Latest news with #HouseBill1912
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A promise fulfilled
May 21—OLYMPIA — Washington farmers were promised fuel exemptions from the state's Climate Commitment Act, and four years after its initial passage, Gov. Bob Ferguson signed House Bill 1912, which facilitates fuel exemptions for farmers under the CCA. "Washington's agriculture is among the best in the world because of the hard work of Washington farmers," Governor Ferguson said in a statement. "Our agricultural industries operate on thin margins, and they can't afford to pay unnecessary fees." The bill's sponsor, Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, emphasized the necessity of the legislation as an important support mechanism for Washington's agricultural community, which continues to face mounting operational challenges. "The legislature promised our agricultural industry this exemption when the Climate Commitment Act was originally passed," Dent said. "It was time we honored that promise to make it easier for farmers to access lower-cost fuel and lower the costs of fuel for our farmers." History The Climate Commitment Act was signed into law in 2021, establishing stringent targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Within this broad environmental framework, the act included exemptions for agricultural producers and transporters regarding fuel-related fees. Currently, an agricultural producer can apply for a rebate run by the Washington State Department of Licensing for up to $4,500. That amount for many farmers was much less than they lost from the CCA fee. However, despite the available exemptions, accessing exempt fuel proved to be significantly complicated in practice. "The formula for figuring out the rebate program was so difficult and complicated for no reason, I know I am not the only person who couldn't figure it out," Dent said. Farmers found it challenging to navigate the complexities associated with obtaining exemption certificates, Dent said, exacerbated further by various logistical hurdles in the supply chain. "Farming is a tough place to be in," Dent said. "We put in an additional tax on farmers, which is just killing them. Even though we put together a rebate program, the rebate program wasn't working very well. It was difficult. It's hard to get people that are already up to their eyeballs busy to do something like that." Under the CCA, agricultural fuel users are exempt from compliance fees if they can provide the necessary documentation. This requirement, however, entailed a cumbersome application process that often deterred farmers from taking full advantage of the benefits, according to Dent. As a result, many farmers were left paying additional fees on their fuel purchases, further squeezing their already tight profit margins, Dent explained. This prompted calls for legislative action to simplify the process. "Most farmers don't sit on a computer every day," Dent said. "This was not necessarily easy for them to do. Some use more technology than others, but it still challenges them to do that, especially in a time where their time is so limited. The idea around this bill was to give them their ongoing exemptions for agricultural fuel that they don't have to pay. They don't have to pay the fee, the tax at all, now." Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, said she remembers fighting for the agriculture fuel exemptions in the Senate when the CCA was being passed. However, like Dent, she felt like the system that was in place was not working for farmers. "Part of that promise was that agriculture would not be impacted by the increase in gas prices or fuel prices," Warnick said. "That didn't hold true." New law House Bill 1912 addresses these barriers by mandating the Washington Department of Ecology to create a comprehensive online directory for retailers selling exempt fuel. The bill also clarifies which types of fuels — gasoline, diesel, biodiesel and propane — are eligible for exemption under the CCA. The exemption is extended for an additional two years, maintaining it until Dec. 31, 2029, enabling further access to a relief mechanism that many farmers have found essential. "Agriculture, it's very hard," Dent said. "To give them some relief on taxes, and then the whole idea was to get it where they wouldn't pay the tax and then get a rebate two or three or four months later. If it's 50 cents a gallon and you bought 20,000 gallons of fuel. It adds up quickly. We didn't want them to have to wait on that money." The legislation has been positively received across party lines, passing the House with a vote of 93-4 and the Senate unanimously. "Well, every little bit helps," Warnick said. "It really does. I think it depends on how many farmers actually apply for this or are paid for fuel usage. I'm hoping it'll have an easier impact than it has been. It was too difficult. It was kind of a complicated process, and so hopefully this will make it a lot easier." Dent noted that the bipartisan support stemmed from a collective recognition of the vital role agriculture plays in Washington's economy. The positive response from the agricultural community underscores the desire for collaborative solutions that support farmers and acknowledge their contributions, he said. "I'm excited because the legislature and governor have recognized the importance of agriculture and the fact that they really need the help," Dent said. "They need financial help, and we finally got it." As the bill establishes clearer guidelines for fuel exemptions, it is also designed to simplify the process for obtaining exempt fuel, thus alleviating some of the financial strain on farmers. Under the new structure, farmers will be able to reference the online directory created by the Department of Ecology to find local sellers of exempt fuel more easily—an approach that Dent said will directly benefit the agricultural sector. Looking forward While House Bill 1912 marks an important moment for Washington farmers, Rep. Dent expressed that this initiative is only the beginning. "I don't think I'm finished with this yet, but that being said, I need a year, and perhaps two years, to see