Tom Dent

"Suicide rates in Washington state are almost 25% higher than the general population,” said Moses Lake's Tom Dent "The mental well-being of our ag industry has been in decline for several reasons.

Last week, when Governor Bob Ferguson signed Washington’s $77.9 billion two-year operating budget, eastern Washington irrigators celebrated.  That massive budget includes $44 million for the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Project .  Supporters of this proj...

Last week, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed legislation to give the agricultural community the farm fuel exemptions they were promised when the Climate Commitment Act was passed a few years ago.    House Bill 1912, sponsored by Moses Lake Republican Tom Dent, will make it easier for farmers to use the fuel exemption by establishing a public directory to find sellers who offer exempt fuel. 

On Tuesday, the Washington Senate held its first public hearing on House Bill 1912, the Fix to the Climate Commitment Act.  That hearing took place in the Environment, Energy & Technology Committee.  State senator Mark Schoesler said he feels the legislation sponsored by Representative Tom Dent is in good shape in the Senate.   “We have leaders li...

Legislation that recently cleared the Washington state House looks to address the shortage of veterinarians across the state.  Sponsor of the legislation, Representative Tom Dent, said House Bill 1705 will set up a task force with Washington State University, industry leaders, existing vets to study the current shortage, and recommend strategies to recruit, train, and retain large animal veterinar

On Wednesday, the Washington State House voted 93-4 to approve House Bill 1912, providing fuel exemptions for the state’s farming community.  State Representative Tom Dent, sponsor of the legislation, says the bill aims to streamline the Climate Commitment Act fuel exemption the farming community was promised four years ago.  He noted the ...

Washington state Representative Tom Dent said he’s disappointed that the chair of the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee will not hold a public hearing on House Bill 1597.  The Moses Lake Republican said his proposal would have allowed Ag employers to select 12 weeks a year to employ workers for up to 50-hours per week before overtime applies.  Dent said des...

Legislation ensuring fuels used for agricultural purposes are exempt from the Climate Commitment Act has been introduced in the Washington House.  Moses Lake Representative Tom Dent, sponsor of House Bill 1912, said the legislation will fix the mistakes made when CCA passed four years ago.   “That is t...

Last week, Washington’s House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee took public testimony on a bill directing the Department of Natural Resources to create Rangeland Fire Protection Associations pilot project.  House Bill 1048, introduced by Moses Lake Republican Tom Dent would allow for public-private partnerships in the form of RFPAs in which citizens would work with fire departments to pr

Since Ag Overtime was implemented in Washington a few years ago, it has been a challenge for producers to adjust.  Many farmers have struggled from a budget standpoint, finding enough workers or both.  In an effort to help Washington’s farm community, state Representative Tom Dent introduced HB 1597 last week, which would allow ag employers to select 12 weeks a year to employ workers for up to 50