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IDAHO

 

Registration for candidates to run for political office opened on March 4 and will extend through March 15.  Each day the website at the Secretary of State becomes more populated with names as additional candidates from across the state enter their names.  Candidates receive political donations for campaign expenses through individual donations, PAC (Political Action Committees) donations and organization donations. Several years ago, an agriculture PAC was formed to bring entities together for this purpose. The Agricultural Natural Resource Industry Political Action Committee (ANRIPAC) was created to support legislative and statewide races. ANRIPAC is not involved in Congressional races. Members of ANRIPAC at this time include Food Producers of Idaho, Idaho Alfalfa and Clover Seed Growers Assn.; Idaho Cattle Assn.; Idaho Farm Bureau Federation; Idaho Hay and Forage Assn.; Idaho Noxious Weed Control  Assn., Idaho Onion Growers’ Assn.; Idaho Potato  Industry PAC; Idaho Wheat and Barley PAC; Idaho  Wool Grower’s Assn.; Marsing Ag Labor; Nezperce  Prairie Grass Growers Assn.; and Snake River  Sugarbeet Growers Assn. Other agriculture groups have PAC’s within their organization to support candidates. It is an important part of the election process and has traditionally had a very strong success rate in the candidates they support. ANRIPAC does their due diligence to be sure they support candidates that have a strong background or voting record related to agriculture and natural resource issues. Now more than ever, it is time for the agriculture community and affiliated industries to support candidates who understand the challenges faced by farmers and ranchers. 

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THE END IS NEARING 

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Due to a number of unforeseen factors and disagreements over the budgeting procedures and  rules that played out behind the scenes during the first  half of the session, the likely end of the session will be  March 29 instead of March 22. The Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee (JFAC) is scheduled to finish budget setting next week and once that happens, the rule of thumb is it takes another two to three weeks to adjourn the session for the year sine die (a term legislators use to signal final adjournment). Legislative leaders set the March 22 targeted adjournment date in November, before the session began. The target was always nonbinding and there is no legal or constitutional requirement to adjourn a legislative session in Idaho by a certain deadline. Following Idaho voters’ passage of Senate Joint Resolution 102 in November 2022, the Idaho Legislature also now has the authority to call itself back into session, without the approval of the governor. 

 

Another limiting factor has been that JFAC had not adopted a revenue projection until this week, which is usually done earlier prior to setting state budgets. This revenue target is important because it represents the ceiling for the amount of money legislators can spend in state budgets. The Idaho Constitution requires the Idaho Legislature to pass a balanced budget, where appropriations don’t exceed revenues. JFAC members voted 17-0 to set their revenue target for the fiscal year 2025 at $5.9 billion. Under its new budget process, JFAC signed off on $5.1 billion in spending during the second week of the session via 10 omnibus budgets that combined almost all state agencies and departments. From there, JFAC continued setting budgets for state agencies and approving supplemental funding requests, including 25 budgets, transfers or supplementals. JFAC had already spent more than $5.1 billion before it set the $5.9 billion revenue projection. Along with setting the revenue target for fiscal year 2025, JFAC also revised the revenue projection for the current fiscal year 2024 to  $5.6 billion, which is 5.1% below fiscal year 2023  general fund revenue collections.

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DUSTIN MILLER, DIRECTOR OF IDL 

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You may not know that Dustin Miller, Director of the Idaho Department of Lands, is a graduate of Leadership Idaho Agriculture, Class 28. Dustin was recognized at the recent graduation of Class 44 with the Wayne Meyer Statesman Award presented to an alumnus who has shown dedicated public service.  Miller has served as IDL Director since 2018. However, he has been a member of the Governor’s Natural Resource Council since 2012 having previously served as the Administrator of the Governor’s Office of Species Conservation. Dustin worked for Idaho Farm Bureau earlier in his career as a lobbyist. A graduate of the U of I in the College of Natural Resources, he currently is serving on the CNR Advisory Board. Wayne Meyer was a former State Legislator who was from North Idaho where he farmed Kentucky Bluegrass on the Rathdrum Prairie. Upon his passing the Wayne Meyer Statesman Award was established. 

