptable use of public money that...

Friends, The state Senate will be voting on “Parents’ Rights,” today. You can watch the floor debate by clicking here. Last year, hundreds of thousands of voters across the state signed an Initiative to the Legislature to protect a parent’s rights in schools. The Democratic majority is using a loophole to overturn the initiative, now law,...

Greetings from Olympia, I like to remind folks that one of the worst times of year for taxpayers is when the Legislature is in session and it sure is shaping up that way already. In case you missed it, Washington is facing a significant budget deficit. The folks in charge are tossing around a $10-$12...

Amid impending federal changes to immigration policy, state Senator Phil Fortunato is reintroducing legislation to protect Washingtonians by removing violent criminals who are in the state illegally. Senate Bill 5002 aims to repeal Washington’s sanctuary status and remove barriers that currently shield violent offenders from being apprehended by federal authorities. In 2019, Governor Jay Inslee...

Greetings from Olympia, Today is the last day of the 2024 legislative session and it’s been eventful to say the least. As I mentioned in my last e-newsletter, the legislative majority finally listened to the people, kind of. Of the historic 6 initiatives to the Legislature, they decided to hold public hearings on 3 of...

No updates to this page will occur after March 7 until after the election in November. Fed up with destructive and burdensome policies pushed by the Democratic majority, citizens from around the state collected more than 2 million signatures to submit a historic 6 initiatives to the Legislature. All six received more than 400,000 signatures...

Amid a national frenzy over immigration during the Trump administration, Governor Jay Inslee signed an executive order that barred cooperation with federal immigration authorities for certain state agencies. Washington then became one of 11 “sanctuary states” with the passage of Senate Bill 5497 in 2019. That same year, Washington was rocked by high-profile crimes committed...

Greetings from Olympia, There are just a couple of weeks left in the 2024 legislative session and it’s moving at a break-neck speed. I’d like to think that the state Legislature has convened to address some of the most pressing issues facing our state. Communities are still reeling from bad public-safety policies, while housing, food,...

Earlier in the 2024 legislative session, Sen. Phil Fortunato, domestic violence survivors and advocates held a news conference outlining stark problems in the state’s family courts.  The package of bills aimed to train judges, provide more protections for abuse victims – mostly women and children – and set improved standards for evidence and procedures in...

The Washington Senate is poised to approve a bill Thursday that would allow the annual growth in property taxes to triple, flouting the will of Washington voters who approved a cap on property taxes in 2001. Republican senators say they plan to raise stiff opposition when the bill comes to the floor – but may...

Flanked by victims and advocates at a news conference in Olympia on Thursday, state Sen. Phil Fortunato outlined his vision to reform the state’s failing family courts. Included in the package are bills aimed at training judges, providing more protections for abuse victims – mostly women and children – and setting improved standards for evidence...

State Sen. Phil Fortunato is seeking to create a middle path that protects biological women in sports while allowing transgender athletes to continue competing. Senate Bill 6116 would do away with women’s and men’s sports, instead relying on biological sex to determine how athletes compete in schools. “This is about fairness and equity in sports...

Friends, I hope you had a wonderful holiday season. I’ve been busy preparing for the 2024 legislative session which begins in just under a week. In preparation, I finished the year strong, meeting with constituents in our district and attending a variety of conferences and workshops to help me better represent you in Olympia. During...

The homeless population is exploding and housing prices are skyrocketing… a state Senator has a plan to tackle both. Tracy Ellis explains. #waleg LISTEN: https://ow.ly/aH4K50PGyIY

Japanese researchers uncover glacial patterns unrelated to human carbon emissions Washington’s Climate Commitment Act is being felt by drivers at the pump, driving gas prices higher by nearly 50 cents per gallon. The goal is to reduce human-caused carbon emissions by imposing a “cap-and-tax” scheme for so-called polluters. State Sen. Phil Fortunato is asking the...

While the Legislature met earlier this week for a one-day special session to address the controversial drug-possession law known as the Blake fix, Gov. Jay Inslee signed the three state budgets into law. However, he quietly vetoed bipartisan provisions to look at why housing and homelessness in Washington is so bad. The ranking Republican on...

On the final day of the 2023 legislative session, the Democratic-led state House failed to approve a fix to the 2021 Blake drug possession decision, Senate Bill 5536, by a vote of 43 to 55. That means that the stopgap bill approved that same year, which sunsets this July, would essentially legalize drug possession in...

State employees eligible for bonuses while saving taxpayer money Legislation sponsored by state Sen. Phil Fortunato that aims to find government waste was signed today in a ceremony with the governor. Senate Bill 5015 reestablishes the state Productivity Board, which is tasked with creating financial incentives and awarding state employees who find government waste. The program...

Revelations out of Washington D.C. are shedding light on concerning tactics by the Department of Justice targeting Catholic parishes. A leaked memorandum from the Richmond field office indicated that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was indeed working to infiltrate Catholic churches to combat extremism, conflicting with testimony from the U.S. attorney general. State Sen. Phil...

Banning some rifles won’t protect kids, according to a state Senator, but increasing security at schools will. I voted against the Democrat “assault weapons” bill that passed out of the Senate, but first tried to amend the legislation. Among other things, my amendment would have spent $50million to improve safety and add resource officers at...

Senators remember Alamo, face overwhelming odds, prepare to defend U.S. Constitution As the Washington Senate readies for debate on Democrat-sponsored bills imposing severe new restrictions on gun ownership statewide, members of the Senate Freedom Caucus vow a last-ditch defense of Second Amendment rights. Members of the Freedom Caucus, a group of senators concerned with the...

