[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6315887,"mediaKeyId","2378086-67514b0a3a7683f3636d98e82ad2e79c","parentId",2378086,"title","Committee hears bill directing WSDA to craft statewide food‑security strategy by 2027","audioSeconds",1102,"startMs",2966000,"endMs",4068000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2378086-67514b0a3a7683f3636d98e82ad2e79c&start=2966&end=4068","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2378086-67514b0a3a7683f3636d98e82ad2e79c/thumbnail_2966000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6315887/Washington/Committee-hears-bill-directing-WSDA-to-craft-statewide-foodsecurity-strategy-by-2027","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6315887-b97287f010e8ad9b7fcf4e7521382738/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143175&Signature=Y9c0SmINowasnXEYQLQCnRkwUGs3nCwfYws-bOQrNXmhUWHo0MgxKUfVkr1LJlbdgEc2W6YprHzYJXIURllkRnfXoTc9U~u2F6FMRZ5vN0l2Dz1SzH0HPaHIjRYZJ0xsQ4r02~Hp7RdfRAEAYH7h7j35DkuPJ3Gqdrl8UshJi~BbtialepFRghYqCpoXLj61wxyrbpceqIFFnjlyV4atJDiB4IjFyD7VED-tUa-ZlaUZRGFZ3uky-eS0Dxj3iS5el3spleGxvGqIeKvaTJD9VT~IgDxYJaUBXlOMZ~HZPTkeZfAU3LGkU-sgEbJVgiBoyoE~AMKfKd9ivxsnUtOOiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","House Agriculture & Natural Resources","date","2025-02-21T00:00:00Z","article","The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Feb. 21 received a staff briefing and broad public testimony on House Bill 19‑87, which would direct the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) to develop a statewide food security strategy addressing hunger, environmental health disparities and agricultural resilience.

Rebecca Lewis, committee staff, said the bill requires WSDA to convene several state agencies, the food policy forum and nonprofit hunger‑relief organizations, and to consult with agricultural‑resilience and food‑access experts. The strategy must define food security in terms of access and affordability, identify ways to support land access and adaptive agricultural practices, enhance nutrition and food‑security education and encourage urban agriculture. The department must deliver the completed strategy to the Legislature by July 1, 2027. A fiscal note is available in the committee’s electronic bill binder.

Rep. Christine Reeves (chair and prime sponsor) framed the bill as a systems‑level response to a fragmented food‑security network. Reeves described personal and constituent experience with food insecurity and said the strategy would identify gaps and coordinate programs—ranging from WIC and school meals to farm viability—to keep food available and affordable.

WSDA’s Katie Raines told the panel the agency is prepared to lead the work, citing WSDA’s convening role in the Washington Food Policy Forum and experience coordinating COVID‑era food‑security responses. Raines outlined three implementation scenarios for the department with increasing costs depending on the degree of interagency coordination and community engagement.

Stakeholders from production, distribution and hunger‑relief organizations endorsed the bill and emphasized practical barriers. Bree Elzey of the Washington Farm Bureau urged bottom‑up engagement with farmers and logistics specialists to address barriers to food donation and distribution; Jay Gordon (testifying as an eighth‑generation farmer) highlighted recent losses in processing infrastructure that threaten farm markets and urged attention to both small and large operations. Eric Williams of Second Harvest Inland Northwest described the logistics of collecting and distributing donated food and stressed the importance of preserving first‑harvest sources for food‑bank supply chains. Claire Lane of the Anti‑Hunger & Nutrition Coalition and Aaron Chazewski of Food Lifeline urged a strategy that centers community‑based solutions and partnerships with non‑governmental providers.

Supporters said a coordinated, statewide strategy could make emergency food systems more efficient, help keep farmers in business, and improve long‑term food access. WSDA and advocates asked lawmakers to ensure the strategy meaningfully engages front‑line organizations and maintains core programs for food safety and assistance.

