Tag Archives: Regulations

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.

Senate approves cottage industry bill

To 20150227_092509ksmeet the increasing popularity and demand for cottage foods, Sen. Judy Warnick, R- Moses Lake introduced Senate Bill 5603 which passed the Senate unanimously. The legislation increases the amount that kitchen to consumer vendors can make from $15,000 to $25,000.

“I am glad that we have been able to address the growing demand for cottage industries in our state,” said Warnick. “These are small, mostly family operations that are providing a service to their community and we should be supporting these entrepreneurs.”

Washington State allows for the sale of foods from home kitchens directly to consumers, licensed as cottage food by the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Those small vendors only qualify if annual gross sales are below $15,000.

“This is a small change that could make a big impact by removing barriers for this growing industry.  It gives the Department of Agriculture the ability to adjust the ceiling that these small business can make without needing future legislation.”