washington state legislature

Rail service in central Washington is expected to improve thanks to a $14.5 million inclusion in the 2023-2025 Transportation Budget.  The funds will be used for the Connell Rail Interchange project north of the Tri-Cities.  The $14.5 million includes ...

Washington State University held a virtual dedication for the new Plant Sciences Building Monday. Due to the ongoing pandemic, WSU officials released a video to celebrate the opening of the new state of the art collaborative research facility on the Pullman campus ...

A new study shows that failure to fix the Washington State Supreme Court decision on water rights could cost Washington State $7 billion.   Senator Tim Sheldon of Potlatch called the number astonishing.   “To put the brakes on in rural Washington is really going to hurt and as the study shows, it’s going to shift taxes to those that already are in business or have homes of higher value. No one is

A new law was passed by the Washington State Legislature that provides some protections to farms and other ag businesses that also participate in agritourism.   Washington State Farm Bureau Government Policy Director Tom Davis said the bill will provide extra protections against frivolous lawsuits.  ...

When the Washington State Legislature failed to pass a capital budget, the state’s Department of Ecology said there are now some water projects that will need to be put on hold.   Joye Redfield-Wilder of DOE said the lack of a capital budget will impact more than $640 million of projects for water use in Eastern Washington.   “...

Legislators returned to Olympia Monday to begin the special session, largely to tackle a two-year operating budget that covers fully funding education.   Director of Government Relations for the Washington State Farm Bureau Tom Davis said they avoided any new regulations through the regular session, but taxes are another story, particularly a hazardous substance tax.  ...

The Washington State Legislature is about a week into the 2017 session and while most of the focus will be on the McCleary decision and education funding, there could be some bills involving agriculture.   Washington State Farm Bureau’s Tom Davis said they want maximize job creation in agriculture, stop any new taxes, and ensuring environmental policies are reasonable and based on sound science wh