WSDA emphasized three implementation scenarios with variable costs and invited committee collaboration; the department said sustaining core programs—food safety, farm assistance and existing emergency‑food efforts—would be a priority while the strategy is developed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Agriculture & Natural Resources - 2/21/2025 10:30 AM","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 19‑87 would require the Washington State Department of Agriculture to develop a statewide food security strategy by July 1, 2027, coordinating state agencies, the Food Policy Forum and nonprofit partners to address hunger, environmental health disparities and agricultural resilience.","taxTitle","Agriculture and Natural Resources, House of Representatives, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20253,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6315893,"Students and fishing groups testify for bill to raise youth fishing license exemption to age 18",213,2218000,2431000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2378086-67514b0a3a7683f3636d98e82ad2e79c&start=2218&end=2431","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2378086-67514b0a3a7683f3636d98e82ad2e79c/thumbnail_2218000.jpg","/articles/6315893/Washington/Students-and-fishing-groups-testify-for-bill-to-raise-youth-fishing-license-exemption-to-age-18","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6315893-c41621d550b54c7108b49e132ec52854/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143175&Signature=YBZ8UjrnlMbmmtZXadeui4HyDoavQPJPiDgTmRylznmbxpaGC85HzBi~9TB8C5lovKn1Wp6xS6Pvp1e2vcEGw5d3vmJouLFyDvUB6TIMvewqOqKwXzsgo-W5kisjJrjnTSqnPTPZ3FaPZCjvXfnDOs~kRKqndl6DzeQaaHS0cGEJR-9R3HEnZgzp2cGOs95b-xF3j3r1dk6Wf0JOkUDnPMInSO4Q8gq3F0~~hDEHtNegj6w5DlUlr7cQqFwyV2KV2MliiMt5OBZ1t0XpPSJAOhnYdljvg9rHYq2-HbFPGYetrJrOyeLQVZh1e2zKgQ3drjttlrW7PGpCxZWJwzGTZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Feb. 21 held public testimony on House Bill 19‑55, which would expand Washington’s youth fishing license exemption by requiring licenses only for people 19 and older and moving the youth combination license eligibility to age 18.

Lily Smith, committee staff, explained the mechanics: currently a 15‑year‑old may obtain a youth combination license for $5 while general licenses begin at $45; the bill would change the threshold so only those 19 and older pay the general fee. Smith told the committee a fiscal note is available in the committee’s electronic bill binder.

A panel of high‑school seniors from Lake Washington High School drove to Olympia to testify in favor. Christopher Chan said fishing and shellfishing have been “a very large part of my upbringing” and argued the bill would make outdoor recreation affordable for youth regardless of family income. Jack Strathe said the cost of a license discouraged him and his friends during high‑school years and that lowering the cost barrier would keep more young people engaged in fishing, conservation and outdoor stewardship. Representative Larry Phillips of the American Sportfishing Association (testifying remotely) told the committee that early participation in fishing correlates with later environmental stewardship and urged the committee to expand youth access while noting potential funding impacts.

Phillips flagged two budget concerns: the immediate loss of license revenue from youth, and the federal Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund allocation, which distributes funds to states in part based on the number of licenses sold. He told the committee stakeholders should collaborate to expand youth opportunities without harming conservation funding.

Committee members asked the student panel about personal experience and whether lowering the licensing age would increase participation; students said it would. Representative Schmick asked where testifiers kept phones while fishing; students broadly said they preferred leaving phones in cars or pockets to focus on the activity.

