In an effort to console eastern Washington communities devastated by wildfires, Gov. Jay Inslee recently stopped for a public event in the town of Malden. During his remarks, Inslee offered words of encouragement and a seemingly benign gift – a box of apples picked from his own yard. However, the...

Washingtonians continue to cope with the COVID-19 impacts often made worse by unclear, inconsistent and hastily drafted executive orders. The most recent victims of such rushed rules were agritourism businesses. Late last week, the governor’s office issued rules that essentially shut down the industry, while letting other similar activities take...

The state legislature has approved a bill sponsored by state Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake that would formalize a public-private partnership to improve the state’s food-supply system. Senate Bill 6091 outlines goals of the Washington Food Policy forum, to include support for small farms, increasing the availability of food grown...

The Washington State Legislature has approved a proposal by state Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, aimed at strengthening the state’s livestock identification program. Senate Bill 5959, approved with strong bipartisan support, now heads to the governor for his signature. “This is an invaluable program to the protection of the livestock...

Gov. Inslee signed legislation sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick in a ceremony Tuesday. Senate Bill 6369 removes an exemption on veterinary inspections of animals brought into Washington state. Under current law, importers are exempt from an inspection if an animal is delivered to a feedlot, slaughter plant or livestock market...

Thursday, the governor signed Senate Bill 6278. The new law, introduced by Sen. Judy Warnick, will provide greater flexibility to the state Department of Agriculture regarding how it uses fees collected for certifying agricultural, vegetable and flower seeds. “It is vital to our state’s agricultural industry that we have a...

Sen. Judy Warnick’s bill to update state law concerning agricultural fairs and youth shows was signed Tuesday by Gov. Jay Inslee. Senate Bill 6368 makes broad changes to fair funding access, flexibility of funds and administrative oversight. The new law, which received unanimous support in the Legislature, will take effect...

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...

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...