MOSES LAKE — As the state legislature prepares for the next session in January, Senate Republicans have re-elected Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, vice chair of the Senate Republican Caucus.

Warnick, who is two years into her second four-year term as a senator representing the state’s sprawling 13th Legislative District, from Snoqualmie Pass to Sprague, said it’s an honor to be able to continue to work as a member of the senate’s GOP leadership.

As vice chair, Warnick said she will help Senate GOP leader Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, run meetings and coordinate between senior Republican committee members and the entire GOP caucus.

“It’s kind of humbling to be part of leadership,” she said. “It’s nice to be recognized. I think I can add value. I’m from the east side of the state, the caucus chair is from west side, and we bring both regions’ priorities to the legislature.”

In addition, Warnick will continue serving as the senior Republican member of the senate’s Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources and Parks Committee, the Senate Ways and Means Committee (which helps craft the state’s budget), as well as the recently reorganized Housing and Local Government Committee.

“I’ve been on the agriculture committee since I was first elected, and I feel that’s an important position for someone from my district,” Warnick said.

One of the issues she hopes to continue working on is the management of forests to prevent wildfire, Warnick said. The major fires that blanketed large portions of the state with thick, orange-gray smoke, are evidence the state needs to better manage its forests.

“One policy that needs to be worked on is grazing,” Warnick said. “Continued grazing to keep undergrowth limited.”

In addition, Warnick has also been named to the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee’s Behavioral Health Subcommittee. The senator said she wanted to serve on the committee because she is concerned, especially with the lockdowns and isolation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, on rising rates of mental illness and distress among farmers and young people.

“There are more suicide issues regarding agriculture than ever before, more suicides and attempted suicides,” Warnick said. “Regarding our children, I’m concerned with our kids not being able to interact with their teachers and other students, and possibly being at home with abusive parents.”

Despite her long tenure in the state legislature — she was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 2006, and the senate in 2014 — Warnick said she will “sit back and wait” to assess how the Behavioral Health Subcommittee works before jumping in with legislative proposals.

“I try not to come with any agenda except doing something for the state of Washington and my constituents,” she said.

The Washington State Legislature is scheduled to convene for its next session on Jan. 11 and will have 120 days to craft the state’s next two-year budget. Warnick said most of the legislative session will be online.

“There will be some of us there in person, but all of our committees will be done virtually,” she said. “We’re trying to determine what is the best way for the citizens to be involved and the best way for transparency.”

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached at cfeatherstone@columbiabasinherald.com.