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Committee advances six bills in executive session; roll calls and voice votes recorded
Summary
The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee reported several bills out of committee Feb. 4, 2026, including substitute House Bill 17-35 (force feeding prohibition), House Bill 25-98 (salmon advisory commission), House Bills 24-63 and 21-99 (food and derelict vessel programs), and House Bill 26-19 (regulatory task force); most measures passed on voice votes or unanimous roll call tallies.
After completing public testimony on H.B. 2668, the committee moved into executive session and considered six bills on its agenda. Committee staff briefed proposed substitutes and amendments, members discussed policy and fiscal considerations, and the committee reported out multiple bills with due-pass recommendations.
Key outcomes (at-a-glance): - House Bill 25-98 (salmon advisory commission): Reported out by roll call — 6 ayes, 5 nays (roll-call recorded: Reeves aye; Morgan aye; Dent nay; Engel nay; Birnbaum aye; McClintock nay; Nance aye; Orcutt nay; Richards aye; Schmick nay; Springer aye).
- House Bill 26-19 (regulatory stress in agriculture): Reported out by voice vote; staff announced 11 ayes, 0 nays.
- Substitute House Bill 21-99 (derelict vessels): Amendment Schmill 080 adopted; substitute reported out by voice vote; staff announced 11 ayes, 0 nays.
- Substitute House Bill 24-63 (Washington Farm Donation / Farm to Food Pantry): Reported out by voice vote; staff announced 11 ayes, 0 nays.
- Substitute House Bill 17-35 (prohibiting force feeding of birds): Committee considered and rejected an amendment to narrow the bill; the proposed substitute was reported out by roll call — 6 ayes, 5 nays.
Legislative context: Committee members voiced concerns ranging from board size and fiscal notes for the salmon commission to operational details for food-donation programs. Representative Nance and others framed H.B. 17-35 as a negotiated compromise on animal-welfare practices; Representative Richards and others emphasized stakeholder input on the food and vessel bills.
Next steps: Each reported bill will proceed through the legislative process per House rules; adopted amendments and staff fiscal notes (where pending) will accompany bills as they move forward.