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FFA STUDENTS MAKING AN IMPACT 

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The State FFA recently completed a review of student record books for state degrees, proficiency awards, and state star Awards. Below is the impact that agriculture education has had on Idaho this past year.  Here are a few key highlights: 

• Ag Ed Students have a direct investment of $10,318,424 in local communities. 

• Student Supervised Agriculture Experiences had a $20,606,611 economic impact, valued at $1,346 per student. 

• FFA Chapters across the state have had a $73,016 economic Impact in their communities. - Hours in Work Based Leaning (SAE’s):  554,903. 

• Hours in Career & Leadership Development Events: 20,815. 

• Hours in Local Chapter Activities: 73,454. - Hours in Community Service: 16,580, valued at $383,000. 

 

NOTE: If you would like a copy of the complete report please contact our office and we will email it to you. 

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GRAZING LEASES 

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S1342 would extend grazing lease lengths to 40 years as a maximum from the current maximum lease length of 20 years on state owned property. This would allow livestock operators who seek those grazing leases to have consistency and predictability when applying for those leases if they were to obtain the grazing lease.  There are certain terms and conditions that must be met by the lessee and by having a longer term, it removes the risk that they may lose the lease in a shorter amount of time. By locking in a longer term, it does not absorb the lessee from annual grazing lease rate changes. Each year the Idaho Department of  Lands determines the appropriate grazing rate and this is passed on to the lessees per Idaho Code 58-304.  

 

Additionally, this legislation would exempt grazing leases from the hearing requirement mandated within Idaho Code 58-307(4). This would remove the cost and burden of IDL staff having to travel to each county where a grazing lease would be considered to hold a public meeting. This is supported by the fact that many, if not all grazing leases occur in the unincorporated portions of the county, and away from many urban  areas. Grazing does not omit the sounds, noises or smells that one may find with a recreational commercial lease or a mineral lease. 

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SCHOOL FACILITIES  

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H521 is the tax bill of the session. H521 is the largest investment ever in school facilities and lowers income taxes from 5.8% to 5.695%. It also has the added benefit of long-term property tax relief because the state would be taking on the expense for many improvements local property owners would otherwise cover through their property taxes. H521 would dedicate $125 million in ongoing sales tax revenue to the new School Modernization Facilities Fund for bonding. By providing ongoing sales taxes it would provide the legislature with expanded options to cover annual service on the bonds in the event of economic downturns. Next, H521 would increase the funding to the School District Facility Fund. It increases the sales tax revenue directed to the fund from 2.25% to 3.25% which is projected to be $25 million in FY 2025 and redirects existing lottery dividends to the fund, which is projected to be approximately $50 million in the 2025 fiscal year. H521 has passed the House of Representatives and is expected to be heard on the Senate floor in the upcoming weeks. Property taxes continue to be a large concern received by legislators from their constituents. This is another way to help lower property taxes without significantly shifting any additional burdens of taxes onto agriculture property. 

 

This review is provided by Association Management Group (Waitley Associates, Batt Associates, LP Associates & Agriculture, and Rooks Associates).  https://www.amgidaho.com/

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OREGON

 

In a nod to a uniquely bipartisan session, the 82nd Legislature gaveled out, sine die, three days earlier than required, on March 7, 2024.  In the final minutes of the session, lawmakers elected a new Speaker of the House, Julie Fahey (D-Eugene), with now former Speaker Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis) running for Oregon Attorney General.  Unlike the previous three sessions, lawmakers crossed party lines during their 32 days in session to work collaboratively on critical, but less partisan issues including the recriminalization of hard drugs, housing and campaign finance reform.    

 

HB 4002 and its companion bill SB 5204 will recriminalize hard drugs in Oregon, a response to public outcry over the implementation of Ballot Measure 110 (2020).  Under HB 4002, the Legislature created a new undefined misdemeanor (crime) that carries a maximum of 180 days in jail, but included a “deflection” program (similar to diversion for DUII) to allow people to avoid jail time in exchange for drug treatment.  Here is a chart legislator are sharing that shows the different paths a person could take under a HB 4002 citation or arrest, leading to (ideally) drug treatment or if not, jail time.  Time will tell whether these reforms will make an impact on Oregon’s drug crisis.

 

Another top priority for the session was passing Governor Kotek’s housing bill.  SB 1537 allocates nearly $370 million designed to boost affordable housing and homeless shelter production and give cities a small window to bypass state land-use laws to build housing. Governor Kotek brought back this priority bill after failing to secure support for the measure during the final days of the 2023 Session.   

 

Surprisingly, in a historic twist to the session, campaign finance reform (HB 4024) passed the legislature and is expected to be signed into law by Governor Kotek.  While it is a violation of the US Constitution’s 1st Amendment free speech provisions to remove money from politics, Oregon is unique among the states and federal government in having no direct campaign contribution limits.  Some may recall that in 1994, Oregonians passed campaign finance reform via Ballot Measure 9, which was subsequently invalidated by the Oregon Supreme Court as unconstitutional in 1997’s VanNatta v. Keisling.  Fast forward to 2020, the Oregon Supreme Court reversed the 1997 VanNatta decision, and voters approved Ballot Measure 107 (by 78%!), a constitutional amendment allowing for campaign contribution and spending limits at the state and local levels.  Which all brings us to the final days of this session.

 

A group called Honest Elections Oregon worked to qualify Initiative Petition 9 for the November 2024 ballot, which would have created very low contribution limits for candidates and complicated public disclosure laws.  Because of the 1st Amendment protections, if passed, the measure would very likely drive more dark (undisclosed) money in politics.  To avoid a ballot measure and create a workable campaign finance law, a bipartisan group of lawmakers and interest groups crafted HB 4024, limiting, but still allowing for direct campaign contributions to candidates.  Under the HB 4024 compromise, Honest Elections Oregon agreed to withdraw their Initiative Petition.  Consequently, with Governor Kotek’s signature, campaign finance limits will become law, and this will not be an issue before Oregon voters in November.

 

Here’s a short rundown of the new law.

 

• Campaign contribution limits go into effect in 2027, when all current legislators have run for re-election

• $3,300 Individual/Business Contribution Limits per Election (Primary and General)

• No contribution limits into Membership Organization Political Action Committees (PAC) (different for multi-candidate PACs)

• New limits on in-kind donations

• Similar transparency provisions requiring disclosure of campaign contributions to candidates

 

While bipartisan priorities passed this session, the legislature kicked the can on several issues, including transportation funding.  Despite a lawsuit brought by trucking businesses and inadequate funding for ODOT to perform normal operations, the Legislature did not address Oregon’s growing transportation needs.  They did, however, signal future work on a 2025 Statewide Transportation Package.  While the Joint Transportation Committee failed to move any of the bills (HB 4165, SB 1519 and SB 1543) aimed at addressing the state’s dwindling Highway Trust Fund, we expect this to be a major issue in 2025, as the legislature navigates balancing the cost of Oregon’s transportation system on the backs of the weight-mile tax paid by trucks and the gas tax paid by some, but not all passenger vehicles.

 

Here's a quick overview of other bills we were tracking for you:

 

Warehouse Workers(PASSED) HB 4127 was part of a national effort targeting working conditions in Amazon warehouses, but encompassed many other sectors that relied on warehouses. After over a year of negotiations, the bill was modified to include only a reporting requirement for certain warehouses that pay workers on a quota system.  Warehouses are defined by NAICS codes.  Since the last session, ag, food, and beverage warehouse NAICS codes were explicitly exempted. Overall, the bill passed without business community opposition.

 

Leave Realignment Bill (PASSED):  The legislature passed SB 1515 which will better align a pair of overlapping leave laws, the Oregon Family Leave Act and Paid Leave Oregon. Changes to these laws were a priority for the business community because the two programs provide leave under similar circumstances, making compliance confusing for employers and employees. The programs’ redundancies also have led to leave “stacking,” in which employees exhaust OFLA leave, then then take paid leave for the same purpose. SB 1515 is intended to take care of those redundancies and stacking.

 

Tax Privacy (PASSED):  A new law was passed to protect business and individuals from public disclosure of local government tax information.  HB 4031 ensures local governments cannot disclose business and personal tax information.  This was a priority for several business organizations following a lawsuit by the media challenging the City of Portland’s decision not to disclose certain tax information.  This is a good win for business.

 

HB 4050 Pay Equity Improvements (FAILED): HB 4050 would have created new flexibility in Oregon’s pay equity law.  The proposal would have added language used by other states with strong pay equity protections, like California and New York, giving Oregon employers the flexibility to provide hiring and retention bonuses when certain criteria are met.  With public employee union and other opposition, the bill died in committee.

 

New, Aggressive Climate Goals (FAILED): SB 1559 would have established new, unnecessarily aggressive greenhouse gas emission reduction goals 95% below 1990 levels by 2050 with interim goals in 2030 and 2040. Fortunately, the legislature chose to avoid this controversial topic this session.

 

Farm machinery and equipment (PASSED):  In the final day of session, the legislature passed HB 4111, which expands the property tax exemption for farm machinery and equipment. While this is more of an on-farm property tax benefit, wine and dairy producers were called out as potential beneficiaries. 

 

Overall, the 2024 Legislative Session was a success for NWACC; in large part due to the dedicated work with legislators and agencies before session to avoid bad, partisan legislation. We do expect a busy interim with various rulemakings (CPP, CAFO, and EPR to name a few), meeting candidates running for election/re-election, and even discussing complex legislation for 2025. The work is never done.

 

And finally, Tuesday is officially filing day, the deadline for candidates to enter 2024 races for elected office in Oregon.  We will compile a full list of candidates for legislative districts shortly after Tuesday’s deadline.

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WASHINGTON

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The Washington State Legislature adjourned Sine Die around 5:50pm on the 60th and final day of the short supplemental session. Budget negotiations were ongoing since Friday, March 1 which was the last day to pass opposite house bills by 5 p.m.

 

The final week of this year’s session was consumed by finalizing supplemental budget negotiations, passing several initiatives to the legislature and a very controversial bill to allow Puget Sound Energy to charge more for gas to recoup infrastructure costs, and reconciling the differences between bills passed in the House and Senate.

 

Earlier this week, Rep. Spencer Hutchins Johnson (R-Gig Harbor) added to the list of legislator retirements when he announced he will not run for re-election this fall so he can spend more time with his family.

 

The list of retirements include:

• Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig (D-Spokane) will be stepping down when his term ends after serving in the Legislature for 14 years. Rep. Marcus Riccelli (D-Spokane) announced he will run for this open Senate seat in the 3rd Legislative District

• Senate Labor & Commerce Committee Chair Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines) announced she will retire mid-term at the end of this year, having served 29 years in the Legislature

• Senate Ways & Means Ranking Minority Member Sen. Lynda Wilson (R-Vancouver) announced her plans to retire when her term ends. Rep. Paul Harris (R-Vancouver) announced he will run for this open Senate seat in the 17th Legislative District.   

• Sen. Mark Mullet (D-Issaquah) will be leaving the Senate for a run for Governor.

• Sen. Kevin Van de Wege (D-Port Angeles) will be leaving the Senate for a run for Lands Commissioner.

• Long time Senate member Sen. Sam Hunt (D-Olympia) will be retiring.

• First elected in 2005, former Deputy Minority Leader Representative Joel Kretz (R-Wauconda) announced he will be retiring.

• Rep. J.T. Wilcox (R-McKenna) announced last week he will be retiring after serving 14 years.

 

Budget Bills Pass

 

During the last two days of session, the Legislature adopted the 2024 Supplemental Operating Budget (ESSB 5950), Transportation Budget (ESHB 2134), and Capital Budget (ESSB 5949). Full details for each bill can be found on the legislative website.

 

Initiatives

 

Six statewide initiatives to the Legislature were certified by the Secretary of State during the 2024 legislative session. House and Senate Leadership, under pressure from the public, held hearings for three of the six initiatives. The three initiatives that received hearings were: I-2111 (prohibiting income taxes), I-2081 (creating a parents’ bill of rights for children in public schools), and I-2113 (lifting restrictions on police vehicle pursuits). On March 4, all three initiatives that received hearings were passed by the House and Senate. The remaining three initiatives will go on the November General election ballot for voters to decide. They propose to repeal the Climate Commitment Act (I-2117), repeal the Capital Gains Tax (I-2109), and allow Washingtonians to opt-out of the Long-Term Care Insurance Program (I-2124).

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Operating Budget

 

The 2024 Supplemental Operating Budget relies on the February 24 revenue forecast with a 4.5% growth rate assumption applied for the 2025-27 biennium. The budget also depends on transferred reserve funds, including the Washington Rescue Plan Transition Account (WRPTA). The conference budget proposal transfers the full $798 million balance of the WRPTA account to the state general fund in fiscal year 2025.

 

There are nine revenue bills assumed in the conference budget. Two of the bills create a revenue loss: $47.3 million for HB 1976 related to increasing incentive payments for early adopters of the State Energy Performance Standard and $34.3 million for SSB 6316 related to limiting tolls on only the floating bridge portion of the SR 520 Corridor.

 

Funding from the 2024 Operating Budget proposed compromise includes:

 

• $757 million for K-12 public education and includes increased allocation to districts based on utilization for special education. 

• $660 million for behavioral health with an emphasis on opioid and other substance use disorder response.

• $94 million for housing and homelessness including funding for clean energy transitioning support including Washington Families Clean Energy Credits, which are utility bill credits of up to $200 based on income, to be made by September 15, 2024.

• $72 million for long term care including funding for a complex needs facility for serving 12 children with ADD and complex behavioral needs. 

• $281 million for healthcare and public health including $60 million for the University of Washington health system.

• $71 million for natural resources relying heavily on Climate Commitment Act funding for forest health and wildfire protection, including $30 million for farm and agriculture support – this is funding to support farm fuel users and transporters that would go out in four payment tiers and must begin in September 2024.

• $77 million for higher education to support increased access to the Washington College Grant program and increasing the number of health care workers in rural areas including rural workers, graduate medical students, dentists, and nurse anesthetists and the Washington College loan program.

• $150 million for children, youth and families that includes rate increases for ECAP in the amounts of 5% for school day slots and 9% for working day slots and rate increases for foster care is funded beginning in July 2025. 

• $145 million for corrections and other criminal justice that includes funding for training, certification, and for regional academies and basic law enforcement Academy instructors. 

• $130 million for human services that includes an emphasis on funding for food assistance and refugee and immigration services, including a $12 million increase for the senior nutrition program and a $10 million increase for the Department of Agriculture emergency food distance program. 

 

Capital Budget

 

The $1.3 billion 2024 Supplemental Capital Budget funds construction projects and infrastructure across Washington and makes major investments in school construction, behavioral health facilities, and affordable housing construction.  

 

School Construction

The budget makes investments in school construction, increasing state support in the School Construction Assistance Program from $271 to $375 per square foot – a total increase of $79 million in support for school construction. The budget also includes $68 million for skills centers and other career and technical education facilities, and $114 million for the Small District & Tribal Compact School Modernization program, which helps districts unable to pass their own school bonds for construction. 

 

Behavioral Health 

The budget provides a total of $82.7 million in behavioral health community capacity grants, to build behavioral health care facilities in communities across Washington. It expands investment in tribal behavioral health centers, innovative new projects being developed in partnership with tribes and the federal government to provide behavioral health and substance abuse treatment.

 

Affordable Housing

The budget includes $127.5 million for the Housing Trust Fund, building upon the record-breaking investments in affordable housing made in 2023.

 

Transportation Budget

 

The final conference Supplemental Transportation Budget provides $14.6 billion in appropriation authority. $8.2 billion is provided for capital projects and programs, and $6.4 billion is provided for operating programs. This is an increase of $1 billion over the enacted 2023-25 biennium Transportation Budget. Most of the increase is attributable to reappropriations of $900 million in capital spending from the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium, $324 million in new spending from additional Climate Commitment Act funds, increased operating spending, and updated project delivery information.

 

New Climate Commitment Act expenditures begin January 1, 2025. The proposed budget includes only spending items that can be paid for with anticipated resources, balancing the spending plan through the current 2023-2025 and subsequent 2025-2027 biennia. 

 

The 2024 Supplemental Transportation Budget proposed compromise focuses on traffic safety. Some spending highlights included for this purpose are outlined below.

 

• $5.9 million to the State Patrol for a 3rd trooper class, and $6.2 million for the restoration of previously vacant trooper positions based on updated information, and contingency funding for overtime and other emergent issues.

• $8.5 million to the WA Traffic Safety Commission for enhanced public education and enforcement efforts and to increase grants to local jurisdictions and community-based organizations for projects such as improving bike, pedestrian, and school zone safety.

• $2 million to evaluate and identify geographical locations across urban and rural settings to implement wrong way driving prevention strategies.

• $2.0 million in additional funding for WSDOT to further address risks to safety and public health associated with homeless encampments on WSDOT-owned rights-of-way.

• $1 million for a multi-faceted approach to supplement existing funding targeted at impaired driving and other enforcement, including additional high visibility enforcement and tribal traffic safety support.

• $1 million for a new WSDOT program designed to abate and reduce graffiti on public property.

• $1 million for WSDOT to develop a highway speed safety camera pilot program to test two or three automated traffic safety cameras on state highways.

• $1 million in combined funding for additional efforts at the state and local levels to improve compliance with ignition interlock device installation requirements associated with impaired driving offenses.

 

Project delivery challenges and anticipated cost increases have been addressed as much as possible within available resources. Several studies and initiatives are included to better prepare to address issues with project delivery in the future. These include the below items.

 

• $1 million for the Washington State Transportation Center to increase funding to address workforce shortages in civil engineering, environmental engineers, and related disciplines.

• $450,000 for the Joint Transportation Committee to evaluate and provide recommendations on alternative project delivery methods and innovative project delivery practices.

• $375,000 for the Joint Transportation Committee, in consultation with the Municipal Research and Services Center, to convene a work group to evaluate and provide recommendations on local projects streamlining delivery methods.

• $81,000 of the amount provided to the Washington State Transportation Center is to be used to evaluate and provide recommendations on workforce shortages in civil engineering, land surveying, and related disciplines, in consultation with the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

 

Priority Bill Updates

 

SB 5915/HB 2454- Extending an existing hazardous substance tax exemption for certain agricultural crop protection products that are temporarily warehoused but not otherwise used,

manufactured, packaged, or sold in the state of Washington. Extends the hazardous substance

tax exemption for agricultural crop protection products until January 1, 2028. The bill passed the legislature after being amended in the Senate. The final tax preference is extended to January 1, 2028. The bill as introduced would have been a ten-year extension. We will come back next year and work for a longer extension.

 

SB 5972- Concerning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides. The bill is sponsored by Senate Floor

Leader Marko Liias, Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig and Senate Agriculture committee chair

Kevin Van de Wege. The bill was amended in the House Ag committee that allows homeowners

to do tree injections. Applicators with a license and farmers can still purchase and apply neonics

with no new impacts. The bill passed the legislature and is headed to the Gov’s desk.

 

HB 2301- Improving the outcomes associated with waste material management systems,

including products affecting organic material management systems. Establishes new grant

programs related to food waste reduction and organic material management policy

implementation. Amends organic material collection service requirements for local

governments, residents, and businesses. Establishes color requirements for garbage, recycling,

and organic material disposal bins. The bill passed the legislature and is headed to the Gov’s desk.

 

SB 6058- Facilitating linkage of Washington’s carbon market with the California-Quebec carbon

market. The bill passed the legislature and is headed to the Gov’s desk.

 

Dead Bills

 

SB 6166- Extending the pesticide application safety committee. The Pesticide Application

Committee (Committee) was formed in 2019 to explore how the Departments of Agriculture

(WSDA), Labor and Industries (L&I), and Health (DOH), and the Washington Poison Center

collect and track data and consider the feasibility and requirements of developing a shared

database, including how the DOH could use existing tools to better display multiagency data

regarding pesticides.

 

SB 5770- An act relating to state and local property tax reform. Increases the property tax

revenue limit for local property taxes. Exempts property owners qualifying under the retired

persons property tax relief program from 25 percent of part one of the state levy. Eliminates

non-supplant restrictions applicable to local government taxing districts located in a county

with a population of 1.5 million or more. Modifies the portion of a county current expense levy

allocated in statute to funding county-owned hospitals. One Percent Property Tax Revenue

Limit. For purposes of the revenue growth limit for state and local property taxes, the limit

factor of 101 percent is replaced with a limit factor of 100 percent plus inflation and any banked

inflation balance, with a cap of 103 percent.

 

SB 6304/HB 2262- An act relating to implementing certain recommendations of the

transportation electrification strategy. Commerce may establish and enforce energy efficiency

standards for replacement tires on passenger cars and light duty trucks with a GVWR not

exceeding 10,000 pounds. If acting upon this authority, Commerce must adopt and amend rules

necessary to implement, administer, and enforce such standards, with implementation rules

taking effect at least one year after final rule adoption. Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Idling

Prevention. Beginning January 2, 2025: every diesel-fueled commercial motor vehicle licensed

to operate within the state with a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds may not idle for more

than five consecutive minutes at any location.

 

HB 2073- Concerning emissions of greenhouse gases from sources other than methane and

carbon dioxide. Requires the Department of Ecology (Ecology) to complete a study by July 1,

2025, addressing sulfuryl fluoride and greenhouse gases with a high global warming potential

used for anesthetic purposes (anesthetic GHGs), and to submit recommendations to the

Legislature by October 1, 2025. Requires Ecology to develop a guidance document for the

reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the use of anesthetic GHGs, and requires facilities at which medical, dental, and veterinary practitioners use anesthetic GHGs to only use anesthesia in a manner consistent with the guidance document, beginning January 1, 2027.

Requires Ecology to identify the availability and feasibility of safer alternatives to sulfuryl fluoride as a fumigant.

 

HB 2049- Improving Washingtons solid waste management outcomes. Requires that any exclusions for products regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act

must be granted for a period of four years. On February 5 the bill was moved to the House

Rules committee. Rep. Berry did strengthen the language exempting FIFRA products but not all fertilizer packaging. Rep. Fey’s striking amendment had our preferred language for all FIFRA products, removes all fertilizer packaging, and removes food containers that come into direct contact with fresh fruits, dairy products and vegetables for human consumption. Fey’s striking

amendment had support from 14 House Democrats and there were not enough votes in

support of the original bill to move it forward. This issue will be back next session.

 

HB 2144- Providing a deposit return program for qualifying beverage containers to be implemented by a distributor responsibility organization. This issue will be back next session.

 

HB 1574- Supporting Washington agriculture by capturing methane and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Expands the scope of permissible uses of grant funds in the Sustainable Farms

and Fields Program to include practices that increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Establishes an advisory committee to inform the agricultural

community about opportunities to participate in various carbon emissions reduction programs and to guide grant awards.

 

HB 2051- Reducing emissions from small off-road engines. The bill included many small engines that the sponsors did not realize existed.

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