Puget Sound Partnership 2020 Legislative Session Wrap-Up, March 18, 2020

March 18, 2020

The Puget Sound Partnership's Legislative Update highlights issues related to our region's work to protect and recover Puget Sound.

 

The Washington State Legislature adjourned March 12, 2020, the last day of its 60-day regular session.

 

2020 Supplemental Operating Budget

The Legislature passed a compromise version of ESSB 6168 (Making 2019-2021 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations) on March 12, 2020. They addressed many of the Partnership’s highest budget priorities, including additional on-going State General Fund support for the Department of Fish and Wildlife to fund their structural deficit, three Puget Sound-related requests of the Department of Ecology, and funding for the next phase of the Partnership’s Puget Sound Info Systems project. The Legislature also funded important budget items for the Department of Natural Resources, Recreation and Conservation Office, State Conservation Commission, and Department of Commerce.

 

Comparison of Puget Sound-Related 2020 Supplemental Operating Budgets

Program	Agency Request Amount	Governor’s Proposed Budget for 2019-21	SSB 6168 as passed by House	SSB 6168 as passed by Senate	ESSB 6168 as passed by Legislature – Final
WDFW Operating Budget – Addressing the Structural Deficit	$26 million GF-S	$23.8 M ($15.6 M from GF-S, of which $7.5 M is on-going annually)	$25.4 M from GF-S (of which $17.6 M is on-going annually)	$21.2 M from GF-S (of which $12.9 M is on-going annually)	$24.8 M from GF-S, (of which $16.2 M is on-going annually)
Modernizing Puget Sound Info Systems	$811 K & 1.2 FTE to PSP	$455 K & 0.9 FTE to PSP	Listed in IT Pool LEAP Omnibus Document IT – 2020	Listed in IT Pool LEAP Omnibus Document IT – 2020	Listed in IT Pool LEAP Omnibus Document IT – 2020*
Nutrient Controls for Puget Sound	$535 K to Ecology	$535 K to Ecology	$535 K to Ecology	$535 K to Ecology	$535 K to Ecology
Puget Sound Fresh-water Monitoring	$748 K to Ecology	$748 K to Ecology	$748 K to Ecology	0	$748 K to Ecology
Local Source Control Program	$750 K to Ecology	$750 K to Ecology	$750 K to Ecology	0	$750 K to Ecology
Orca Recovery Coordinator	$140 K to RCO/GSRO	$140 K to RCO/GSRO	$140 K to RCO/GSRO Ongoing	$140 K to RCO/GSRO Ongoing	$140 K to RCO/GSRO Ongoing
Riparian Habitat Coordinator	$140 K to RCO/GSRO	$140 K to RCO/GSRO	$140 K to RCO/GSRO One-time	0	0
Hood Canal Bridge Solutions Design	0	0	0	$275 K to RCO	$275 K to RCO

*The enacted compromise includes $20,466,000 for the IT Pool.

 

2020 Puget Sound-Related Supplemental Operating Budget Highlights

 

Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW)

• $14.7 M GF-S Fund Shift for SWA Savings (addressing structural deficit) – Projected revenue in the State Wildlife Account (SWA) is lower than projected expenditures in the 2019-21 biennium and ongoing. A portion of costs appropriated to the SWA is shifted to the state general fund on an ongoing basis for current DFW programs, such as hunting, fishing, conservation, land management, wildlife conflict response, shellfish inspections, and customer service, as well as previous cost-of-living adjustments, targeted salary increases, and central service costs.