how this thing unfolds," Dent said. "Now begins more work with and also the success of the Climate Commitment Act." He has plans to work on further improvements beyond the lifespan of this legislation, potentially extending exemptions indefinitely. "We have to keep the momentum going," Dent said, elaborating on the need for continuous legislative efforts to support agricultural producers in a rapidly changing economic environment. "Agriculture is a community endeavor, and it's imperative we fortify our systems to ensure they thrive." Another piece, Dent said, he would like to see returned is a fuel exemption for natural gas for the agricultural industry. "We use natural gas in different areas, like they use them in greenhouses and things like that," Dent said. "I would like that back there, too. You take small bites. Did I get everything I wanted? No, but I view it as a big win. We're just going to continue on to see if we can add to it." As various pieces of legislation intersect with agricultural practices, continued advocacy for farmer support remains paramount, he said. "This is not a new thing, and I think we have to be aware and support and strengthen our farm economy and our farmers, in general," Dent said. "One of the things that Franklin D. Roosevelt did, when he was president, that was when the cheap food policy came along. He put together a farm program to keep our farmers, hold our farmers up, keep them in business, because he knew how important it was that we grow our own food. I think it's really important that we grow our own food. We shouldn't depend on another country, when we have done it ourselves and can do it ourselves."
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Three bills for rural communities pass the legislature, signed by governor
Apr. 23—OLYMPIA — Gov. Bob Ferguson signed 35 bills into law Monday, including three pieces of legislation sponsored by Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake. Dent's bills include topics such as large animal veterinarian care, the pesticide task force and allowing small regional airports to use real estate excise tax funds. "I feel good about what I've been able to accomplish," Dent said. "I've been able to do some things that are in my area of expertise, in my wheelhouse, so to speak, and move those bills through the legislature." Dent said, despite three bills being signed into law, there are still a handful he is fighting for during the final week of the 2025 legislative session. One bill Dent mentioned is House Bill 1912, which would add an exemption from taxes under the Climate Commitment Act for fuels used for agricultural purposes. The bill has passed both chambers and is waiting for consideration from the House Speaker, Senate President and Governor as of Tuesday. The other is House Bill 1539, which would address wildfire protection and mitigation. The bill passed the legislature and was delivered to the governor on Tuesday for consideration. "There's been some wins here this year, there have also been some bills that are not so much, but that part is pretty normal," Dent said. "For every session, you hopefully always have a few wins and there's always some things you didn't (get passed). I will just come back again next year. That's what you do. Overall, it's probably been as positive as any session since I've been here. But we have a new administration, which gave us new people at the agencies. It's just been different and when I say different, it's been different in a good way." Veterinarians House Bill 1705 aims to address the shortage of large animal veterinarians in the state. The bill establishes a work group tasked with examining and providing recommendations on strategies to recruit, train, and retain large animal veterinarians. The work group will include representatives from various sectors, including agriculture, veterinary medicine, health and historically marginalized communities, Dent said. The bill passed both chambers of the legislature unanimously. "Veterinarians quite often are kind of a chain or a fence, a barrier, so to speak, between diseases that affect the animal world and the diseases that could affect the human world," Dent said. "We need them there to kind of act as another line of defense against some of the bad things that can happen. The bird flu is one of them. That can affect humans. We want to make sure, if we can, to have that line of defense in place." The Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine has trained nearly 7,000 veterinarians since its founding in 1899, according to the bill summary. The WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital facility is the largest veterinary referral center in the Pacific Northwest, testing thousands of animal patients every year. Large animal services specialize in horses, foals, dairy and beef cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, camels, llamas and alpacas. However, the field is seeing a decline in professionals specializing in large animal care, attributed to factors such as inadequate financial incentives, high student debt and the physical demands of the profession, according to the bill summary. The data collected shows that over the past 20 years, only three to four percent of veterinarians enter food-related care. "A lot of the newer, younger vets tend to gravitate into working on dogs and cats, because, No. 1, it pays a lot better and No. 2, it's a lot easier," Dent said. "So, we are trying to come up with a plan to how do we increase that pipeline for large animal veterinarians to be able to come in, to get them interested, get them into school and get them out there helping our farmers and ranchers." The work group's findings, due in preliminary and final reports by December 2025 and June 2026, respectively, will be part of addressing the veterinarian shortfall. "I expected some pushback on this bill, and there was none," Dent said. "People just like the idea. They were all supportive. I worked on this for over a year, and while I wasn't necessarily totally in love with the bill, I finally decided, well, I'll drop it, at least and we'll start the conversation. I just couldn't believe how it took off like wildfire, and everybody got behind it." Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, said she was in favor of the bill because she has large animals and has said she has had challenges with finding care for them. "I am very much in support of a large animal veterinarian study to see how we can increase the availability of large animal veterinarians," Warnick said. "My own family has horses and cows and it's sometimes very difficult in case of emergencies to find a veterinarian and even if it's not an emergency, finding someone who is willing to work on large animals is still challenging." The bill's fiscal statement estimates around $253,500 to be spent for the implementation of the legislation between 2025 to 2027. Around $28,000 will go to the Department of Agriculture, $203,500 to WSU and $22,000 to the Department of Health. The legislation is scheduled to take effect 90 days post-session adjournment, contingent upon budget approval. Pesticide Application Safety Committee House Bill 1294 proposes the extension of the Pesticide Application Safety Committee until July 1, 2035. Originally established to enhance communication and collaboration among stakeholders in pesticide application, the committee comprises legislators, agency heads from relevant departments and representatives from agricultural institutions. It monitors data collection processes relating to pesticide safety and recommends policy options aimed at improving pesticide application protocols. "We did that so we could kind of keep track of what's going on," Dent said. "So instead of being heavy-handed, we can work with industry to find better techniques, to make sure the industry has the latest techniques, the best management practices, and whatever resources they may have, so they can operate in a safe and efficient manner. That went pretty well, and the committee has been a good committee with good people who are really engaged in doing the right thing and protecting our use of pesticides, and also the people that are around them. But it expires in 2025. The agencies, along with the industry, wanted to re-up this thing." The bill also seeks to remove restrictions on the advisory group's ability to conduct in-person meetings, thus facilitating better interaction among its diverse members — including farmworkers, growers, health center representatives, aerial applicators and toxicologists. The initial expiration date for the committee and advisory group was set for July 1, 2025. "t's going to go out now to 2035, so we have a 10-year extension, which is a good thing," Dent said. "We need to keep our tools available to our agriculture producers, that they use to produce the food that we use, that we buy, that we like to eat, and also keep working with our farmworkers. We promote safety. It's about efficient and prudent and responsible use of pesticides. I'm excited that we got that one across the line. It's just going to be good, it's good for our industry, it's good for the farmworkers and it's good for the public. I don't see a downside to this bill." This measure garnered bipartisan support, passing the House with a vote of 97-0 and the Senate with a vote of 49-0. Warnick said she was in support of the renewal of the committee because she has been serving on it and she said they are making good progress. "It's something that we need to continue," Warnick said. "The work that has been started by the various stakeholders is important for the safety and future of agriculture in Washington." Although the bill contains an emergency clause for an effective date of July 1, 2025, it will be null and void unless adequately funded in the budget. The bill has a proposed expense of around $618,400 in 2025 to 2027. In 2027-29, the expenses are around $674,400 and in 2029-2031, the cost is about $673,000. The funds go to the Department of Health, University of Washington, Washington State University and the Department of Agriculture. Airports House Bill 1650 proposes an amendment to allow local real estate excise tax revenues to be utilized for airport capital projects, specifically benefiting small airports. The core objective of HB 1650 is to include small airports in the definition of "capital projects" eligible for funding through local REET, according to Dent. Traditionally, REET funds have been limited to public works projects such as roads, parks, and government facilities, leaving funding for airports limited and often unviable, according to the bill report. Nonetheless, the bill recognizes that small airports, as defined by their inclusion in the Washington aviation system plan and the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems, are critical to local economies and public safety, Dent said. "If the governing authority of a community that had an airport wanted to spend some money on an airport, then they could make a choice to do this," Dent said. "We're not telling them they have to do that. It's just another option for them." The economic significance of regional airports is highlighted in public testimony, citing the Tacoma Narrows Airport's contribution of approximately $160 million annually to Washington's economy. Additionally, these airports serve multiple functions, including facilitating business travel, educational programs for aviation students, and emergency services. Currently, small airports face logistical challenges, particularly concerning deferred maintenance, inadequate staffing and difficulties in securing matching funds for federal grants, which complicates their operational capacities, according to the bill report. There is no anticipated expenditure on the bill. Furthermore, the bill does not impose additional taxes but rather grants local governments the flexibility to allocate existing revenues from REET for airport projects if they opt to do so. "It's a pretty simple bill, but there were some counties that wanted it, and we worked hard to move that bill," Dent said. "It was because sometimes it's difficult for people to truly understand that it's that simple. All we did was add an option to where you could spend the money, but it will help, because we don't have enough funding for our airports."
