SB 5196 is a step forward for cattle feeders and Ecology to address air quality. The bill implements best practices that come from an air quality document that cattle feeders and Ecology developed. The bill passed both chambers and was signed by Gov. Inslee on May 5.
Brand Inspections Fees
SB 5750 would increase hourly rate and other fees for brand inspection services by the Washington State Department of Agriculture. The bill is likely dead for this year. There is work to be done and conversations to be had with WSDA in the interim on finding program efficiencies.
Beef Checkoff
SB 5793 originally raised the beef checkoff by $1 per head except for the first sale of green tagged calves. That version passed the Senate on March 7 by a vote of 30-19. In the House, the bill was amended in committee to increase the assessment by only 50 cents per head rather than $1. The bill stalled in the House Rules Committee and was returned to its current position in the Senate Rules Committee. A 50-cent increase would generate approximately $500,000 in new revenue for the Beef Commission. The goal is to increase research capacity and fund a major beef marketing effort to consumers in the Puget Sound region. HB 2073, a bill requiring the Beef Commission to be more transparent with its actions and finances, passed both chambers easily and was signed into law by Gov. Inslee on May 8.
Agritourism
SB 5808 provides a higher level of liability protection for farm-based agritourism businesses. Under the bill, an agritourism professional is not liable for unintentional injury, loss, damage, or death resulting exclusively from the inherent risks of an agritourism activity, with certain exceptions. The bill requires every agritourism professional to post a specified warning notice at the site of an agritourism activity and to include the warning notice in written contracts. The bill was signed into law on May 5.