Summary of 2010 Legislation Affecting Sustainable Ag
Summary of bills that were introduced during 2010 Legislative Session
| Bill Name |
Number |
Status |
|---|---|---|
| WA Food Policy Forum | SSB 6343 | Creating a Washington Food Policy Forum (Council). Passed through Senate Ag unanimously. Passed Senate 45 to 3. Passed House Ag Committee 10 to 3. Passed House 72 to 26. Concurred. Governor vetoed because she wants to use the Executive Order to direct the state food policy work. EO signed June 22, 2010. |
| Farmers Market Exemption | SHB 2402 | Exempts churches and other non-profits that host farmers markets from being taxed at a for-profit rate. Passed House 96 to 0. Passed Senate 94 to 0. Governor signed March 24, 2010. |
| Small Farm Internship Pilot Project |
SSB 6349 | Establishes a small farm internship pilot program in Skagit and San Juan Counties. Report to Legislature due Dec 31 2011. Passed Senate 47 to 0. Passed House 96 to 2. Concurred. Governor signed with partial veto, requiring L&I to pay for program, not general fund. Effective June 10, 2010. |
| Ag Signs on Highways | 6208 | Allows ag signs on State Highways Right-of-Way. Passed House 96 to 0 and passed Senate 48 to 0. Governor signed March 19, 2010. |
| WSDA Organic Program | 2460 | Housekeeping rules for Organic Program Passed House 95 to 0 and passed Senate 45 to 1. Governor signed March 18, 2010. |
| Emergency Food Programs to WSDA | 6341 | Transferring food assistance programs to the department of agriculture. Passed House 98 to 0 and passed Senate 48 to 0. Governor signed. Effective July 1, 2010. |
| Ag Scenic Corridor | SSB 6211 | Creates an ag scenic corridor within scenic and recreational highway system. Corridors within the scenic and recreational highway system that showcase the state's historic agricultural areas and promote the maintenance and enhancement of agricultural areas may be designated as agricultural scenic corridors. Passed Senate 47 to 0. Passed House 96 to 0. Governor signed March 10, 2010. |
| Wine Tasting Pilot at Farmers Market | HB 2642 | Allows wine-tasting pilot project at farmers markets to enhance the sales of Washington wines and help farmers market sales. Passed House 79 to 19. Didn’t make the time deadline. Bill Died in Senate. |
| Ag EIS for State Agencies | SSB 6521 | Requires State Agencies to use agriculture impact statement for actions they might take that affect land. Proposed by WCC Office of Farmland Preservation. Passed Senate 47 to 0. Passed House Ag Committee 9 to 4. Bill died in House Capital Budget. |
| WSDA Dairy Inspection | 2461 | This extends to 2015 the assessment levied under RCW 15.36.551 to support the dairy inspection program. Died in Senate Rules. |
| State Meat Inspection | 2966 | Never got out of House Ag Committee. Died in House Ag. |
