Local wineries would get a boost from Warnick legislation Senate approves measure to increase number of tasting rooms The state Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick that would expand the number of tasting rooms small wineries can operate from two to four. Senate Bill 5426 was approved overwhelmingly, 44 to 5, and goes to the House... Read More...
13th District lawmakers to host telephone town hall March 13 Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, and Reps. Matt Manweller, R-Ellensburg, and Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, are holding an hour-long telephone town hall on Monday, March 13, at 6 p.m. The program is similar to a call-in radio show in which people may call and ask questions over the telephone and participate in surveys. To participate, residents... Read More...
Senate approves Warnick bill to encourage agricultural conservation Sen. Judy Warnick’s legislation to promote agricultural conservation, Senate Bill 5010, was approved by the Senate Tuesday evening. The bill would protect irrigators’ water rights from relinquishment if the water allotment was not fully used due to conservation or efficiency efforts. The Senate approved the legislation 27 to 22 through... Read More...
Warnick legislation to fix flawed Hirst water decision clears Senate   Sen. Judy Warnick’s legislation to fix the Hirst decision was approved Tuesday evening by the state Senate, despite efforts by some opposition Democrats to delay a legislative response that would aid rural homeowners. The decision, issued by the state Supreme Court in late 2016, effectively prevents the drilling of... Read More...
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... Read More...
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... Read More...
Water Update – The Legislature is back in session January 17, 2017 Greetings Friends and Neighbors 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... Read More...
Warnick garners additional Senate duties, outlines legislative priorities The 2017 legislative session began last week with Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, continuing to lead the Senate committee that addresses agricultural, water and economic-development issues. She also has been promoted to the position of vice chair of the Senate’s majority caucus. Before legislators returned to the Capitol for their... Read More...