Author Archives: Laudan

Warnick blasts House Democrats’ failure to fix Hirst ruling as Legislature prepares to adjourn

As the 2017 regular legislative session winds down, the chair of the Senate committee that covers water issues said she is appalled that House Democrats have chosen to continue to allow rural families, workers and communities to suffer under the state Supreme Court’s Hirst decision by failing to join the Senate in approving Senate Bill 5239. The Senate passed that bill on February 28.

In late 2016 the court issued its Hirst decision, which turned longstanding state water policy on its head, leading to new, severe restrictions on the use of household wells throughout the state. Because a household well is needed to obtain a building permit in areas without municipal water service, the court ruling has essentially halted rural development. Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, who introduced SB 5239 to end the Hirst crisis, issued the following statement.

“We sent House Democrats a reasonable and affordable solution for Hirst weeks ago. But they killed our bipartisan remedy and didn’t pass any bills of their own, even though the situation around small, household wells continues to get worse for Washington families. In fact, despite their public promises to fix Hirst, House Democrats have still not reached out to me with a proposal. In light of their refusal to pass the Senate bill, it just looks like they don’t want to help.

“The epicenter of the Hirst decision, Whatcom County, just extended its building moratorium for another six months. Families in that county and communities around the state cannot wait any longer. This crisis continues to grow. I am daily hearing from people who are running into problems resulting from the Hirst decision. Even farmers who want to build farmworker housing for workers are facing new obstacles because of Hirst.

“I stand with the families, farmworkers, small businesses and workers across Washington who have to be stunned by the House Democrats’ failure to step up for them. We simply must deliver a reasonable policy that lets property owners have access to water on their property without undue burdens and costs that will make their lives harder. I am committed to approving this legislation again in the special session to help Washington families.”

Governor endorses pro-energy, pro-irrigation bill from Warnick, Dent

On Wednesday the governor signed legislation from 13th District Sen. Judy Warnick and Rep. Tom Dent that would enable irrigation districts to enter into public-private partnerships for new energy infrastructure, including hydroelectric projects.

“This is a good piece of bipartisan legislation that is going to create jobs and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our irrigation-district systems,” said Dent, R-Moses Lake, about Senate Bill 5261, which is identical to a House bill he introduced.

“We will be able to put a lot of people to work building the generating stations and then use the profits from the power to maintain and operate the irrigation systems.”

Irrigation districts have a long history as special-purpose districts in Washington. The law created by Warnick’s SB 5261 means they now have an added, market-based opportunity to improve the services they deliver and benefit the regions they serve.

“This is a creative way to deliver affordable energy by our irrigation districts,” said Warnick, R-Moses Lake. “In addition to delivering water to our agricultural producers, irrigation districts are important contributors to our state’s energy profile. This law provides another tool to help these districts work cooperatively with private-sector partners in the energy arena.”

“This is the most beautiful piece of legislation I’ve seen all year, due to its simplicity and structure,” said Matthew Hepner, executive director of the Certified Electrical Workers of Washington and vice president of the North Central Washington Labor Council. “The passage of this bill will allow for the creation of thousands of family-wage construction jobs in rural central and eastern Washington communities, followed by up to a hundred full time permanent jobs, while putting up to 500 megawatts onto the grid in real, usable amounts. This will help keep power rates low and keeping central Washington industrially competitive.”

New law from Warnick simplifies impound-notification rules

A new law will help tow-truck operators save on the cost of notifying the owners of vehicles they impound. Senate Bill 5343, sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, was signed by the governor Monday. The new law will allow registered tow-truck operators to send notices using first-class mail, instead of a more costly certified mailing.

“This bill allows for minor changes to protect tow-truck operators and consumers and save money,” said Warnick. “We are still ensuring proper records are kept for those whose vehicles are impounded or picked up when abandoned, while reducing the cost burden on tow-truck companies.”

During public testimony on the legislation, truck operators indicated that mailing a certified letters costs over $6, and in many cases the letter is returned. Allowing first-class mailing instead still creates a record of attempts to contact registered owners of abandoned vehicles — just at a fraction of the cost.

The law takes effect 90 days after the adjournment of the 2017 regular legislative session, scheduled April 23.

