judy warnick

Legislation limiting the liability ranchers and farmers face during agritourism activities cleared its final legislative hurdle this week.  The state House made minor changed to Senator Judy Warnick’s legislation, and then moved the bill to Governor Jay Inslee for his signature.  Senate B...

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.   “...

Last week, the state House failed to act on legislation sponsored by senator Judy Warnick, dubbed the Hirst Fix.  Senate Bill 5239 would have addressed the October Ruling, regarding water rights in rural Washington and who is responsible for determining how much water is available.  Wa...

In Olympia, Wednesday was the deadline for bills to progress forwarded, to be considered for the remainder of the 2017 session.  However, SB 5239, dubbed the Hirst Fix did not advance.  The legislation sponsored by Moses Lake Republican Judy Warnick would have addressed several components of last fall’s Hirst Decision.  Representativ...

Farmers, ranchers and rural Washingtonians continue to wait for the state House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee to pass Legislation specifically targeted at addressing the Hirst Decision.  Rep. Vincent Buys told the Washington Ag Network the Hirst Decision makes it very challenging for rural Washingtonians to use their water, or develop wells, without meeting very difficult requireme

A proposal this session that would have allows Washington wines to be sold in growlers died in committee.  State Senator Judy Warnick said her legislation, Senate Bill 5279, would have not only promoted smaller wineries across the state, but it would have also save glass and other resources.  Wa...

Most fruit growers use the piece rate form of payment, where workers are paid by the amount of fruit they bring in daily.  However, the piece rate has been the focus on recent lawsuits, claiming workers were denied needed breaks under the current system.  In...

Before the 2017 session started in Olympia, the Republican-led Majority Caucus merged the committee that covered agriculture, water, rural economic development with the committee on trade and economic development.  And Judy Warnick will chair this new supper committee.  Wi...

Ask an irrigated farmer in Washington, why they struggle with the idea of water conservation.  More often than not losing their water is one of the top issues.  To combat that concern, state Senator Judy Warnick has introduced legislation for the 2017 session.  The Mos...

As lawmaker prepare to return to Olympia for the upcoming legislative session, water is poised to be one of the top agriculture issues discussed.  State Senator Judy Warnick told the Washington Ag Network addressing the Hirst decision will be on the top of the Ag Water Trade and Economic Development Committee’s to-do list.  While th...