As your representative, I have always believed that the best solutions to our challenges don’t come from a top-down approach in Olympia. They come from listening to neighbors, understanding local challenges and crafting solutions that reflect the real needs of our communities.
When we lead with local voices, we get better outcomes. Safer neighborhoods. Healthier families. A stronger sense of accountability.
That philosophy guides my work in the Legislature, and this session I’m focused on legislation that puts our district first by strengthening public safety, protecting our environment and improving government for you.
Since House Bill 1169 was passed in 2023, legal financial obligations have been waived for criminals convicted of very serious crimes, without courts having the ability to assess their ability to pay. Public safety starts with standing up for victims. For too long, crime victims have been left behind in a system that often prioritizes offenders over those who were harmed. House Bill 2430 restores balance by ensuring that people convicted of crimes contribute directly to victim services through a crime victim penalty assessment and do not waive financial obligations without a clear showing of indigency. These funds support programs that provide advocacy, counseling, and critical resources for victims and witnesses.
I’ve met with local organizations, including the YWCA of Clark County, Hope Alliance and other victim advocates, and heard firsthand how this funding makes a difference for survivors in our region. HB 2430 helps ensure these dollars are collected and protected exclusively for victim services, reinforcing a simple truth: accountability matters, and our justice system should center on healing communities rather than overlooking harm.
Just as we must protect people, we must also protect the resources they rely on every day, especially clean drinking water.
That’s why I introduced House Bill 2343, which addresses groundwater contamination tied to publicly-owned game farms. This issue hits close to home. Monitoring in Lewis County and Centralia found nitrate levels exceeding federal safety standards in the Fords Prairie area. A 2025 investigation confirmed state-run pheasant operations were contributing to pollution in local aquifers.
HB 2343 requires these facilities to meet the same discharge permitting and manure management standards expected of private agricultural producers. This is about fairness, responsibility, and safeguarding public health. It ensures the state holds itself to the same standards it imposes on others.
To take that a step further, Rep. Ed Orcutt and I introduced House Bill 2668, which directs the Department of Fish and Wildlife to begin relocating away from Centralia’s critical aquifer and groundwater. Relocating the facility will ensure their work continues in a location that does not impact the Chehalis River or Centralia’s drinking water.
While addressing urgent safety and environmental concerns, we also need to improve how government functions day-to-day by making it more efficient, transparent and responsive to the people it serves.
Last year, a local candidate passed away after the primary election while running for office. The election was so close that it triggered a costly automatic recount, despite the candidate’s passing. This is not the first time county auditors have dealt with similar situations.
House Bill 2574 is a common-sense update to our election process. It provides clear guidance for removing deceased candidates from nonpartisan ballots, ensuring votes aren’t counted for individuals who have passed away and allowing the next-highest vote-getter to advance. It’s a straightforward fix that preserves election integrity and avoids unnecessary confusion for voters.
There is no place in Southwest Washington or the state where I don’t hear about Washington’s unaffordability. This is especially true for costly utility bills. House Bill 2690 focuses on affordability by clarifying existing requirements for electric utilities to provide low-income energy assistance without expanding those requirements. Low-income assistance is important; however, it would be unfair to have customers of one energy producer pay for assistance for customers of another. By reducing unnecessary administrative costs and regulatory burdens, this bill helps direct more resources to families in need, without adding new burdens on local utilities or ratepayers.
Each of these efforts reflects the same principle: real progress happens when we address real problems with practical solutions shaped by local experience.
Whether I’m meeting constituents at a neighborhood coffee shop or advocating for our district on the House floor, my priority remains the same: listening, acting, and delivering results that matter here at home. I’m honored to represent you in Olympia, and I’ll continue fighting for local solutions that strengthen our community and make it a better place to live, work and raise a family.
•••
Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Chehalis, represents the 20th Legislative District and is the House Republican chair.