No final action on the bill was recorded during the hearing. Staff will continue to provide fiscal and implementation details as the bill moves through the process.","High school students, fishing organizations and state staff testified Feb. 21 in favor of House Bill 19‑55, which would expand the youth fishing‑license exemption so licenses are required only for people aged 19 and older; the Department of Fish and Wildlife fiscal note is available to the committee.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6315897,"House Ag Committee advances memorial asking Congress to ease MMPA limits to address sea‑lion predation on salmon",4780,109000,4889000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2378086-67514b0a3a7683f3636d98e82ad2e79c&start=109&end=4889","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2378086-67514b0a3a7683f3636d98e82ad2e79c/thumbnail_109000.jpg","/articles/6315897/Washington/House-Ag-Committee-advances-memorial-asking-Congress-to-ease-MMPA-limits-to-address-sealion-predation-on-salmon","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6315897-dab583c566d0459dd66883de0165db91/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143175&Signature=f1iFIkyER91lR1V9qLpNlJnFQmyMA1TjcpKYrml-baOd30RS7PBLRZRbNTudavY1UNLOpBC7DyAwrWv78LilGSRnKCHklHP9SwooHY412z6qPaCF0jx4kB6cWWSnmrzV3yfWpduaMHM4w~bvTx-8w5qx2K9w07HBf8QqwzlKuDkc8ZD2plgvFED~AeKRDxVj77iGN0UsG0r5Z~05b2RRDh7JNuHi7TnqaTvYk~Ny9~mo6dFe19G84qHwt8UcMwgAyHdl9qp2pQFSFfHgZXtuG494boTH6Li~0Qr6GlyG5FT2PS2sjdlb8pmeIKW~rko1Dj9jk70moU1SZqYmx6n9Ng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Washington House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Feb. 21 voted to report House Joint Memorial 4004, a legislative request that Congress modify the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to allow additional adaptive management tools — including lethal removal of certain pinnipeds — to protect endangered salmon stocks in Washington.

The memorial, advanced out of committee by voice vote and reported with a due‑pass recommendation, asks Congress to allow states and tribes greater flexibility to use management measures “including lethal removal for pinniped predators of endangered salmon stocks across all marine shorelines of Washington and the Puget Sound.” The committee recorded a unanimous 11‑0 vote in favor when the motion was announced as reported out.

Supporters told the committee predation by California sea lions and other pinnipeds has become a substantial obstacle to salmon recovery. Prime sponsor Rep. Rob Chase (4th Legislative District) described firsthand accounts from river users and said pinnipeds “kill up to half the catch” at key locations on the Columbia River, arguing that federal change is needed so managers can reduce predation. Chelsea Martin of Modern Electric Water Company said, “Sea lion populations have exploded by more than 300% since 1975,” and urged the memorial as a bipartisan tool to “restore balance.” Nelo Pisenich of the Coastal Conservation Association of Washington said lethal removal would be used only to protect ESA‑listed salmon and steelhead and that the removals would affect “less than 0.0001% of the total population.”

Opponents cautioned the memorial risks unintended ecosystem consequences and that the science does not show lethal removal will reliably recover salmon. Dr. David Bain of Orchard Conservancy testified, “We oppose this bill. . . . Killing pinnipeds is the wrong approach.” Shanti Nelson said the bill “is ill informed and would be ineffective,” warning that removing pinnipeds could increase other predators and harm Southern Resident killer whales’ recovery. Conservation groups and multiple individual testifiers urged continued emphasis on habitat restoration, barriers correction and other nonlethal measures.

Tribal representatives and others urged attention to co‑management tools and limited federal exemptions that already exist under the MMPA and related NOAA Fisheries processes. Timothy Green, who identified himself as chairman of the Macaw Bridal Council in his testimony, referenced treaty authorities and the difficulty tribes have experienced in navigating federal permitting for marine mammal take.

The memorial asks Congress to alter the federal MMPA process — it does not change state or federal law by itself. Staff explained the MMPA currently permits states to apply to NOAA Fisheries for authorizations to lethally remove individually identifiable pinnipeds that negatively affect certain salmon stocks, and noted a 2018 congressional change created an additional Columbia River process. The memorial seeks broader authority covering Washington shorelines and expanded tribal eligibility.