During the 2023 legislative session, state Sen. Phil Fortunato proposed numerous bills to address substantial policy issues around homeless and housing, transportation, and environmental protection. The Auburn legislator has also taken to the Senate Floor to highlight exceptional aspects of the 31st District, sponsoring several resolutions that recognize local philanthropic organizations and a fallen Border...

I want to thank everyone for sharing their concerns and any efforts being made to slow or stop these unnecessary infringements on law-abiding citizens. Here is a brief update on where some of these proposals are in the legislative process. I share the frustration and oppose efforts to further restrict our constitutional rights. I’ve argued...

State employees eligible for bonuses  Politicians often talk about cutting government waste. The question is, how to find it? State Senator Phil Fortunato argues that one of the best ways is to rely on front-line state workers. His proposal to re-establish the state Productivity Board, Senate Bill 5015, would do just that and was approved...

In 2021, Fortunato passed the “”Welcome to Washington” litter act, directing the state Department of Ecology and the Department of Transportation to work together to tackle the state’s litter problem with increased cleanups and education. However, there are additional hurdles to keeping our roadways clean, so Fortunato sponsored Senate Bill 5178, which would increase penalties...

This past Friday, state Sen. Phil Fortunato voted in favor of the Senate’s proposal to mostly fix the so-called Blake Decision drug possession fiasco. In 2021, the state Supreme Court issued its ruling on a 2016 case over the arrest of Shannon Blake for possession of drugs. Blake contended she did not know there were controlled...

It has been a challenging week on the Senate floor. While the majority of our work is bipartisan, there are certain areas of sincere disagreement that I have to speak up about, especially concerning what I view are fundamental rights. Parents Rights Late Wednesday night the legislative majority rushed through probably one of the worst...

My office is being inundated with constituents concerned about what is going on in Olympia with respect to our Second Amendment rights. I want to thank everyone for sharing their concerns and any efforts being made to slow or stop these unnecessary infringements on law-abiding citizens. I thought I’d share a brief update on where...

Residents in the city of Enumclaw are outraged after learning that the state is placing unsupervised sex offenders in their community. As part of legislation that was approved in 2021, local jurisdictions have to provide what is called “less restrictive alternative” or LRA housing to accommodate offenders where they were originally convicted. State Sen. Phil...

Gov. Jay Inslee recently held a news conference in Spokane, touting the work of a new approach to dealing with the state’s daunting homelessness crisis. The only problem? The policies being touted as effective were originally part of a package that homeless advocates and Democratic lawmakers sought to kill. The ranking Republican on the Senate’s...

In a recent statement, Gov. Jay Inslee touted his work to keep Washington a pro-abortion state, vowing to “fight to ensure safe, affordable access to every person who needs it,” on the heels of a leak of a draft decision overturning the controversial Roe v. Wade abortion case at the U.S. Supreme Court. State Sen. Phil Fortunato...

OLYMPIA…While most of the nation has moved beyond vaccine mandates, Washington state remains an outlier, and a policy hidden in one of Gov. Inslee’s executive orders is putting a damper on cleaning up the state’s highways. Sen. Phil Fortunato sent a letter to the governor asking him to relax the rules that require even volunteers...

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a package of bills Wednesday tightening the state’s gun laws, including a measure that bans the manufacture, distribution and sale of firearm magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. Washington joins nine other states, including California and New Jersey, that restrict magazine capacity size. “This...

If you missed this story as it developed, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee publicly offered to sit down with Republicans and talk about his decision to keep the two-year old state of emergency in place. Four Senate Republicans, including Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, took him up on the offer. Now the governor says he’s not going...

Greetings Friends, We’re in the second week of the 2022 legislative session and things are starting to heat up. This week committees are continuing to hold public hearings on legislation that will significantly impact your rights. So, I’m writing you to make sure you have every opportunity to have your voice heard. If you weren’t...

The 2025 legislative session is under way and while we are meeting in person at the state Capitol, you can still participate remotely in a meaningful way. I want to be sure you have access to your government. Below are resources on how you can provide input on bills and keep apprised of what’s happening...

A major part of Sen. Phil Fortunato’s objection to the Senate’s COVID protocols centered on language in the required testing release form, which currently states: “In addition to the above I understand and agree that if any Test conducted during my employment, or while I am on Client’s work site or premises, returns positive, I...

On the opening day of the 2022 legislative session, state Sen. Phil Fortunato put new COVID-related rules to the test. The Senate majority approved requirements for in-person participation in the Senate Chamber, but Fortunato argues that the rules are arbitrary, illogical and don’t supersede his constitutional duties. “The Senate majority rammed through these rules that...

Law enforcement leaders weigh in on vaccine mandates The Senate Democratic Majority has all but ensured that the Legislature will not be able to call itself into a special session in time to stop the governor’s plan to terminate hundreds, maybe thousands of state employees on Oct. 18 who have not received their COVID-19 vaccinations....

“We must continue to push back” is my mantra. I recently admonished my colleagues for failing to take up a resolution that would have called the Legislature back into session. I’m hearing from constituents and people all over the region, from each end of the political spectrum, that what the governor is doing with these...

State Sen. Phil Fortunato is admonishing his Democratic colleagues for failing to take up a resolution sent to the Senate Rules Committee for a vote. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig and Lt. Gov. Denny Heck, who chairs the committee, Fortunato notes that the Legislature should have called itself into a special...

