Legislative Update Protecting & Advocating for Your Business

The 2023 version of the Washington State Legislative Session has come and gone, officially adjourning Sine Di at about 10:00PM on April 23rd. All three statewide budgets have passed the respective bodies and as of May 18th, all budgets have been signed.

As you know the WSNLA had a legislative team transition this session, but we managed to have an impact at the legislature and take part in some important policy wins. Our presence was felt at committee hearings and bill sign-ons. The more we engage our local legislators, the more they look to WSNLA members for advice and counsel on topics as they arise. We seek to expand the legislative focus going into future biennia and sessions, with an eye toward local WSNLA member engagement with legislators as well as interim work to bring our issues into focus with local member meetings.

Because of the depth and breadth of WSNLA legislative policy, it’s sometimes believed that we can’t have an impact on any one specific issue. But like legislators themselves, we can be one-issue advocates who become a go-to expert for our local elected leaders. The more expert advice we provide to our local elected leaders, the more “juice” we have at the capitol to influence public policy.

The commencement of the 2023 session brings both wins and losses legislatively. You will find a box with a list of successful bills as they pertain to WSNLA Policy on the next page.

Budgets

The operating, capital and transportation budgets were all successfully passed this legislative session. Over the next two years in the operating budget alone our state will spend a record $69.3 Billion. Once again about half of that total will be allocated toward K-12 education with our public education system setting a new record in revenue and spending. The total operating budgets adds approximately $4.7 billion in new spending, leaves a total of $3 billion in reserve accounts and doesn’t include any broad tax increases with exception for the previously enacted carbon fuel tax and capital gains income tax.

Riparian Grant Program

This legislative session dealt strongly with the state’s Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) and Riparian zone policy. House Bill 1720 was introduced with strong bipartisan

(sometimes unanimous it seemed) support to create a Riparian VSP, directed by the conservation commission and funded through the capital budget. Even though a strong cross-isle alliance was formed from the tribes to the Farm Bureau, the Governor’s office stated strongly they would veto the program in favor of the governor’s more heavy handed and mandate-rich policy. In the end, the bipartisan group of lawmakers put the funding for the program in the capital budget and subsequently passed with a unanimous vote. Those dollars will become available for private landowners as soon as July 1, 2023. Interim who become a go-to expert for our local elected leaders. The more expert advice we provide to our local elected leaders, the more “juice” we have at the capitol to influence public policy

This time of year is when “rule making” and guidance begins to take shape. When bills are passed with agency mandates, the state agencies must begin to establish rules for implementing policy. Because of this, legislative advocacy doesn’t end when the final gavel drops; it’s actually a time when stakeholders have some of the most important input.

As we go through the summer months and start gearing up for fall legislative work, please feel free to reach out to me with ideas as they pertain to legislation or regulation. I am always happy to answer questions or discuss policy requests you may have.

Successful Bills:

Specifics on these bills can be found by searching the bill number on this website https://app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/ sales@urbanforestnursery.com