Bill > SB6104

This bill, titled "Protecting Agriculture," aims to support Washington state's agricultural economy by requiring government agencies to consider the impact of their regulations and actions on farming. It mandates that state agencies, including the departments of Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife, Ecology, Labor and Industries, and Commerce, must conduct "agricultural impact statements" for any proposal that could significantly affect agriculture. These statements will analyze economic impacts, unavoidable adverse effects, alternatives, and mitigation proposals. Additionally, the bill requires the Office of Financial Management to create "fiscal notes" for proposed legislation that could alter regulatory costs for agricultural entities, with these notes detailing the projected financial impact on the agricultural economy. The bill also introduces a sequential mitigation process for actions that could lead to the loss of agricultural land or commercial benefits, prioritizing avoidance, then minimization, and finally compensation. It also amends existing laws to ensure that when urban growth areas are expanded or zoning changes occur that impact agricultural land, an agricultural impact statement is completed, and mitigation measures are implemented, such as conserving comparable farmland or restoring unfarmed land to production. The bill establishes a new chapter in Title 15 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) to house these provisions and is known as the "Food Economics, Availability, and Security Over Time Act."

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6104&Year=2025&Initiative=false