Every 10 years the state’s Redistricting Commission is charged with redrawing the shapes of Congressional and Legislative districts based on changes in population. All the districts are supposed to be similar in population. One of the changes being considered is cutting off parts of our district that are South of Hwy-410 and eliminating Sumner. This...

Since Gov. Jay Inslee announced renewed masking requirements and vaccination mandates, legislative offices have been flooded with messages in strong opposition. The Freedom Caucus is backing a resolution for a historic legislative special session that would cover key policy areas being voiced by their constituents: Public safety; Emergency-powers reform; Vaccine mandates; and Local control over...

A historic legislative special session could be one step closer to becoming reality. State Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn has been leading efforts to have the Legislature call itself into session in an unprecedented move. The resolutions would allow lawmakers to address the seemingly endless state of emergency, unilateral COVID responses, and the public safety fiasco...

As Washington schools prepare for the return of nearly 1 million children this fall, new mandates from Olympia are presenting challenges for local districts. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction indicated that districts would face funding cuts if they don’t comply with state public health orders. State Sen. Phil Fortunato is urging the state’s...

As Washington faces a looming public safety crisis, Governor Inslee’s latest pronouncement mandating vaccinations as a condition of public employment is a step too far for state Sen. Phil Fortunato. The Auburn Republican representing the 31st District is calling for an historic legislative session to address these issues, as well prevent further unilateral actions by...

The majority party pushed through several bills focusing on race this past legislative session. Some of the worst are attempts by the state to mandate Critical Race Theory to local districts. I believe firmly that CRT, as it’s known, sows discord and undermines the fabric of our society, especially if it’s being forced on unsuspecting...

As the governor and the Department of Labor and Industries unveiled new plans for Washington’s reopening, the guidance on vaccinations and masks for businesses and employees was met with consternation. One city in the 31st Legislative District, represented by Sen. Phil Fortunato, went so far as to pass a resolution effectively making it a sanctuary...

Encourages cities to start submitting estimates for reimbursement Legislation sponsored by state Sen. Phil Fortunato to clean up Washington’s littered highways was signed into law today. Senate Bill 5040, known as the “Welcome to Washington Act,” goes into effect in 90 days. The bipartisan measure seeks to improve litter control on state highways. “As an environmental...

Greetings Friends, The Legislature adjourned Sunday evening on time. It was a 105-day whirlwind of bad bills and misplaced spending priorities for working families in Washington. Leading up the start of 2021 there was expected to be a $6 billion shortfall because of the economic effects of COVID. Not only did the shortfall never materialize,...

Please join me and our 31st District neighbors on Wednesday, May 12 for my end of session virtual town hall. I’ll go over what happened and answer any questions you have about your state government. Register in advance for this webinar by clicking here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about...

Awards ceremony honors ‘epic fails’ of 2021 legislative session OLYMPIA – The new income tax passed by majority Democrats in the Washington Legislature earned top honors in the first annual Galloping Gertie Awards, presented by the Senate Freedom Caucus to honor the biggest fails of the 2021 legislative session. The income tax earned the Gertie...

It is my honor to sponsor local religious leaders in my district to provide the opening prayer for during the legislative session at the start of our day’s proceedings. We hit a roadblock when the Lieutenant Governor’s Office rejected prayers because they mentioned Jesus’ name.  As it was turned out the Lt. Gov himself was...

On the final day to pass bills that originated in the state Senate, lawmakers gave unanimous approval to a bill sponsored by state Sen. Phil Fortunato to clean up Washington’s littered highways. Known as the “Welcome to Washington Act,” the bipartisan measure, Senate Bill 5040, would prioritize litter control on state highways and require coordination between the various...

As majority Democrats sought to impose a state income tax with Senate Bill 5096, state Sen. Phil Fortunato fought to ensure taxpayer fairness by offering four amendments to slow the bills progression through the Legislature and ensure any new revenue collected would benefit working families in Washington. “Let’s be clear, no matter what the proponents...

Designating the Capitol as an insane asylum would have the same effect State Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, a strong supporter of protecting Washingtonians’ right to bear arms, voiced his opposition to a measure that would crack down on protests by constitutional activists peacefully holding rallies on the steps of the Legislative Building while openly carrying...

In a Wednesday news conference, members of the Senate Freedom Caucus unveiled their new transportation-funding proposal, pushing back on a package recently put forth by the Democratic Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee and building on the plan from the ranking Republican on the committee. Senators Phil Fortunato, Doug Ericksen, Mike Padden, and Jim McCune are...

This coming Wednesday, I’ll be holding a virtual town hall again to discuss what’s happening in the Legislature and ask for your perspective on bills that are moving. You can register for the town hall by clicking here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Friends and Neighbors, We are nearing the halfway point of the 2021 legislative session. Monday is what is called the policy cutoff. This means that all bills in the Senate must be approved in their respective committee to continue in the process and then we will begin voting on bills to send to the House...

As the ranking member on the Senate’s housing committee, state Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn has been looking at innovative ways to address the state’s affordable housing and homelessness crisis. Despite billions of dollars being spent on the problem, homelessness and housing insecurity continue to rise. In a recent hearing on Fortunato’s SHELTER Act, advocates for...

Transportation policy leaders have been working to address Washington’s ailing infrastructure since the passage of the last major package, known as “Connecting Washington,” in 2015. Despite record increases in the state gas tax and other transportation-related fees and charges, the state’s transportation needs have remained woefully underfunded. State. Sen. Phil Fortunato is continuing his 20-plus-year push...

