Author Archives: Laudan

Warnick bill would grant new protections for state’s cattle industry

Sen. Judy Warnick’s legislation to have air-quality rules treat cattle feedlots the same as other agricultural operations was approved today by the state Senate.

Agricultural operations are exempt from state clean-air rules; Warnick’s Senate Bill 5196 would extend the exemption to feedlots while establishing a process and guidelines for addressing activities that may be detrimental to the environment.

“I think this is a good compromise bill which balances the rights of our cattle producers with environmental concerns, although I am disappointed with the final vote,” said Warnick, R-Moses Lake, who chairs the Senate Agriculture, Water, Trade and Economic Development Committee. “Other agricultural activities are exempt from these kinds of regulations, so this adjustment to state law makes sense. We are still ensuring best practices to keep our environment clean and providing a transparent process when a violation occurs. I wish we would have seen more bipartisan support for this common sense legislation.”

Cattle operations are still required to adhere to state Department of Ecology rules regarding dust control. The legislation would require that violations be clearly documented with evidence, setting a higher bar than current practice.

“In some areas of our state, raising cattle is a dusty business, but we know that impacts are temporary,” said Warnick. “If there are serious violations, then we want to deal with them, but this bill would provide for increased protections for our well-meaning cattle-industry partners.”

The bill was approved by a vote of 30-19 and now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

My E-newsletter – Feb. 24, 2017

February 24, 2017

Greetings from Olympia,

This Friday is the fiscal committee cut-off, which means that the Senate’s budget committee, Ways and Means, has until the end of tomorrow to approve bills with budgetary implications. We have been working long days in the committee all this week to hear public testimony on legislation before deciding which bills to send to the Senate Rules Committee – which sets the voting calendar for the full Senate.

Several of my bills are still in play this legislative session, including a fix to the disastrous Hirst decision, which has brought rural economic development to a halt. If you haven’t been following this issue, it stems from a state Supreme Court ruling late last year that turns decades of water law on its head, preventing families who want to build in rural areas from obtaining water via household wells.

My legislation, Senate Bill 5239, would ensure that water is available to support families who don’t have the luxury of hooking up to municipal water resources. The bill received a public hearing in the Senate Ways and Means committee this past Tuesday. Click here to watch the proceedings. There are clearly differences of opinion about how we solve this problem. I think my approach provides a comprehensive solution that addresses stakeholder concerns while ensuring that property owners regain the ability to obtain water in a convenient and affordable way. The consequences of inaction could mean hundreds of millions of dollars in financial losses to the citizens of our state.

Managing our state’s livestock

Two of my bills relating to livestock are still working their way through the legislative process. Senate Bill 5750 concerns livestock inspections. The changes it would make to the inspection fees assessed by the state Department of Agriculture are aimed at helping the beef industry thrive in our state. They have to do with collecting needed data for animal disease traceability and are the result of working with industry leaders to ensure ownership.

The second bill, Senate Bill 5793, also known as the Beef Check Off, would make changes to the per-head assessment for the state’s Beef Commission to increase funding to expand markets and help our beef industry be more successful during what are challenging times for the industry. The bill also requires that the commission provide a report to the Legislature on how the funds are used to support this critical part of our state’s economy.

Protecting our state’s vulnerable

In addition to my work on agricultural issues, I have a passion for protecting our state’s vulnerable residents. Before this legislative session, I served on several special committees looking at Washington’s mental-health system as it relates to delivering critical services to families and children. As a result I introduced Senate Bill 5763, which would improve how the state coordinates mental health services for low-income children and ensures there are enough mental health professionals in our workforce.

Rural Economic Development

I met recently with representatives of Mitsubishi here in Olympia. We discussed their ongoing efforts to boost employment opportunities in our community. I look forward to their continued involvement in our region.

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

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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

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Warnick plans Tuesday hearing on collaborative approach to Washington rural development

The chair of the Senate’s water-policy committee has responded to an anti-rural ruling from the state Supreme Court by filing legislation concerning the availability of water for new household wells. Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, has scheduled Senate Bill 5239 for a public hearing Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 8 a.m. before the Senate Agriculture, Water, Trade and Economic Development Committee.

Warnick says the high court’s recent Hirst decision would effectively halt development in many of Washington’s 39 counties, hitting rural areas the hardest. It would have a chilling effect on rural economic development by requiring local governments to make legal determinations of water availability – work already done by the state Department of Ecology – and sets up a situation where local jurisdictions and the state could be at odds issuing permits for small, household wells.

Her measure would support development in rural areas by limiting the factors that drive up the cost of obtaining water supplies for new-home construction.

“Water is already a critical issue for our state,” Warnick said. “This court decision makes our problems even worse and shows a real disconnect between the court and everyday Washingtonians. Many in rural communities around the state view this action as a war on rural Washington because so many people rely on these household wells that previously have never been an issue.”

In practice, the case requires counties with already limited resources to conduct costly studies on water availability for wells that have for decades been exempt due to the extremely low amounts of water used for household purposes. The costs of the studies, which could add thousands of dollars to the cost of homebuilding in rural areas, likely would be passed on to homeowners.

“We face a situation where people in rural areas who don’t have the luxury of hooking up to city water now have very few options,” Warnick said. “We are one Washington, but the realities faced by the communities I represent sometimes don’t get the attention they deserve. We are talking about families who will now have to pay tens of thousands of more dollars to get water because the state Supreme Court has taken decades of water law and turned it on its head.”

“I am hopeful that my bill will provide a collaborative approach, needed relief, and certainty in the wake of this bizarre court decision,” Warnick added.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Hirst Rulilng and Senator Warnick

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Water Update – The Legislature is back in session

January 17, 2017

Greetings Friends and Neighbors

Warnick Commitee

It has been a busy first week of the legislative session. Now that all the pomp and circumstance is over it is time to roll up my sleeves and get to work. Wednesday I was selected by my colleagues to serve as the Vice Chair of the Senate Republican Caucus. In this capacity I will help preside at internal meetings and coordinate committee activities as liaison between leadership and committee chairs.

My committee, Agriculture, Water, Trade and Economic Development, met for the first time this past Thursday to consider some legislation pertaining to water, one of my top priorities. Read more two of the bills that were heard and a link to the video of the proceedings.

Senate Bill 5010 – Promoting water conservation by protecting certain water rights from relinquishment.

This bill would give agricultural water users credit for their conservation efforts. Right now there is somewhat of a negative incentive for people to use more water than they need because it is a use-it-or-lose-it system under current law.

Senate Bill 5003 – Clarifying authority of the department of ecology regarding minimum flow.

This legislation would give more flexibility to the state Department of Ecology to make more water available. This comes on the heels of some cities not being able to get water even after implementing mitigation efforts. It clarifies existing law.

I am also working with my colleagues on legislation to address the recent Hirst decision by the state Supreme Court. This decision amounts to a war on rural Washington by making household wells almost impossible to obtain. The decision not only places a burden on prospective homeowners to pay for costly studies, but it may also set up conflict between the state and counties regarding the availability of water. This decision has wide-ranging effects and not just on new home building. It could also impact education funding through lower property taxes and lost revenue and chill rural economic development.

Signature

Judy Warnick,

13th District Senator

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