Congratulations to HAPO Community Credit Union on the ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening of their brand-new Belmont Financial Center! Check out the beautiful new branch at 6185 Keene Rd. in West Richland.

Washington State has recently undergone a significant legislative redistricting process, resulting in changes to electoral boundaries. A federal judge's ruling has redrawn district maps, impacting both lawmakers and voters. In this article, we'll explore the redistricting process, its ramifications for Eastern Washington, and the implications for representation and political dynamics.

The redistricting process occurs every ten years following the U.S. Census. Its purpose is to adjust electoral boundaries to ensure equal representation based on population shifts. In Washington State, the bipartisan Washington State Redistricting Commission is responsible for drawing new district lines.

A federal judge ruled that the original district maps drawn in 2021 violated the federal Voting Rights Act by diluting the voting power of the Latino community in the Yakima Valley and Pasco areas. As a result, the court ordered a redrawing of legislative district boundaries.

U.S. District Court Judge Robert Lasnik approved a new legislative map (Remedial Map 3B) that addresses voting rights concerns. Notably, it creates a majority-Latino voting district in Central Washington, uniting Latino communities across the Yakima Valley into the 15th legislative district. This move aims to empower Latino voters to elect representatives aligned with their priorities.

The redistricting decision impacts several current lawmakers. Senator Nikki Torres (R-Pasco), the only Latina in the Senate Republican Caucus, will no longer be able to run for re-election within her current district boundaries. 
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Redistricting is a complex process with far-reaching consequences. While the new map aims to rectify voting rights violations, it remains a topic of debate. As Eastern Washington adjusts to these changes, voters and legislators must adapt to the reshaped political landscape. The current ruling is being challenged in court with the results due in the next month or two. 

​​With the end of the 2024 Legislative Session, wrap-up meetings in the communities have begun. Both the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Pasco Chamber of Commerce have legislator meetings scheduled in May.
 
The legislators themselves have also begun to plan their own town hall meetings. The first have been announced by the delegation from the 16th Legislative District, which includes portions of Benton, Walla Walla and Columbia counties.  
 
Senator Dozier, Representatives Rude and Klicker invite you to attend one of their three town hall meetings. Meetings will be held:

• Tuesday, April 2
  6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
  Prosser Community Center
  1231 Dudley Ave. (Prosser)
  
  
• Wednesday, April 3
  6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
  Columbia Basin College (room to be determined)
  2600 N. 20th Ave. (Pasco)
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• Thursday, April 4
  6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
  Walla Walla Community College
  Performing Arts Auditorium
  500 Tausick Way (Walla Walla)

Congratulations to Therapeutic Riding of Tri-Cities (TROT) on their ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating their new office addition. TROT is located at 104 E. 41st Pl. in Kennewick.

At the State of the Ports Membership Luncheon on February 28, the three local ports - Port of Benton, Port of Kennewick, and Port of Pasco - all gave presentations on what was happening in their respective areas.

Here are some highlights from each of the ports, as well as a link to their State of the Port video, which does a great job in outlining all of the ongoing projects as well as celebrating the recent accomplishments.

Port of Benton
The Port of Benton has completed some great projects over the past few years and has many more in the works. Among the upcoming projects planned for the Port of Benton include Prosser & Richland Airport upgrades and upgrades to rail crossings. A couple of industrial projects include the VERTical Innovation Cluster and a Green Fertilizer Plant, a project by Atlas Agro. Here is a link to their 2024 update video.

Port of Kennewick
The Port of Kennewick recently received the Smart Communities Award from the Governor’s Office for its work on Clover Island. The future of the Port of Kennewick includes some very nice developments around Vista Fields. Vista Fields is destined to become a walkable, lively district where residents, business owners, and visitors can gather and interact. Check out their update video here.

Port of Pasco
The Port of Pasco is an exciting hub of activity in the northeast Tri-Cities. The Tri-Cities airport is growing, and American Airlines just added nonstop service to Phoenix, adding to the ever-growing number of destinations available. Future plans include an Aerospace Innovation & Manufacturing (AIM) Center, a new 300-acre industrial park, and a 500,000 square foot Darigold facility. You can see their update video here.
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There are lots of great things happening in the Tri-City Area, all aimed at keeping the economic climate vibrant and growing.

During the 2023-2024 legislative session, there were over 3,000 bills introduced into the Washington State Legislature by the 147 legislators that represent the citizens of Washington State. Some bills were recommended by government agencies, some encouraged by the Governor, but most were filed by legislators to satisfy a need.

It is a daunting process for a bill to become a law. There are committees, hearings, caucus meetings, and then floor votes. Once a bill is through one chamber it starts all over again until it is finally signed by the governor. Of the nearly 3,200 bills introduced, less than 1,000 ran the gauntlet and made it to the finish line.

The 12 legislators in the Tri-City region managed to get a combined 41 bills through during the two-year biennium. Here are a few examples:

• HB 1870: Sponsored by Representative Barnard, titled- “Promoting economic development by increasing opportunities for local communities to secure federal funding.”
• SB 5891: Sponsored by Senator Boehnke, titled: “Protecting the safety and security of students and maintaining order within school buses by designating trespassing on a school bus as a criminal offense.”
• HB 2003: Sponsored by Representative Connors, titled- “Concerning an exemption to the leasehold excise tax for leases on public lands.”
• SB 5156: Sponsored by Senator Torres, titled- “Expanding the farm internship program.”
• HB 1783: Sponsored by Representative Sandlin, titled- “Supporting economic development in distressed areas through hiring of grant writers.”
• SB 6215: Sponsored by Senator Schoesler, titled- “Improving tax and revenue laws.”
• HB 1752: Sponsored by Representative Dye, titled- “Modifying the application of the annual consumptive quantity calculation to change applications related to certain water rights held by the United States bureau of reclamation.”
• HB 1712: Sponsored by Representative Schmick, titled- “Protecting workers displaced due to finfish aquaculture facility closure.”
• SB 6235: Sponsored by Senator Dozier, titled “Updating thresholds for the property tax exemption for widows and widowers of honorably discharged veterans.”
• HB 1210: Sponsored by Representative Rude, titled- “Concerning the recording of school board meetings.”
• HB 2428: Sponsored by Representative Klicker, titled- “Allowing cities to voluntarily share certain sales and use tax revenue."

Most of the bills passed by our representatives had bi-partisan support and demonstrate the ability of our local elected officials to work together. 

The 2024 Tri-Cities Legislative Council achieved success on four out of their six legislative priorities. These accomplishments encompassed several key initiatives:

The first was the Energy Northwest Advanced Small Nuclear Reactor Project: Funding was secured, resulting in a $25 million fund. This is a big win for the region.

A pilot project, a Circular Industrial Symbiosis Park in Pasco, received funding for a feasibility study. Additionally, a green fertilizer work group was funded to explore the creation of a manufacturing facility in the Tri-Cities.
Columbian Basin College was awarded funds to create the Hospitality Center of Excellence. The center will convene partners to develop relevant credentials, promote paid work experience and provide the opportunity to collaborate with others within the industry.  
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Regrettably, two priorities did not reach fruition House Bill 1981 and House Bill 2120, both sponsored by Representative Barnard were unable to pass both the House and the Senate this session. House bill 1981 would have supported growth in the nuclear and manufacturing industry while furthering the state’s decarbonization initiatives. House Bill 2120 would have extended the Targeted Urban Property Tax exemption which would encourage additional manufacturing investment in Richland. 

Thanks to everyone who attended Business After Hours at Goose Ridge Winery on Thursday, March 14! We hope you left with some valuable new business connections.