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Four proposed bills examined by Enviro and Energy Committee
Feb. 19—OLYMPIA — The House Environmental and Energy Committee heard four proposed bills Feb. 13. The four bills, if passed, would have impacts on agriculture, low-income energy assistance, water system rate changes and insurance for public utility districts like the Grant PUD. House Bill 1912 would reform fuel exemptions for agriculture organizations under the Climate Commitment Act. House Bill 1903 would establish a statewide low-income energy assistance program. House Bill 1906 would enhance transparency and consumer protections in water system rate changes for consumers. House Bill 1842 would allow public utility districts to form, own or use captive insurers. All of these bills are proposed legislation and have yet to pass the committee or the house. The Columbia Basin Herald will release an updated article when more information is available on the above bills. Ag and CCA House Bill 1912 is aimed at reforming fuel exemptions for agricultural purposes under the Climate Commitment Act. The proposed legislation seeks to establish a remittance program for exempt fuel users within the agriculture sector. The bill is an effort to respond to concerns regarding compliance costs and charting a path for enhanced support to the farming community. Rep. Tom Dent (R-Moses Lake) who sponsored the bill, opened the hearing by explaining concerns raised by agricultural constituents. "Finding a solution is a challenge. We know that, but we had a promise. A promise was made, and we need to find a way to keep that promise," Dent said during the hearing. Dent emphasized the need for a simplified process to alleviate the financial burdens placed on farmers. As currently structured under the CCA, certain emissions associated with fuels used for agricultural purposes enjoy exemptions, but these provisions are set to expire after five years. House Bill 1912 seeks to extend these exemptions and provide a structured mechanism for remittances directly to fuel suppliers and exempt agricultural users. "We are trying to find a way in how we can do this simple, easy to implement, which is why this is going to be a challenge, but I think we can do it, and we are committed to finding a solution to it," Dent said. "I want to make it perfectly clear here that what you have in front of you in this bill will change, and we know it's going to change. We know it's going to be amended because it's going to have to be to make it work, but it was the place to start. We've been working on this for quite a while, but we got to the point that we needed to drop it so we could move (it) through the system, and we will find a solution, and we will change it so it works for all of agriculture." In the proposed legislation, the Department of Ecology would be tasked with developing specific rules to govern the remittance program. This would include providing payments to suppliers of dyed fuel—typically used in off-road agricultural applications — while ensuring that costs incurred from compliance obligations do not fall onto exempt users. Under the bill, both the fuel suppliers and user categories must undergo a new documentation process to facilitate the remittance effectively. The next hearing of the bill will be Feb. 20 at 8 a.m. in the House Environment and Energy Committee which is streamed on TVW. For those interested in watching the hearing visit: Energy assistance House Bill 1903 had its first public hearing during the same meeting. The proposed legislation aims to establish a statewide low-income energy assistance program, addressing the energy burden experienced by many households across the state. This bill, sponsored by Reps. Sharlett Mena, D-Tacoma, Liz Berry, D-Seattle, and others, seeks to provide financial relief to the state's low-income residents facing escalating energy costs. "Under the Clean Energy Transformation Act, electric utilities are required to offer programs and funding for energy assistance," Megan McFadden, staff representative for the committee said. She also explained that the legislation aims to enhance support for households spending more than 6% of their income on energy bills. House Bill 1903 arrived as a follow-up to a report prepared by the Department of Commerce in November 2024, which highlighted the urgent need for a centralized energy assistance program. "More than 270,000 low-income households in our state experience energy burden," McFadden said. "Meaning they spend more than 6% of their income on energy bills." Mena, who introduced the bill, expressed her concerns regarding the high cost of living impacting families in her district. "In my district, just like across the state and nation, the cost of living is really high," she said during her opening remarks. "Many families are making difficult decisions right now, deciding whether to pay the utility bill or other essentials like medical expenses and rent." The hearing featured discussions focusing on the bill's proposed structure, which allows eligible households to apply directly for assistance and self-attest their income status, reducing barriers to access. According to the bill, the Department of Commerce will craft rules to implement the program, ensuring low-income households are prioritized. McFadden