legislature

By Diana Carlen Lobbyist, Washington Association of Wheat Growers Washington state will be holding its primary election on Aug. 4. The August primary is used to narrow down the number of candidates for the November general election. The top two candidates in each race, regardless of party affiliation, will move…

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Gov. Ferguson wrapped up bill action and signed the Operating Supplemental Budget, Transportation Supplemental Budget and the Capital Supplemental Budget into law the first week of April. All budgets were signed with partial vetoes. The Operating Supplemental Budget (SB 5998) included the following notable vetoes:…

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist The Legislature adjourned on the 60th day of the 2026 Legislative Session on March 12 at around 8:30 p.m. In the final week of the session, the Legislature adopted the supplemental 2025-2027 operating, capital, and transportation budgets. The Legislature also spent the final week passing…

The Washington Association of Wheat Growers led a letter earlier this week to the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Transportation and Operating committees regarding proposed funding on a study on “breach-readiness” on the lower Snake River dams. Dear Chairs and Ranking Members:  On behalf of the…

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist With less than a week remaining in the 60-day session as of March 7, the 2026 legislative session enters the home stretch. The Legislature reached two major milestones this past week. The first was March 2, the last day to pass opposite chamber bills from…

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Washington State legislators have completed their seventh week of work in Olympia as of Feb. 28. There are less than two weeks remaining in the legislative session. The Legislature passed a major cutoff Feb. 25, the last day to pass policy bills from the opposite…

From PNW Ag Network When it comes to addressing the concerns of Washington’s farmers and ranchers, Olympia has not always moved quickly, or sometimes at all.  But, during a recent trip to the state capital, Michelle Hennings, Executive Director of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers said she had the opportunity to speak before…

By Diana Carlen Lobbyist, Washington Association of Wheat Growers The Legislature has completed its fifth week of the session. On Feb. 9, legislators reached the second major deadline of session which was the fiscal cutoff date. Bills with a fiscal impact had to pass out of the respective budget and…

From the Capital Press Washington lawmakers are advancing bills that could make farming more expensive, while legislation to cut labor costs and taxes languishes. The state ranks 14th in the U.S. in gross farm income, but 46th in net cash income, according to the USDA. Only farms in Massachusetts, New…

By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist The 2026 Legislative Session reached its first important deadline on Feb. 4, as policy committee cutoff occurred. Any bills that have not made it out of a policy committee are considered dead and no longer eligible to move forward this year. Legislation not subject to…