Tag Archives: Agriculture

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.

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 scheduled 105-day session, Warnick’s Republican-led Majority Coalition Caucus merged the committee she headed the past two years, which covered agriculture, water and rural economic development, with the committee that dealt with trade and economic development. The larger panel that resulted, dubbed by some as the “supercommittee,” is now known as the Senate Agriculture, Water, Trade and Economic Development Committee.

 

In addition, Warnick will act as a negotiator for the state’s capital budget.

“Communities around our state have benefited from wise investments through the capital budget,” Warnick said. “I spent years working on the capital budget in the House of Representatives, and look forward to continuing this valuable work.”

As the MCC vice chair, Warnick will help preside at internal meetings and coordinate committee activities as liaison between leadership and committee chairs.

“I am also excited to work with my Senate colleagues in this new leadership role,” Warnick added. “I am a consensus builder and hope I can lend my skills to move the conversation on policies we are considering.”

“This session there is a lot of focus on education – it is our state’s paramount duty,” said Warnick. “I am committed to making sure our state provides a quality education to all students. There are also other priorities that I hope to address such as the recent state Supreme Court ruling – the Hirst decision – that will impact rural home building and access to water. I will also be looking at local land-use planning as it relates to marijuana-growing operations and the work I did over the interim on the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Children and Families.”

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Warnick retains chairmanship of now expanded committee

Ahead of the 2017 legislative session, the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus announced committee-chairmanship positions. Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, will remain chair of her now-larger Senate Agriculture, Water, Trade and Economic Development committee. Additional committee assignments will be announced after the Senate Rules Committee votes on the first day of the legislative session, which will be Jan. 9.

“I am excited to continue the work to improve our state’s agricultural and economic environment,” Warnick said. “The expanded committee will now be looking at trade policies in addition to the critical work on water and rural development that impacts my district and the state. These issues are all connected and we need comprehensive solutions. I think this restructured committee will be able to make significant steps to accomplish that.

“This legislative session will be challenging given pressures to address pesticide regulations and the recent state supreme court decision that limits permit-exempt wells, but I am optimistic that we can find common-sense approaches,” said Warnick.

Governor signs trio of Warnick bills

In a formal ceremony this past Thursday, Gov. Jay Inslee signed three bills sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake. The bills touched on a variety of policy issues: water access, pest control and first-responder benefits.

“This legislative session was eventful and busy,” Warnick said. “I worked hard to get these three pieces of legislation to the governor’s desk which can be a challenge in a short legislative session.”

The first bill, Senate Bill 6605, concerns the permitting of solid-waste facilities in eastern Washington. The bill requires the state Department of Agriculture to review permits for new facilities to ensure that invasive species, pests and disease are not introduced from quarantined areas west of the Cascades. Of particular concern is the risk that pests like the apple maggot would have on Washington’s nearly $4 billion apple crop.

“Having the state Department of Agriculture involved in the siting of facilities will make the process even better,” said Warnick. “This legislation promotes responsible waste management that takes into account the interconnectedness of our state’s economy.”

Senate Bill 6263, also signed Thursday, would allow members of the of the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters (LEOFF 2) pension plan to receive full retirement benefits for injuries that are currently considered non-duty related, such as responding to federally declared emergencies.

The final Warnick bill signed by Inslee, Senate Bill 6513, addresses a stat-wide issue relating to water access. Warnick, who serves as the chair of the Senate Agriculture, Water and Rural Economic Development Committee, made water access and quality issues a primary focus during the 2016 legislative session. The new law directs the state Department of Ecology to act on certain water-rights applications in the state’s water resource inventory areas for the Wenatchee and Elwha-Dungeness River basins.

“Finding consensus on water issues is challenging,” said Warnick. “However, there are communities in our state that need us to act. This bill moves us in the right direction toward allowing already planned water use.”

Legislature approves Warnick bill to protect crops from pests and disease

Legislation sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick, R- Moses Lake, to prevent the spread of destructive pests and disease through compost was approved unanimously by the state House.

“This is an important bill for our state,” Warnick said. “It provides necessary protections for our agricultural industry to ensure that this cornerstone of our economy continues to thrive. It is a great bill and I’m pleased that the House made it better with a minor amendment.”

Senate Bill 6605 would create a process for the state Department of Agriculture to review applications for moving waste for composting from facilities in quarantine areas to areas not under quarantine. The goal is to review information to ensure that facilities are not at risk of spreading plant pathogens, disease or pests.

Last year, the value of Washington’s apple crop alone was $3.7 billion, with total economic value to the state being $8 billion. Of the 142 million boxes produced, 30 percent are exported.

“Having the state Department of Agriculture more involved in the oversight of facilities will make the process even better,” said Warnick. “This legislation promotes responsible waste management that takes into account the interconnectedness of our state’s economy.”

Sen. Warnick’s E-newsletter – February 24, 2016

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Update from Olympia – February 24, 2016

Greetings Friends and Neighbors,

With just a few weeks left in the 2016 legislative session, our Senate majority continues to build on the results we achieved in 2015 while pushing for increased transparency and accountability in state government. I have been fortunate to have several of my priority bills approved by the state Senate; they are now working their way through the House of Representatives. As chair of the Senate Agriculture, Water and Rural Economic Development committee I continue to advocate for common-sense reforms to how our state engages with farmers and other agricultural producers, as well as seek bipartisan solutions to water issues around our state.

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Increasing access to water

Getting agreement on water issues is challenging. This year, fortunately, one of my bills to improve access to water rights cleared the Senate with near-unanimous approval. Senate Bill 6513 comes in response to the state Department of Ecology’s notification to Chelan County that permits would not be issued. The legislation would direct Ecology to act on water-rights applications in the Wenatchee and Elwha-Dungeness river basins.

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Warnick

Expanding benefits for first responders

The Senate has approved my legislation to expand retirement and disability benefits to first responders injured or killed while responding to natural disasters or other federal emergencies. Senate Bill 6263, approved unanimously, would allow members of the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Retirement System (LEOFF 2) pension plan to receive unreduced retirement benefits for injuries that are currently considered duty related.
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Protecting crops from pests and disease

Agriculture is extremely important in our district and state. Last year, the value of Washington’s apple crop alone was $3.7 billion, with total economic value to the state being $8 billion. It is critical to protect our producers whose efforts drive our state’s economy. To that end, legislation that I introduced was approved by the Senate to prevent the spread of invasive species, pests and disease through compost.

Senate Bill 6605 would create a process for the state Department of Agriculture to review applications for moving waste for composting from facilities in quarantine areas to areas not under quarantine. The goal is to review information to ensure that facilities are not at risk of spreading plant pathogens, disease or pests.

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Voters’ voices silenced by minority Democrats on 2/3rds tax-vote amendment

Last week I voted to let Washingtonians have the final word on requiring approval from a two-thirds majority in the Legislature to raise taxes. Senate Joint Resolution 8211, which would let voters amend the state constitution to include the popular two-thirds tax-vote threshold, failed to receive support from the Senate’s minority Democrats and therefore fell short of the 33 votes it needed to move to the House of Representatives (constitutional amendments require a higher level of approval, and tax increases should too).

The voters in Washington have said six times over two decades that it should be harder for the state to raise taxes. Their voices should be heard. The solution to our state’s challenges is not taking more and more of the people’s money. Our Senate majority has demonstrated that we can make issues like education a priority without raising taxes. Minority Democrats in the Senate made every excuse as to why they didn’t trust the people of Washington to have a voice, and I think they are wrong.

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It is an honor to serve as your state Senator. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions regarding state government.

Sincerely,

Signature

Judy Warnick,

13th District Senator

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