Committee members who spoke in favor said the measure is intended to provide management flexibility, not to eliminate pinniped populations. Representative Orcutt said the memorial would seek “some controls” in riverine and nearshore areas where predation is concentrated, and Representative Nance cited examples of heavy predation at man‑made chokepoints such as the Hood Canal Bridge.

The committee’s action sends the memorial to the next legislative step with a due‑pass recommendation. Because the measure is a memorial urging congressional action, it creates no immediate legal change; any modification to the MMPA would require federal legislation or administrative action by NOAA Fisheries.","On Feb. 21 the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee voted to report House Joint Memorial 4004 urging Congress to modify the Marine Mammal Protection Act to give states and tribes more flexibility — including lethal removal in some cases — to manage pinniped predation on endangered salmon across Washington waters.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6315881,"Committee reports pet‑store information bill out with due‑pass recommendation amid cost concerns",365,484000,849000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2378086-67514b0a3a7683f3636d98e82ad2e79c&start=484&end=849","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2378086-67514b0a3a7683f3636d98e82ad2e79c/thumbnail_484000.jpg","/articles/6315881/Washington/Committee-reports-petstore-information-bill-out-with-duepass-recommendation-amid-cost-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6315881-6c57f1a1e3ed341534c51c8406b24cd8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771143175&Signature=nte6T2G9Dsu-qRTatuGGfXxG6Ll064IJURQM8AYPPWvUAzTXNRA5AXQDQ2m9SA-DaPbyOz-DrRefb23-0D3bUnlT97z8WLKUk7wlXIknEpJFEp9qJYeZvGpMckSlJgKFjubVVNp-aG36GQrH-DpcHjls6YfRlqGNk5fJ~wpnNCwwJlksgpo8868PwVMxnoq2nkdKjbSyNpnM2RZyqnCDRWRkTvu0f0SwsvBXRK9hfwhyIo2pZnkhfH6JHEY1WypVnAWX0IesFNuxNJ4b1ToEaSmsnVZpPQlhJJ8OtBZI4uho1oBNXH5cdEdcep5pLL2WzWFh-0P3~ZJPJJyd3PBr2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Feb. 21 voted to report House Bill 19‑76 out of committee with a due‑pass recommendation. The bill, previously heard by the committee, would require pet stores to provide a pamphlet prepared by the Washington Invasive Species Council covering rehoming options and the risks of invasive species.

Committee staff explained there were no amendments on the executive list. The vice chair moved to report the bill out with a due‑pass recommendation; the motion carried on roll call with a tally recorded in committee as 7 ayes and 4 nays. The chair encouraged a yes vote, while Representative Schmidt voiced a preference for a cost‑saving approach such as including a QR code on a card rather than requiring retailers to distribute more printed material. He said he intended to vote no at that moment but would support working on an amendment to achieve an efficient approach.

Clerk roll‑call entries read statements for many members; the final tally announced by the clerk was 7 ayes, 4 nays, 0 excused/absent. Committee members noted an additional amendment likely will be brought to refine implementation so the pamphlet fulfills consumer awareness goals without unduly burdening regulated retailers or state operational capacities.

The bill now proceeds with a due‑pass recommendation, with sponsors and staff indicating intent to continue technical work on amendments addressing distribution format and administrative burden.","House Bill 19‑76, requiring pet stores to provide an invasive‑species and rehoming pamphlet prepared by the Invasive Species Council, was reported out of committee with a due‑pass recommendation (roll call recorded 7 ayes, 4 nays). Members raised implementation and cost concerns and suggested a QR‑code alternative to paper handouts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears bill directing WSDA to craft statewide food‑security strategy by 2027

Students and fishing groups testify for bill to raise youth fishing license exemption to age 18

House Ag Committee advances memorial asking Congress to ease MMPA limits to address sea‑lion predation on salmon

Committee reports pet‑store information bill out with due‑pass recommendation amid cost concerns