Republicans Still Looking For Hirst Fix in Olympia

Washington Republicans are still looking for a fix to October’s Hirst Decision, which they say puts unneeded pressure on landowners looking to draw water on their property.  Representative Joe Schmick of Colfax cosponsored House Bill 2195, which would offer tax breaks for property owners negatively impacted by the Hirst ruling.

“We did this to kind of move negotiations a long, but it’s a real problem.  If there is not a Hirst fix, this is going to affect anybody who’s bought property and wants to build a house on it and can’t get water to it. And the value of that property.”

The legislation was in response to House Democrats choosing not to progress Senator Judy Warnick’s legislation, dubbed the Hirst Fix, SB 5239.  In the event that Warnick’s bill returns before the end of the legislative session, the GOP says HB 2195 will become unnecessary.

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