Warnick agritourism bill garners Legislature’s approval

Sen. Judy Warnick’s legislation to limit liability for ranchers and farmers engaged in agritourism activities cleared its final legislative hurdle Monday. Minor changes made to Senate Bill 5808 by the House of Representatives received near-unanimous approval from the Senate. The measure now goes to the governor to be signed.

“Agritourism, in the form of opening up farming operations to the public, represents an increasingly popular and viable revenue stream for our agricultural producers,” said Warnick, R-Moses Lake, chair of the Senate agriculture committee. “Farm work can be dangerous, and this bill clarifies liability when they open up their operations to the public to cut down their own Christmas trees, or pick their pumpkins for Halloween.”

Twenty other states have similar laws aimed at clarifying and limiting liability for agritourism. The industry provides millions of dollars to the local economies. Kittitas County, in Warnick’s district, is home to at least 15 such agritourism operations.

“Getting insurance for these kinds of activities can be unduly expensive,” said Warnick. “We need this clarification to help family farms be more economically viable, engage with broader audiences, and have some protections when they are acting responsibly.”

Billions in new taxes, House fails rural families

April 6, 2017

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Greetings from Olympia!

This week brought another of the deadlines for bills to continue through the legislative process. The House Democrats unveiled their spending proposal to meet the state’s obligation to fund education and pay for other state services for the next two years. Unfortunately, it is just a spending wish list because it requires billions in more taxes that the House majority does not intend to bring up for a vote. While it does make investments in many areas of state government, the House proposal still spends less money on education – despite over $3 billion in new taxes – than the Senate’s complete and funded budget that does not include a general tax increase.

education

Our state is expected to collect $3 billion more in taxes generated from economic activity. Our budget prioritizes spending on education. As one of my colleagues noted, we put the first dollar, not the last dime, toward education, unlike the House Democrats’ proposal.

House Democrats fail to act for our state’s rural families

If you’ve been watching the news, you may have heard about the Hirst court decision. This ruling from the state’s Supreme Court in late 2016 effectively stopped home building in rural parts of our state. The court threw out decades of water law and placed the burden on local jurisdictions to make determinations about water availability before issuing permits. This is something that the state already does and a task counties don’t have the resources or technical expertise to do. So what happens? The costs of the studies required are placed on property owners hoping to build a life on their parcel and even if they pay the thousands of dollars for the studies, there is no guarantee a permit will be issued.

I sponsored Senate Bill 5239 to fix the Hirst ruling and bring some common sense back to Olympia. I am dismayed that the House Democrats failed to act before the deadline to approve the bill. They did not bring any solutions and ignored the numerous people who testified in public hearings about their plight. Some invested their life savings, only to be told they couldn’t drill a well.

The House majority has essentially said they don’t care. While the wealthy may be able to afford the studies, average property owners are stuck without relief.

I am committed to fixing this issue before the Legislature adjourns on April 23. When I came to Olympia to begin the 2017 legislative session, I knew that education was going to be at the forefront of our work, but the impacts of Hirst became very clear and the time to act is now.

I issued a statement on the House’s failure that you can read here.

You can learn more about the issue, and see what newspapers and stakeholders are saying by visiting these websites.

www.FixHirst.com

www.src.wastateleg.org/hirst-fix

It is an honor to serve as your state Senator. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your state government. Please watch your email, as I look forward to providing you with regular updates throughout the session.

Signature

Judy Warnick,

13th District Senator

Contact Me

Olympia Office:

103 Irv Newhouse Bldg.

P.O. Box 40410

Olympia, WA 98504

Olympia Phone:

360.786.7624

District Phone:

509.766.6505

E-mail:

Judith.Warnick@leg.wa.gov

Website:

Click here to visit my website

House fails to act on needed water relief for state’s rural residents

On the day of the deadline by which policy bills must be approved to continue in the legislative process, the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee failed to approve Senate Bill 5239, the “Hirst fix” legislation sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake. This failure to act leaves rural residents hoping to drill a small, household well without access to water.

In late 2016 the state Supreme Court issued its Hirst decision, which turned decades of water law on its head and prevents future domestic wells from being used. Warnick, who chairs the Senate’s water-related committee, made the following statement in light of the House’s inaction.

“I am disappointed that the House committee was unable to move my legislation that brings needed relief to residents in rural areas of our state. I worked with stakeholders to address concerns and put forth a solution that actually works for the thousands of people who are left with no access to water on their properties.