Freedom is the watchword for the new Senate Freedom Caucus, announced Thursday by lawmakers to advocate for lower taxes, responsible state spending, individual liberties and a government that gets out of the people’s way. The Freedom Caucus will advocate for core conservative principles. Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, said the new caucus will tackle big-picture issues...

While many policies that emanate from Olympia concerning the right to bear arms focus on restricting Second Amendment protections, state Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, is pushing to expand them. He’s filed a state constitutional amendment to enshrine an individual right to own high-capacity magazines, a popular target for anti-gun advocates. Senate Joint Resolution 8205 would...

State Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, offered the following statement on the news of Washington’s Employment Security Department commissioner leaving to join the Biden-Harris administration.  “There is a strategy in corporate America that if you have an incompetent manager, you promote them to a job where they cannot do any harm,” said Fortunato. “I’d like to thank...

  OLYMPIA… State Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, is keeping his promise to some of the state’s most vulnerable. “Seniors and disabled people are particularly affected by rising property taxes and health-care costs – and that was before the economic uncertainty related to COVID-19,” said Fortunato. “This issue is one that I hear about at almost...

The second week of the 2021 legislative is coming to an end. As promised, I’d like to connect with you personally to provide an update and get your insights. So, I’m hosting another virtual town hall and if timing permits, I’m hoping to hold an informal discussion every two weeks during session. Join me this...

Most of Washington’s public schools have been closed to in-person learning for nearly a year, forcing countless families to struggle at balancing work and childcare in addition to ensuring their children are learning remotely. State Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, sees the massive shift in how schools operate as a reason to bring fairness to the...

FLASH: If you are a first-time home buyer, I hope you can testify on my American Dream Home bill (SB 5189) Tuesday Jan. 19 at 8:00 am. You can register to testify here if you’d like to testify remotely or just list your support (Pro) or opposition (Con) to the bill to the committee using the same...

Senator slams Democrat effort to sideline legislative oversight On Wednesday the state Senate’s majority party approved a measure which would extend many of Gov. Jay Inslee’s emergency proclamations indefinitely, and take away the opportunity for continued legislative oversight. Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, believes some of the policies should extend beyond the governor’s state of emergency....

Security remained tight at the state Capitol for yesterday’s opening of the 2021 legislative session. The Capitol Campus was fenced off from the public over the weekend after demonstrators had trespassed onto the grounds of Gov. Jay Inslee’s official residence Jan. 6. The governor also had called hundreds of armed National Guard and police to...

State Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, issued the following statement on the news of today’s events in Olympia. “If you believe in the Constitution, as I do, the behavior witnessed today in Olympia is unhelpful to those of us working to protect our rights. While I support the open carry of firearms as protected by state...

Last month I held a first-of-its-kind virtual town hall. It was a big success. We had a nice size crowd and were able to have an open discussion on a lot of great topics from transportation to taxes, COVID response and more. It was such a hit, that I’m hosting another one to really focus...

Devastating impacts to state economy underscore need for special legislative session Over the weekend, Gov. Jay Inslee announced a rollback of the progress on reopening Washington’s economy with renewed restrictions on small businesses in a modified lockdown right before the winter holidays. Among the changes are a slashing of retail capacity and the closure of...

As counties in Washington continue counting ballots cast in the 2020 general election, 31st District Sen. Phil Fortunato has asked Secretary of State Kim Wyman to wait on certifying the election results until her office is certain the number of ballots cast exactly matches the number of voters known to have voted. “With so much...

Legislature should convene in October Republican efforts to convene a special legislative session, led by state Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, to address the state’s response to the COVID-19 epidemic since April have largely gone unheeded by Gov. Jay Inslee. Instead, the governor has chosen to sideline the Legislature, issuing executive orders, with little to no...

Many are concerned over the governor’s use of emergency powers during this COVID-19 outbreak. Few remember that they were granted under the 2019 SJR 8200, which passed with voter approval by 65.5%. As usual the small change had an unintended consequence. The constitutional change was quite simple, it added: “catastrophic incident” to the already in...

Senator wonders why governor didn’t personally meet with Taiwanese envoys   Representatives from the government of Taiwan Friday delivered hundreds of thousands of masks that will be given to medical workers and first responders working to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Washington. Sen. Phil Fortunato said what should have been a cause for celebration...

Greetings Friends, Although the Legislature is not in session, I’m still working hard for you. I’ve been hearing a lot from constituents asking what we as legislators are doing to push back on the governor’s executive actions. That has been challenging – because we are not in session, we can’t introduce legislation in response. So...

As a Senator, I can produce some materials that help inform my constituents. One thing I’ve done is print some pocket constitutions that folks can take with them when they visit my office in Olympia. I wrote a forward and have uploaded it here for your to read. I take the Constitution seriously and work...

Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, I’ve had serious concerns about how the governor was implementing our state’s response. Initially, we did the right thing and came together to stop the spread of the virus. However, I took exception when the administration started picking economic winners and losers with a totally inconsistent policy. You...

Today, I had a briefing on how COVID-19 is impacting the state’s economy. The state’s Chief Economist unsurprisingly delivered some pretty devastating news. You can read the full report by clicking here.  

