Legislation highlighted in inaugural address signed at Tri-Cities event
KENNEWICK — At a signing event in the Tri-Cities this week, Governor Bob Ferguson signed a bill sponsored by Rep. Tom Dent (R-Moses Lake) aimed at making it easier for farmers buy fuel exempt from fees from the Climate Commitment Act. Governor Ferguson highlighted the measure in his inaugural address as part of his commitment to supporting farmers.
Agricultural producers and transporters are exempt from paying fees on fuel related to the Climate Commitment Act, but in practice, it has been difficult to find exempt fuel. House Bill 1912, which passed nearly unanimously, requires the Department of Ecology to provide easily accessible information to farmers so they know where they can buy exempt fuel. It also clarifies which fuels are exempted and extends the exemption for an additional two years.
“Washington’s agriculture is among the best in the world because of the hard work of Washington farmers,” Governor Ferguson said. “Our agricultural industries operate on thin margins, and they can’t afford to pay unnecessary fees. I appreciate Rep. Dent’s leadership on this important issue. I’m proud to support our farmers.”
“The Legislature promised our agricultural industry this exemption when the Climate Commitment Act was originally passed,” Dent said. “It was time we honored that promise to make it easier for farmers to access lower-cost fuel and lower the costs of fuel for our farmers. This issue came up way back in November when the Governor asked me to be on his transition team, and this surfaced as one of the prime issues we were going to face in agriculture. He’s kept his word and he helped me work through this, as this was a heavy lift. It is absolutely a top priority to support our agriculture producers, after all they feed us. I am pleased to have worked with the Governor and had his full support along with strong, bipartisan support within the Legislature to find a solution for this issue.”
Governor Ferguson signed the bill on Thursday at the Tri-City Development Council in Kennewick, along with 10 other bills from Central and Eastern Washington lawmakers:
- House Bill 1253 – Allows cities and public utility districts to enter into joint use agreements with private companies to develop transmission, energy storage, and energy generation facilities. Sponsored by Rep. Alex Ybarra (R-Quincy)
- House Bill 1258 – Clarifies city-county sharing of 9-1-1 excise tax revenue to help support public safety in Spokane County. Sponsored by Rep. Timm Ormsby (D-Spokane)
- House Bill 1648 – Extends the deadline for child care providers to meet credential requirements and improves access to training. Sponsored by Rep. Tom Dent (R-Moses Lake)
- House Bill 1934 – Prevents victims of workplace harassment from being revictimized by an abuser who may figure out their identity through a public records request by restricting personal identifiers from being released in records released through the Public Records Act. Sponsored by Rep. Rob Chase (R-Liberty Lake)
- Senate Bill 5303 – Extends the timeline for continued development of projects and permits that support the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan by 10 years. Sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick (R-Moses Lake)
- Senate Bill 5323 – Increases penalties for theft of essential equipment for firefighters and emergency medical service providers. Sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick (R-Moses Lake)
- Senate Bill 5485 – Extends the Department of Agriculture’s Livestock Identification Program through July 1, 2030, in order to help track ownership, deter theft and support the health and safety of the state’s livestock industry. Sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick (R-Moses Lake)
- Senate Bill 5543 – Increases access to post-secondary education by expanding eligibility for the College Bound Scholarship to students with GEDs. Sponsored by Sen. Matt Boehnke (R-Kennewick)
- Senate Bill 5682 – Grants a 5-year extension for the Washington Customized Employment Training Program B&O tax credit to help employers cover the costs of employee training. Sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick (R-Moses Lake)
Video of the event is available here.