“When the session began, the impacts of the Hirst decision became painfully clear. The lives of the people I represent and really, of all of Washington’s residents who don’t have the luxury of hooking up to city water systems, are being adversely affected and it demands action.

“This issue is not just about water. The inability for housing development in rural areas is crippling for county revenues, for school districts and for areas in our state that haven’t felt the economic recovery like the Central Puget Sound has. Families are hurting and they deserve relief.

“The next step to solve this crisis is on the House. The Senate approved a bipartisan solution to address the Hirst decision – the House failed to act. I listened to the people who had spent their life’s savings on a property to make a home, but the House ignored them.

“The bottom line is that we must deliver a reasonable policy that lets property owners have access to water on their property without undue burdens and costs that will make their lives harder.”

Watch my testimony on my water bills in the House, including the Hirst fix legislation

Read my latest e-news update!

March 9, 2017

Greetings from Olympia!

It is hard to believe that the 2017 legislation session is already over halfway complete. The Senate has been working late into the evening, passing legislation as we approach the March 8 deadline for voting on Senate bills. I have been fortunate to have a number of bills that I have sponsored approved by the Senate and sent to the House of Representatives for its consideration.

One of the most consequential pieces of legislation that I have worked on is Senate Bill 5239, which is my collaborative attempt to address the recent Hirst decision that effectively put a halt to rural homebuilding around the state. My bill, which received some bipartisan support but not nearly as much as I was hoping, would put our state’s water law back in line with common sense and scientific consensus about the impacts of small, household wells.

If my bill becomes law, local jurisdictions can again rely on the state Department of Ecology’s determinations on water availability, the way they have for years, so that property owners in rural parts of Washington can get the access to wells they need to obtain building permits. During the committee process we heard heart-wrenching stories from people around the state whose life savings were in jeopardy because they could not get a permit without potentially spending tens of thousands of dollars more on studies as a result of the Hirst court case. We need a solution to this problem and I am confident that my proposal will give families the relief they deserve from this overreaching decision.

Watch my latest video update

Watch my latest video update by clicking here, where I discuss the legislative session and my work here in Olympia.

Remembering those in our legislative family

As many of you may be aware, late last year I lost a dear friend and colleague, Kyle Lynch, who had been my legislative aide since I started my legislative career in 2007.

He was a familiar face and voice to anyone that contacted my office. The Senate honored Kyle with a resolution, bringing his family to Olympia to celebrate his life.

Please click here to watch a video of the day’s proceedings on Senate Resolution 8626

Let’s Talk

My House seatmates and I will host a live telephone town hall beginning at 6 p.m. next Monday, March 13. The program is similar to a call-in radio show in that people may call and ask questions over the telephone and participate in surveys.

To participate, residents may call (509) 941-2750 during the event and follow the prompts to join the conversation.

For more information about the telephone town hall, contact me at judy.warnick@leg.wa.gov or (360) 786-7624.

Signature

Judy Warnick,

13th District Senator

Share my E-newsletter

Contact Me

Olympia Office:

103 Irv Newhouse Bldg.

P.O. Box 40410

Olympia, WA 98504

Olympia Phone:

360.786.7624

District Phone:

509.766.6505

E-mail:

Judith.Warnick@leg.wa.gov

Website:

Click here to visit my website

Warnick agritourism legislation approved by Senate

Bill would expand protections for agricultural producers who host tourists

Today the state Senate approved Senate Bill 5808, sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick, chair of the Senate agriculture committee, that would limit liability for ranchers and farmers engaged in agritourism activities. The legislation was approved 42 to 6 and goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

“We want to promote our agriculture industry and agritourism as a great way for people to learn more about where their food comes from, and create better understanding of the life of our agricultural producers for those in urban communities,” said Warnick, R-Moses Lake. “Life on a farm is hard, sometimes dangerous work, and this bill clarifies liability when they open up their operations to the public to cut down their own Christmas trees, or pick their pumpkins for Halloween.”

Public testimony on the legislation indicated that in Kittitas County alone there are at least 15 such agritourism operations, providing millions of dollars to the local economy. Twenty other states have similar laws on the books aimed at clarifying and limiting liability for agritourism.\

“Insurance premiums for this industry have become very expensive, increasing by 400 percent in two years,” said Warnick. “We need this clarification to help family farms be more economically viable, engage with broader audiences, and have some protections when they are acting responsibly.”