pointed out that "the department must explore auto-enrollment of known eligible households" to streamline the assistance process, making it not only accessible but also efficient for those in need. Some questions raised centered around the program's potential impact on utility rates. Representative Alex Ybarra (R-Quincy) asked "If this program gets put into a PUD or another utility, does that mean that the rates for everybody else are going to go up in order to pay for this program?" McFadden responded that "the funding is intended to come from the Climate Commitment account, so it would not come from ratepayers." House Bill 1903 has plans for the program to be operational by July 2026. As of Tuesday, there were no upcoming hearings on the bill. Water The second bill the committee heard was House Bill 1906, a proposed piece of legislation aimed at enhancing transparency and consumer protections in water system rates. The bill, sponsored by Representatives Steve Tharinger, D-Sequim, Tarra Shavers, D-Bremerton, Lisa Parshley, D-Olympia, and Natasha Hill, D-Spokane, seeks to introduce specific statutory standards for the Utilities and Transportation Commission in its oversight of water systems and their associated rate changes. "I will speak a little bit about why water systems are just crucial," Tharinger said. He then acknowledged that water is a critical need throughout the Evergreen State, but its governance is splintered. "In this state, the Department of Ecology controls the quantity of water," he said. "The Department of Health controls the system, the quality of the water, the UTC controls the systems that provide that water and, in many states, California, for example, there's a separate agency that is the consumer advocacy agency that manages that and looks out for the consumer in this process. There are national associations that do the same." He emphasized the importance of adequate oversight to protect consumers from soaring rate increases, which have reportedly surged between 90-220% in some areas, largely due to acquisitions and profit-maximizing strategies of private water companies, according to Tharinger. Tharinger said the current framework lacks clarity for the UTC, the body responsible for regulating water rates. The UTC has historically operated without specific guidelines for evaluating proposed changes. The proposed legislation aims to address several key areas, including the requirement for water systems to submit comprehensive capital improvement projects to the Department of Health at least every three years. This is in line with the efforts to enhance accountability and ensure that ratepayers are adequately informed about planned investments that might affect their bills. Additionally, the UTC would be mandated to provide justifications for any proposed returns exceeding a 5 percent threshold, with a maximum ceiling of 7 percent on overall rates of return. The bill emphasizes consumer engagement in the rate-setting process. The bill would require water companies to notify customers regarding planned capital projects and their impacts on rates. The goal is to provide consumers with a clearer understanding of how their rates are set and the reasons for rate adjustments, Tharinger said. Tharinger acknowledged the complexity of the legislation but maintained that it represents an advance in consumer protection. "What this bill tries to do is put into statute guidelines for that process and strengthen the UTC's role as a consumer advocacy agency," he said. As of Tuesday, the bill is not scheduled to be heard by the committee again. Insurance for PUDs HB 1842, a piece of proposed legislation intended to authorize public utility districts to create and utilize captive insurance companies, was presented in its inaugural hearing before the Environmental and Energy Committee. The bill, sponsored by Representatives Mike Steele, R-Chelan, and Stephanie Barnard, R-Pasco, seeks to enhance the financial resilience of PUDs against unpredictable market conditions. PUDs are special-purpose districts created to provide essential services such as electricity, water and telecommunications. Captive insurance companies, which are owned by the non-insurance companies they insure, can offer alternative coverage for risks when traditional commercial insurance is insufficient. "House Bill 1842 would expand the definition of an eligible captive insurer to include an insurance company that contracts as a participant or member of the insurance company, rather than strictly an insurance company owned by a captive insurance company," said Matt Sterling, an Olympia staffer. "This bill allows local government entities, including public utility districts, to form, own or use captive insurance companies." Sterling said eligible captives, once established, would operate similarly to commercial insurers, generating revenues from policy premiums and settling claims. "The intent of the bill is to provide cost-effective risk management strategies that could ultimately benefit ratepayers by stabilizing costs over time and minimizing the frequency of significant rate increases due to unforeseen claims or losses," Sterling said during the hearing. House Bill 1842 will be heard by the House Environment and Energy Committee on Thursday at 8 a.m. For those interested in watching it visit:
