Dent: 2022 Legislative Session Wasn’t Very Kind To Washington Ag

The 2022 Washington Legislative session wrapped up Thursday, and according to Representative Tom Dent, lawmakers addressed a lot of bad legislation that could have harmed farmers and ranchers statewide. But, he noted, thankfully much of that legislation did not come to fruition.

“My good fortune to stop some legislation that would have been devastating to agriculture.  So, sometimes we measure our success not in what everybody sees, but in what they don’t see.”

The Moses Lake Republican said there was some good that came from that bad legislation. He noted it encouraged the farming community to reach out to a variety of organization to find common ground. He pointed out the Buffer Bill, House Bill 1836. Dent said after that legislation was defeated a coalition of those with an interest that revolves around salmon met for a dinner and brain storming session. He noted the issue of salmon recovery and populations continually comes up, and and the coalition wanted to take a hard look at real solutions.

“I walked out of that meeting with a real sense of optimism because people were seriously, they understood how the issues and how that bill came together.  They realized they couldn’t do it that way, and we need to include everybody.  And we all walked out of there feeling like we can find a solution here, and we’re all going to be winners.”

For more of Dent’s thoughts on the session, or what he would like to see addressed in 2023, listen to our entire conversation below.

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