Sen. Phil Fortunato explains why the state needs to cut spending, now! Washington state’s COVID-19 response will leave the state budget in tatters come January. Hopefully leaders will do the right thing

Sen. Phil Fortunato sent a letter to the governor demanding that the state reconsider how businesses are deemed essential. The impacts of stopping private construction is devastating to workers and their families, to the industry and will have significant impacts on the state’s budget.

March 27, 2020   Jay Inslee Office of the Governor PO Box 40002 Olympia, WA 985004-0002   Governor Inslee, I call on you to immediately amend your March 23, 2020, “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order to include firearm-related businesses and shooting ranges in the list of businesses and industries in the “Essential Workforce Critical Workers”...

Greetings Friends and Neighbors, I hope that you are doing well and staying safe and healthy. I have urgent news to share regarding the state’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak. While most Washingtonians have been doing their part to take personal precautions, the spread and severity of this virus is still a significant threat. That’s...

Recent changes in the state’s property tax, added pressures from local tax levies and rising home values mean more people are struggling to pay their property taxes. That is why state Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, and the Senate Republican Caucus are pushing to amend the state’s constitution to restructure Washington’s property tax aimed at relief...

Greetings from Olympia, It’s been awhile since I last sent out an update but have tried to keep folks apprised of what’s happening in Olympia via my legislative Facebook. You may have noticed that in our first round of voting in the Senate, I was marked ‘excused.’ A couple of weeks back, I was admitted to...

Democratic leaders on the Senate Transportation Committee unveiled their funding proposal this week to deal with what they’re calling the “I-976 crisis” and to restart delayed transportation projects. I offered the following statement to the press. “I supported this supplemental budget, but it’s really just a band-aid. It is needlessly starving our state’s transportation infrastructure...

Before the 2020 legislative session, state Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, advocated for a special session to address the $30 car tab legal challenge that placed the needed tax-relief measure on hold. Now, Fortunato’s “clean” bill to avoid single-subject concerns that precipitated the Initiative 976 lawsuit will receive a public hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee....

Greetings from Olympia, It has been a busy three weeks in Olympia. Early on, the Senate took to the floor to push through legislation that was left over from last session. Unfortunately, not much of what was passed will help address the pressing issues of homelessness, rising costs of health care, or public safety. In...

Last year, legislative Democrats approved $26 billion in new taxes over the next decade. One the proposals in that package included an increase in the regressive business and occupation (B&O) tax on everything from health-care providers to housing services. Despite the state Department of Revenue indicating the bill violates four of five sound principles of...

It’s verbal camouflage. Just like Initiative 976 that is tied up in the courts because of a “confusing” title, the Senate just approved a bill over my objection that “reforms” the state’s regressive business & occupation tax. What it really did is just make sure more small businesses are paying the higher tax rate. We...

State Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, has introduced legislation, Senate Bill 6651, to preempt efforts by local jurisdictions that undo the state’s carefully crafted landlord tenant laws concerning evictions. In an extraordinary and arguably unconstitutional move, a Seattle City Council committee approved a policy sponsored by Seattle City Council Member Kshama Sawant that would ban evictions...

On the news of the recent shootings in Seattle, some are reflexively saying ‘we need more gun control!’ They skip over the fact that the 2 criminals had 65 arrests but were still on the streets. What can be done? I’ve got some answers.

  Read more about my Housing & Homelessness Package here.

State Sen. Phil Fortunato is disappointed that Gov. Jay Inslee’s supplemental budget proposal seeks to raid the state’s constitutional rainy-day fund to the tune of over $300 million. Fortunato, R-Auburn made this statement regarding how the governor’s proposal could leave Washington vulnerable in the event of an economic downturn. “In 2018 the state had a...

Late Tuesday, the state’s Transportation Commission took a nonbinding vote recommending that the Legislature consider implementing a mileage tax to replace stagnating gas tax revenues. State Sen. Phil Fortunato, who is a member of the Senate Transportation Committee and on the mileage tax pilot work group, voiced sharp criticism of the move. “This is just...

Calls for special session to uphold will of the voters Groundhog Day is still a little more than two months away, yet Sen. Phil Fortunato sees events unfolding eerily similar to the first time Washington voters approved $30 car tabs in 1999. Following that vote the state’s high court struck down the initiative granting tax...

State Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, is demanding action from Gov. Jay Inslee and King County Executive Dow Constantine following recent violence against Washington residents that he attributes to their endorsement of “sanctuary” policies. Fortunato detailed his concerns in letters to Inslee and Constantine after meeting with local Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. The 31st District...

State Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, says voter approval of Initiative 976 has cleared a path for his legislation to meet the state’s transportation-infrastructure needs without new taxes. I-976, which has so far received a 56-percent “yes” vote in the general election that concluded yesterday, will return annual licensing fees to $30 for most vehicles; it...

  Greetings Friends and Neighbors, I hope that you’ve had a great summer. Things have been quiet in Olympia, but something groundbreaking just happened. Late last week, the state Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case Black v. Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority. About a year ago, when it became apparent that the...

During the 2019 legislative session, addressing our state’s housing affordability crisis was paramount. Unfortunately, the only solutions that were adopted nibbled around the edges of the problem and in some cases made the problem worse with new taxes on housing. The Tacoma News Tribune lauded efforts to expand tiny homes in our region as a...

Opioid addiction is a problem in our state. People are sucked in all the time, needing more and more to get their fix with disastrous outcomes. Our state is headed down that path, and we need an intervention. After a 21-month study, we now know tolling State Route 167 will bring in more money, but...

Sen. Phil Fortunato is taking issue with demands from advocates of illegal immigration for a plan to ensure compliance with King County and state “sanctuary” policies that effectively shield violent offenders. The Auburn Republican, whose district includes part of King County, said he appreciates that the county allowed federal immigration authorities to access detention records...

I recently mailed this newsletter below with my take on the end of the 2019 legislative session. Click here or on the image to read the entire newsletter about work I’m doing for you. I discuss our state’s transportation future, the budget, education and much more.  It is an honor serving you,  Phil Fortunato,  Your 31st District State Senator...

While much attention is being paid to the development of the state’s two-year operating budget, there are other troubling policies working their way through the Legislature in the final days of the 2019 legislative session. As concerning as billions more in general tax increases are, there is a looming, self-imposed crisis about to take place...

It’s budget season as we enter the final weeks of the 2019 legislative session. Watch my latest video update where I discuss the dueling budget proposals and where our state is headed.

Majority Democrats in the state Senate on Thursday approved House Bill 1225, which would require law enforcement officers to remove lawfully owned firearms when responding to a domestic violence call. The proposal would prohibit return of any firearms seized in such a response for five business days. Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, opposed the measure because...

92-year old unpaid invoice unearthed for construction of Capitol Officials from the town of Wilkeson have discovered documents possibly indicating that the state of Washington failed to pay an invoice for the construction of the Legislative Building. Originally scheduled for April 1, they came to Olympia Friday collect. State Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, represents the...

Greetings from Olympia, Late last week, the state’s revenue forecast came out, and again tax collections are up, way up. The state is projected to take in almost $1 billion a year more than expected. The Senate Republican lead on the budget has noted that this is the “best budget situation of the 21st century.”...

Numerous bills have been introduced in the 2019 legislative session that are aimed obstructing state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts, or granting special privileges to those unlawfully in the state. What is Washington doing about illegal immigration? The Washington Legislature is passing laws that make no distinction between legal immigrants and those willfully breaking...

Greetings from Olympia, It’s been a busy week in your state Capitol. We’ve been working late into the evenings voting on all kinds of bills, mostly proposals by the majority party to increase energy costs, raise property taxes, impose new taxes on consumers, and grow government. You can be assured that I’ve been voting “No”...

Legislation sponsored by state Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, to clean up Washington’s highways was approved Tuesday by the state Senate. Senate Bill 5093, known as the “Welcome to Washington” act, would prioritize litter control on state highways and require coordination of the state’s agencies, including the departments of Ecology, Transportation and State Patrol, using the...

Watch my latest video where I discuss my work to address affordable housing.

Washington state’s housing problems spurred the creation of a housing-policy committee in the 2019 legislative session. However, tax efforts by legislative Democrats may undermine the committee’s work to address affordable housing. Too many solutions legislative Democrats are promoting to address affordable housing are focused on raising taxes to subsidize ever-increasing costs. One proposal wants to...

Listen to my take on issue before the legislature in new episode of the Senate Republican’s podcast where I discuss transportation, taxes, education funding and affordable housing.

Taxpayer advocate and state Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, has introduced truth-in-government legislation that accurately portrays the work of a state agency. Senate Bill 5925 would change the name of the state Department of Revenue to the Department of Taxation. The simple name change required an over-500-page bill. “I was at a conference and learned that...

I need your input. Please take the survey below concerning transportation plans being considered in the Senate. Below are examples of revenue sources for a new transportation package. Note billions in new taxes and fees versus my proposal that uses existing revenues you already send to Olympia.   Create your own user feedback survey

Many school districts are concerned about the cost of unfunded mandates from the state. Those can be solved with additional funding. The problem is where to get the additional funding from. As of the latest count, the state has passed over 1477 regulations down to the local school districts. I’ve introduced legislation that would allow...

Earlier in the second week of the 2019 legislative session, I joined John Carlson for an update on transportation and other issues before the legislature.

State Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, has introduced legislation in advance of the 2019 legislative session that would require legislators who draft gun legislation to be trained and pass a test. “We have legislators drafting bills who have no idea how firearms work or any sense of firearm nomenclature,” said Fortunato. “When decision makers want to...

Before the Christmas holiday, I sent out an e-newsletter with a survey link requesting your feedback. Thanks to all that have taken it so far. If you haven’t, here is another way below.   Create your own user feedback survey

Dec. 6, 2018 Greetings Friends, Now that election season is over, I’m once again able to provide updates on what’s going on in your state government. The 2019 legislative session is approaching. I need your feedback on important transportation issues in the Enumclaw-Buckley area. In the 2017 session, I was able to get the study...

May 11, 2018 Greetings Friends and Neighbors, This will be the last e-news update you’ll receive regarding my legislative duties due to election-year restrictions. Our state works hard to ensure fair and transparent elections and as such, we maintain stringent rules on the use of public resources during election years. Legislators who are up for...

  April 17, 2018 Greetings Friends and Neighbors, Now that the dust has settled on the 2018 legislative session, it is time to get to work. I have several policies that I believe will help our district, but I want to hear from you and get your feedback on what you think I should be...

Please join me for informal conversations at the following times and locations. Contact my office to make an appointment or stop by to chat about your priorities for the coming legislative session or to get an update on the policies I am working on for our district. I want to hear from you!   April...

March 23, 2018 Greetings Friends and Neighbors, What a difference one vote makes. Last year I was the 25th vote in the 49-member Senate, giving the Republicans the majority. Taxpayers were safe from the proposed income tax, carbon tax and mileage tax. All the anti-Second Amendment bills never saw the light of day. With the...

In the wake of the Florida school shooting, I introduced legislation that would make our students safer tomorrow. While others are focusing on long-term proposals that may have an effect on student safety years in the future, I proposed that we implement training for schools and staff on how to respond to an active shooter...

March 12, 2018 Greetings from Olympia,  The 2018 legislative session is finally over. I’m looking forward to getting back in district to meet with you and discuss the mostly low points of the session. It was a bad year for taxpayers, for the legislative process and common sense. The new majority wasted no time implementing...

There’s just one day left in the legislative session and the Democrats, who have the majority and control the agenda, are pulling out all the stops. They want to approve a supplemental budget, with what Republicans think is an illegal budget gimmick, ignoring state law and using a shell game to divert $700 million from going...

Sen. Fortunato discusses student safety and his legislation to provide training for an active shooter response.

February 26, 2018 I want to hear from you! I am introducing legislation to address student safety in our state. This Wednesday, I will be holding a news conference with stakeholders to discuss the Student Safety and Protection Act. It is a simple concept that will make our students safer, tomorrow! My legislation is not a mandate to...

  In a news conference Wednesday, Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, expressed his desire to return taxpayer money in the form of relief from the Democratic property tax increases as part of the state’s biennial budget that was adopted in 2017. Fortunato spoke in support of Senate Bill 6439, which seeks to reduce property taxes for...

My bold proposal on transportation funding has received public hearings in previous legislative sessions and demonstrated that it can work. The measure, Senate Bill 5743, would fundamentally change how the state pays for transportation infrastructure projects by providing a stable and fair alternative to the unpopular vehicle mileage tax proposal. The plan, ‘Fully Fund Transportation,’...

February 1, 2018 STAY CONNECTED! Due to election year restrictions, I will be limited in how I can communicate with you about what is going on in Olympia. Please be sure to subscribe to my newsletter if you already haven’t. You can also unsubscribe at anytime by clicking here. Feel free to share this with others that...

During the 2017 legislative session, Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, sponsored a state constitutional amendment to prohibit the imposition of an unpopular income tax on citizens in Washington state. Although the measure had bipartisan support, Senate Joint Resolution 8204 needed a two-thirds majority to pass. Most Senate Democrats voted against the measure while all 25 members...

Fortunato sounds alarm on new development rules Senator Phil Fortunato cast his vote to approve a legislative fix for the flawed 2016 Hirst decision and approved a capital budget late Thursday evening. Senate Bill 6091 was approved in the Senate by a vote of 35 to 15 and in the House by 66 to 30....

January 16, 2018 STAY CONNECTED! Due to election year restrictions, I will be limited in how I can communicate with you about what is going on in Olympia. Please be sure to subscribe to my newsletter if you already haven’t. You can also unsubscribe at anytime. Feel free to share this with others that live in our...

“Everybody knows government wastes money. The question is where is the waste?” says state Sen. Phil Fortunato. That’s why he introduced legislation that would reward state employees with a sizable bonus for finding government waste. Senate Bill 6332, introduced in the first week of the 2018 legislative session, would re-establish the state productivity board, also...

Sen. Phil Fortunato has cosponsored legislation in the first week of session to protect the privacy of concealed pistol license holders in Washington. Senate Bill 6173 would clarify state disclosure laws concerning information of concealed pistol license holders. The state Department of Licensing recently asked the less-than-gun-friendly state attorney general for guidance on whether the...

November 30, 2017 STAY CONNECTED! Due to election year restrictions, I will be limited in how I can communicate with you about what is going on in Olympia. Please be sure to subscribe to my newsletter if you already haven’t. You can also unsubscribe at anytime by clicking here. Feel free to share this with others that...

Sen. Phil Fortunato responded strongly today to a new rule from the state’s Democrat lieutenant governor that will ban firearms from the Senate’s public gallery. In a hand-delivered letter to the lieutenant governor, whose duties include presiding over the Senate; Fortunato outlines numerous concerns with the ban, including its legality and enforceability. “It’s no coincidence...

Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, issued the following statement in response to the news that the House has refused a permanent Hirst fix: House Democrats are being led by Seattle special interests that think that city water magically appears out of pipes in the wall but rural water taken from wells is a threat to the...

By now, you should have received my final legislative update for the year.  Unfortunately, Senate rules governing election-year communications required that my final update be mailed prior to the end of our legislative business this year.  You can read the entire newsletter by clicking the picture below. In the newsletter, I discuss my legislation that...

Senator Fortunato was privileged to attend the June 28, 2017 Basic Law Enforcement Academy graduation ceremonies of Class 750.  The academy is an essential institution that trains officers to protect us and  themselves, and even to keep safe the people they are duty-bound to arrest. It ensures that every local officer has consistent and high quality training guided...

Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, has introduced Senate Bill 5946, which would phase out state funding for The Evergreen State College and ultimately sell the institution.  Fortunato says the controversy over the request for a white professor to leave campus that has embroiled Evergreen in a national media frenzy, reveals a dysfunctional state institution incapable of...

Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, is calling on Sound Transit’s governing board to reverse a decision made last week to transfer millions of dollars of property over to non-profits at a financial loss. Sound Transit plans to transfer property valued at $18.5 million for a third or half of its market value in order to provide...

By now, you should have received your 2017 Legislative Newsletter.   In case you missed it, you can read it by clicking on the photo below.

Gov. Jay Inslee and his fellow Democrats are pressing the Washington Legislature to adopt a new income tax on capital gains, but before they go any further, they might want to check with their colleagues in the Connecticut General Assembly, says Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn. A brand-new $1.8 billion budget disaster in that state is...

Car tab taxes would be cut by 55 percent and Sound Transit board members would be required to stand for direct elections under legislation that passed the Senate Tuesday afternoon.  Senator Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, is a cosponsor of both bills, SB 5001 and SB 5893 “If Seattle politicians think their constituents are mad about car...

In this video, Senator Fortunato outlines his efforts to hold Sound Transit accountable and get taxpayers relief from their inflated car tab taxes.  Sen. Fortunato also describes how Sound Transit’s car tab tax defenders wanted to use funds dedicated to homeless and foster kids to protect Sound Transit’s outrageous tax collections.

Senator Phil Fortunato cosponsored legislation to guarantee the right for Washingtonians to fish and hunt. In this video, Senator Fortunato describes why fishing and hunting are good for families and why he believes it’s important to preserve these rights for generations to come.

In this video, Senator Phil Fortunato explains his legislation to give voting power back to the people to approve or stop Sound Transit projects that go 100 percent over budget.    

In this new legislative video, Senator Phil Fortunato describes his effort to ban income taxes in Washington and who opposed it.  He also describes how opponents of his ban on the income tax claimed “no one was talking about an income tax” even though plenty of them were talking about AND supporting an income tax.  

On Monday, the Senate honored the 119 years of community service given by the Fraternal Order of the Eagles (F.O.E.), an organization devoted to peace, prosperity and gladness since its founding in 1898.   Senator Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, sponsored the resolution and related the vastness of the Eagles’ cultural impact from the Senate floor. “The Eagles...

This year’s Daffodil Princesses came to Olympia to promote the Daffodil festival and share their ambitions for the future. Accomplished young women from high schools throughout Pierce County represent the festival as members of the Royal Court.   The Daffodil Festival traces its origins to the city of Sumner in April of 1926, where a garden party attended by civic leaders...

On March 30, 2017, Senator Phil Fortunato offered the opening prayer for the Senate. “Lord, when Solomon asked you to give him a discerning heart and distinguish between right and wrong, you granted him the wisdom to govern your people.  Grant us that same wisdom Lord, that we may serve our constituencies and the people...

Senator Phil Fortunato is proud to sponsor Washington State Senate Resolution 8633 honoring the Fraternal Order of the Eagles.  The public can observe the Senate reading of the resolution from the Senate Gallery.  The Senate Resolution 8633 is expected to be read on the Senate floor between 1pm and 2pm on Monday, April 17, 2017.  ...

OLYMPIA… Today the Senate Transportation Committee held a public hearing on legislation that would allow voters to affirm or cancel Sound Transit projects that are more than 20 percent over budget after two years. “This is a simple bill that gives the power back to the taxpayer,” said Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, who introduced Senate...

Thank you to TVW for producing this profile of the 31st Legislative District to share with citizens across the state.  

OLYMPIA…The Democrat minority in the state Senate today voted against a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban a tax on individual incomes. Senate Joint Resolution 8204 needed a two-thirds majority to pass – meaning 33 votes from the 49-member Senate. All 25 members of the Senate majority supported the measure, but only two members of...

OLYMPIA…The Senate Transportation Committee held a public meeting today about Sound Transit’s controversial car-tab valuation process – the subject of Senate Bill 5851, co-sponsored by Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn. Fortunato, a transportation-committee member, also supports having cities and counties vote to exempt themselves from Sound Transit for both car tabs (Senate Bill 5817) and property...

OLYMPIA…The Senate passed legislation Wednesday that would allow non-profit organizations to raise money through raffles while being in compliance in state law. “I know a lot of churches that raise money through bingo nights or raffles,” said Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn. “However, many are unknowingly violating state law.” Senate Bill 5671 would simply remove membership...

OLYMPIA… Sen. Phil Fortunato has introduced legislation that would provide older senior citizens with much-needed property-tax relief. “Seniors are being taxed out of their homes,” said Fortunato, R-Auburn. “They have worked hard for the homes they own; at some point in time seniors have paid enough taxes.” Senate Bill 5535 would provide seniors over the...

OLYMPIA…Sen. Phil Fortunato has introduced legislation that would give school districts the authority to seek waivers from burdensome state regulation. “We keep giving schools more money, but a lot of that money never makes it to the classroom,” said Fortunato, R-Auburn. “Instead, schools spend too many tax dollars complying with rules that don’t enhance the...

OLYMPIA…Sen. Phil Fortunato has introduced a bill that would provide housing assistance to educators in school districts with high housing costs. “Seventeen years ago I proposed a similar housing allowance to address the inequity of teacher salaries in higher cost-of-housing areas, and nothing has changed,” said Fortunato, R-Auburn.  “I want to do more to recruit...

OLYMPIA… Sen. Phil Fortunato today introduced legislation that would repeal a host of state laws he sees as unnecessary, redundant, or wasteful. When Fortunato was appointed to the Senate on Jan. 7 he listed his top legislative priority as protecting both the taxpayer and the American worker. This is the first in a series of...

King and Pierce County councils fill vacancy left by former Sen. Pam Roach’s resignation Phil Fortunato was sworn in today as the 31st Legislative District’s state senator. He took the oath of office after the King and Pierce County councils voted to appoint him to the position made vacant by former Sen. Pam Roach’s resignation...