Agriculture and Water

Warnick bill to help agricultural education clears committee
February 02, 2018
A bill sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, to help the next generation of agriculturists educate their communities was approved by the Senate Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources and Parks Committee Thursday. The legislation, Senate Bill 6571, would provide a sales and use tax exemption to student members of agricultural... Read More...
Hard-fought Hirst compromise reached for rural Washington
January 19, 2018
Capital budget approved; provides unprecedented support for education   After nearly a year of negotiations, Sen. Judy Warnick, former chair of the Senate’s water-related committee and lead negotiator on the bill to fix the flawed Hirst court decision, believes the compromise deal reached this week by Senate and House negotiators... Read More...
Senators welcome House Democrats’ reengagement on Hirst
December 11, 2017
Senators Judy Warnick and Jim Honeyford welcomed news that House Democrats have planned a work session Dec. 12 to discuss the Hirst water rights court decision. “I have remained hopeful since the Legislature adjourned that we can deliver a Hirst fix for rural Washington,” said Warnick, R-Moses Lake, who sponsored... Read More...
Warnick urges action on Hirst in letter to governor
September 12, 2017
Billions in damage to state economy without Hirst fix new study shows On the heels of the release of a new study that details the negative economic impact of the flawed Hirst water-rights decision, Senator Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, issued a letter to the governor calling for action toward a... Read More...
Senate sends Hirst-fix legislation to House for third time
June 15, 2017
The chair of the Senate’s water-related committee, Sen. Judy Warnick, has been working to fix the fallout caused by the Hirst decision issued by the state Supreme Court in late 2016. Senate Bill 5239, which has received bipartisan support in the upper chamber but stalled in the Democrat-controlled House of... Read More...
Warnick legislation signed; will increase protections for state’s cattle industry
May 08, 2017
The governor signed Sen. Judy Warnick’s legislation Friday that requires air-quality rules to treat cattle feedlots the same as other agricultural operations. Senate Bill 5196 extends the exemption to feedlots while establishing a process and guidelines for addressing activities that may be detrimental to the environment. “Other agricultural activities are... Read More...
Governor signs Warnick agritourism legislation
May 08, 2017
Friday, Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick to limit liability for agricultural businesses that open their operations to the public for agritourism activities. Senate Bill 5808 received near-unanimous approval in the Legislature. “The new law gives needed clarity to our ag-producers when they open their operations... Read More...