[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6190803,"mediaKeyId","5040313-84b3f8275b6bbb9c3264cfec5d5ca75d","parentId",5040313,"title","Spokane-area legislators cite capital-budget wins, block state encampment and sheriff-decoupling bills","audioSeconds",1596,"startMs",14000,"endMs",1610000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5040313-84b3f8275b6bbb9c3264cfec5d5ca75d&start=14&end=1610","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5040313-84b3f8275b6bbb9c3264cfec5d5ca75d/thumbnail_14000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6190803/Spokane-County/Washington/Spokane-area-legislators-cite-capital-budget-wins-block-state-encampment-and-sheriff-decoupling-bills","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6190803-365463cb8b04f3e8047ed94e1d22955d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771032785&Signature=Hem2tL4XoxzR8dr4mjpzUlL-nFcB1p41pWbrRH-CDD~~Q6Wpo1nqJNbraIbbzCNApsMwLLa7uBVL6qBapBIPVRsoney6jQU~Y-Oz9BK5-967T39cJXAopYiBiFeEMKyy-ZTRTFfXtt4OdVvd6y5PNmuQEK~OdUR3mo7vIABoUC7Ai9p587MJz2-~p4lcJ06GSEfrJikX766jRjkd6hQfCApJrgommfJKo3UrMqPQpNvLOfpDNUU3USKM3SPLgjfxjI0eLnpIpMMmbCNmPJspGsr~0gE5IiOZkddKjr1Uk45LFyg0Czrcg7XU1lfXufCaXK3tM8V05wRbNoJouagBnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Spokane County, WA","date","2025-06-22T01:30:06Z","article","Josh Kearns, Spokane County commissioner, hosted state Representative Suzanne Schmidt (Fourth Legislative District) and state Representative Mike Volz (Sixth Legislative District) for a legislative-session recap focused on projects and bills that affect Spokane County.

\"We had some really good wins in the Fourth District,\" Representative Suzanne Schmidt said, citing capital-budget allocations for local schools, Plants Ferry and an accessibility lift at Mount Spokane that will allow people with disabilities to ski. Representative Mike Volz said the capital budget also included funding for the North–South Corridor and $7.5 million to address PFAS at some West Plains wellheads.

Why it matters: the state capital budget directs one-time construction and infrastructure dollars and can fund local projects that are not covered in operating budgets. The funding cited by the legislators affects recreation access at Mount Spokane, local school projects, river access (Plants Ferry) and drinking-water work in the West Plains.

Most important facts: Representative Volz told the program that the state provided \"7 and a half million dollars\" to help clean PFAS at wellheads in the West Plains. He described the funding as a start and said federal action may also be needed. Volz and Schmidt credited the local delegation’s work to restore or protect previously promised transportation money; Volz said the North–South Corridor is again funded and \"[i]t's supposed to be completed by, what, 2030?\" Schmidt said she worked with other legislators to secure capital-budget items for Spokane County.

Bills stopped: both legislators described state bills they said were defeated. Schmidt said one House bill she cited as \"house bill $13.80\" would have \"allowed encampments throughout the state,\" and she said stopping it preserved cities’ ability to set local rules. Schmidt and Volz said they also helped block a proposal that would have allowed the attorney general to decertify elected sheriffs; Schmidt described that measure as enabling the attorney general \"to intercede,\" and Volz said it would have \"give[n] the attorney general to unelect an elected official.\"

What was not decided on air: the guests described their role pushing or opposing bills but did not present legislative vote records or formal bill numbers beyond the references above. They repeatedly framed the encampment proposal and the sheriff-decertification proposal as measures they \"killed\" or \"stopped\" during the session.

Additional context: Commissioner Kearns and the representatives discussed the politics of the session—including tax increases and budget forecasting—but those policy debates were framed as the legislators’ assessments rather than as new local actions.

Looking ahead: both legislators said some issues will return in future sessions or in courts. Volz noted PFAS work will likely require continued state and federal attention; both said transportation and site-specific capital projects will require further oversight.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025.06 June Spokane County Spotlight with Commissioner Josh Kerns","oneSentenceSummary","Josh Kearns, Spokane County commissioner, hosted state Representative Suzanne Schmidt (Fourth Legislative District) and state Representative Mike Volz (Sixth Legislative District) to review the recent legislative session and local impacts, including capital-budget allocations for PFAS treatment, Plants Ferry, Mount Spokane accessibility, and renewed funding for the North–South Corridor.","taxTitle","Spokane County, Washington","taxId",2643,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6190788,"Rep. Suzanne Schmidt highlights five signed bills including electrician licensing fix and fire-district hiring change",132,1025000,1157000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5040313-84b3f8275b6bbb9c3264cfec5d5ca75d&start=1025&end=1157","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5040313-84b3f8275b6bbb9c3264cfec5d5ca75d/thumbnail_1025000.jpg","/articles/6190788/Spokane-County/Washington/Rep-Suzanne-Schmidt-highlights-five-signed-bills-including-electrician-licensing-fix-and-fire-district-hiring-change","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6190788-c6196ff73c35a7caeaf3c3bd33792832/orig.mp4?Expires=1771032785&Signature=F96HN3G-hvDbvS2aIArid~eiYiZzk1DOZ09f9rk7JgZx1-puah3JL3S6VeAuwyJFgp20jT0VFtyKiLjcICkp7iglgiYRNaqe0t9FG40BXwO2DAWtwn1uF26nfFaVy0gEp7829LW2~kjz9SOjOiisfuxomJ5m4H2XikGlGbBUIt8xGSrd5ocpwt687cjSPaCi1~FS3VGWscOVWyQIfZr7EB6f0PT2Wbi4RRn3-jVAJ~xPKLhHyfj9Lsaqo~oJct8vX9oLKzHgpuzSkv48SklMiXSI4OBElDf5S7mxjpW40izs36tJkp0wakfsTxY7~pEQIFktgUM047OLEHMIuSn5Wg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Suzanne Schmidt (Fourth Legislative District) told Spokane County Spotlight she had five bills signed into law during the recent session. She described two in detail: a specialty-electrician licensing bill and a change affecting some fire districts’ hiring rules.

On electricians: Schmidt said 2021 licensing changes left some electricians unable to advance. Her bill allows workers in trainee programs to work as journeyman electricians in residential settings while completing an apprenticeship for a commercial license. She said the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) testified in favor of the bill.

On fire districts: Schmidt said one of her bills permits certain fire districts to eliminate civil-service commissions that were hindering hiring because volunteer-run commissions could not maintain quorums. She said Spokane Valley Fire Department Chief Frank Soto and fire commissioners asked her for the change and attended the bill-signing with her.

Why it matters: Schmidt framed the measures as workforce and operational fixes aimed at easing staffing shortages for electricians and firefighters in parts of Spokane County.

Status and outcomes: Schmidt said the bills were signed by the governor; she described local officials attending the bill-signing events. The program did not include bill numbers or fiscal notes on air.","Representative Suzanne Schmidt said five of her bills were signed into law this year, including a measure to allow certain trainee electricians to work as journeymen in residential settings while completing commercial apprenticeships, and a bill enabling fire districts to remove civil-service commissions that were impeding hires.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6190791,"Volz says bill to 'protect women's sports' addresses opportunities for female athletes amid unfolding national legal questions",112,848000,960000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5040313-84b3f8275b6bbb9c3264cfec5d5ca75d&start=848&end=960","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5040313-84b3f8275b6bbb9c3264cfec5d5ca75d/thumbnail_848000.jpg","/articles/6190791/Spokane-County/Washington/Volz-says-bill-to-protect-womens-sports-addresses-opportunities-for-female-athletes-amid-unfolding-national-legal-questions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6190791-30c31ebb80c424923490857a131da8e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771032785&Signature=d32M9xnGoP2hZSyWJ2L3Nwy~HyH60hDwwV9rXI6y3xC5gFY2dO7iUb44eCdY4ROkDaOAFLeOnFX2UWng7sVz1smqnvzuZTgOhvOVJRTFL5semV6iMVwgH5R1C60WLhJ58paS8g8z2ymp8I5A5Wgpge1ehPFGf4gkXUKMn6AV5z6WT52ms5quZnB3XFmCQvjpUkJEujvoRg6KYy09KuKB80arOfrQtN~BY94bF1-MqEcqeQ0LlBat5Kq95SyhLAykouaQLmwdX9BrlTZbPprIWcJxt9IU1-x4cXxQSzjfwjjTFPHyenRh9PnY~XOXKRmc1SE~1Ft01INPiGCpQp6rmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State Representative Mike Volz told Spokane County Spotlight he sponsored a bill intended to protect high-school and college opportunities for female athletes. Volz said the intent was to preserve scholarships and competitive opportunities for young women and to align state rules with national and international governing bodies.

\"We're depriving young ladies of opportunities for the next level... maybe to college and get a scholarship,\" Volz said, describing the bill’s purpose. He added that the NCAA and international federations are changing rules and that multiple lawsuits are pending in state and federal courts on the issue.

Why it matters: Volz said the bill matters to local school boards, coaches and student-athletes who value competitive fairness and college opportunities. He told the program that some local school-board members and community members thanked him for addressing the issue.

Status and next steps: Volz said the topic will likely continue to move through litigation and federal policy decisions, and he suggested the matter could return to the Legislature depending on court outcomes and federal funding considerations.","Rep. Mike Volz described legislation he sponsored intended to preserve athletic opportunities for female student-athletes; he said the issue intersects with NCAA and international policy changes and ongoing litigation, and that states' funding risks could affect how the issue is resolved.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6190798,"Volz says bill to freeze home assessments for seniors, disabled veterans did not get a hearing",99,731000,830000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5040313-84b3f8275b6bbb9c3264cfec5d5ca75d&start=731&end=830","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5040313-84b3f8275b6bbb9c3264cfec5d5ca75d/thumbnail_731000.jpg","/articles/6190798/Spokane-County/Washington/Volz-says-bill-to-freeze-home-assessments-for-seniors-disabled-veterans-did-not-get-a-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6190798-dab9800d46b9fb506ef47e2d4f35cba3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771032785&Signature=YFBRFGG3hBW8UeAjHWQFpzalogh2~n5Q14NH1fOSSMzjP8Imoe-kT2GGzXv6NEYELH6QVW4ODGMRkocndnpEAcwLT6YdeVFrdtXIYMeky3NxzX~qiwAMnrqrBQGDbUnJ8NIvLDw8Hl2oZhlne~PYkyavtOgGlLHT~qdwOgg7vqa9xI1xXQ3QSKTvWcZlFblG~sjUsUqqzmmqbZ8DS0xgR4xiQOHWjTswWVFN2-GUwQlDOzsMMuxjRhiCr~DcORcVvOcaG7bCrWaLyJdIC2ve5~JgEDwToqgqj~We7M9lYUNlPOYCJlN~SEup5dcYFyspoj0elr2GAXbA9l8hWFr3Uw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State Representative Mike Volz (Sixth Legislative District) described a bill he sponsored to freeze property-assessed values for certain homeowners \"at 65, disabled veteran, a disabled individual\" to provide tax predictability and relief. Volz said the bill \"didn't get a hearing\" this year but remains eligible for consideration in the next year of the biennium.

Why it matters: Volz framed the bill as an affordability measure aimed at seniors and other homeowners who face rising property taxes amid broader cost increases; on the program he said the issue reflects a larger affordability concern for working families and seniors.

Details from the program: Volz said he drafted the bill broadly and expected amendments, and he said the proposal had bipartisan cosponsors. \"I did have some very good bipartisan, cosponsors on the bill,\" Volz said, and he named Representative Suzanne Schmidt as one of the cosponsors. He described his intent as giving homeowners \"some relief and some at least some predictability.\"

Outcome and next steps: Volz said the bill \"didn't get a hearing\" this session. He told viewers the bill remains active in the biennium and he plans to try again next year.

Attribution: statements about the bill’s scope, sponsors and procedural status are attributed to Representative Mike Volz; the program did not provide committee or bill-number details on air.","State Rep. Mike Volz told Spokane County Spotlight he introduced a bill to freeze assessed values for homeowners aged 65, disabled veterans and certain disabled individuals but the proposal \"didn't get a hearing\" during the recent session; he plans to reintroduce it next year.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Spokane-area legislators cite capital-budget wins, block state encampment and sheriff-decoupling bills

Rep. Suzanne Schmidt highlights five signed bills including electrician licensing fix and fire-district hiring change

Volz says bill to 'protect women's sports' addresses opportunities for female athletes amid unfolding national legal questions

Volz says bill to freeze home assessments for seniors, disabled veterans did not get a hearing