• $1.5 M GF-S Fund Shift for Federal Savings (addressing structural deficit) – Ongoing General Fund-State is provided to shift costs away from federal funding, based on anticipated federal revenue that is less than federal appropriations.
• $256 K GF-S for Net Ecological Gain – One-time funding is provided to contract with the Washington Academy of Sciences for an assessment of how to incorporate a net ecological gain standard into state land use, development, and environmental laws.
• $112 K GF-S for Carbon Sequestration – Ongoing funding is provided to incorporate carbon sequestration into agency operations, contracting, and grant making, as described in Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2311 (Greenhouse gas emissions).
• $783 GF-S for Invasive Green Crab Control – One-time funding is provided for helping control the invasive European green crab.
• $142 K GF-S for Fish Barrier Analysis – One-time funding is provided for analysis and mapping of fish passage barriers to identify areas with the greatest benefit to salmon and orcas.
• $500 GF-S for Infrastructure Plan for Hatcheries – One-time funding is provided for the department to conduct an infrastructure plan to assess and prioritize hatchery improvements based on the recommendations of the Southern Resident Killer Whale task force.
• $278 K GF-S for Orca Vessels Grant Match – One-time funding is provided to purchase two law enforcement vessels and equip them with optic system equipment to conduct marine patrols related to Southern Resident orcas. State funds will be used as match to a federal grant.
• $225 K GF-S for Orca Vessel Patrols – Ongoing funding is provided for enforcement patrols of commercial and recreational vessels in Puget Sound to reduce disturbance of Southern Resident orcas.
• $357 K GF-S for Northern Pike Suppression – One-time funding is provided for DFW, in consultation with area tribes, to conduct suppression, eradication, & monitoring of Northern Pike, which prey on adult salmon and have been discovered in Lake Roosevelt behind Grand Coulee Dam.

 

Department of Ecology (ECY)

• $535 K for Nutrient Controls for Puget Sound – Funding is provided to develop a Puget Sound nutrients general permit for wastewater treatment plants to reduce nutrient pollution.
• $748 K for Puget Sound Freshwater Monitoring – A combination of one-time and ongoing funding is provided to add capacity for continuous freshwater nutrient monitoring for dissolved oxygen, pH, nitrates, turbidity, temperature and conductivity, and targeted storm event sampling at the mouth of the seven largest rivers discharging into Puget Sound. The data collected will support a nutrient reduction strategy for Puget Sound and help inform decisions regarding the need for future infrastructure investments across the region.
• $750 K for Local Source Control Program – ECY's Local Source Control Program provides funding to local governments to provide hands-on technical and regulatory assistance to small businesses. A combination of one-time and ongoing funding is provided to replace a federal grant which ended in FY2019.

• $283 K for Plastic Bags – A combination of one-time and ongoing funding is provided to implement ESSB 5323 (Reducing plastic bag pollution).
• $70 K for Recycled Content – Ongoing funding is provided to implement Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2722 (Minimum recycled content), including outreach, reporting, compliance, auditing, and waiver evaluations.
• $75 K for Alternatives to Single Use Packages – One-time funding is provided to ECY for technical and financial assistance to businesses which manufacture or process single-use plastic packaging products in order to help them transform those businesses to processors and producers of sustainable packaging.
• $1 M for Cleanup & Study PFAS Contamination – One-time funding is increased to add analytical capacity relating to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), sample wastewaters and biosolids at three municipal wastewater treatment facilities receiving industrial discharges. Funding is also provided for cleanup technical assistance to communities impacted by PFAS contamination in their water supply systems.
• $149 K for Zero Emission Vehicle Program – Ongoing funding is provided to implement the provisions of SB 5811 (Clean car standards).
• $2.24 M for GHG Emissions Evaluation – Major energy facilities and other infrastructure projects must undergo environmental review in permitting, including review of climate impacts. Funds are provided through FY2022 for ECY to adopt rules to standardize the consideration of climate change risk, vulnerabilities, and greenhouse gas emissions in environmental assessments for projects with significant environmental impacts.
• ECY’s appropriation is directed to convene a work group of affected entities to study the design and use of the state water trust, water banking, and water transfers, and present its findings, including a summary of discussions and any recommendations on policy improvements, to the appropriate committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

 

Department of Commerce

• $350 K for Growth Management Workgroup – One-time funding is provided for a workgroup for growth management stakeholders in light of the recent Ruckelshaus Center report.
• $150 K for Stormwater Planning/Bridges – Funding is provided for planning work related to stormwater runoff at the Aurora and I-5 Ship Canal bridges, which may include coordination with project partners, community engagement, conducting engineering studies, and staff support.
• $100 K for GMA Comprehensive Plan Updates – Ongoing funding is provided for implementation of Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2342 (comprehensive plan updates), including developing rules and guidance for local governments.
• $600 K for Statewide Emission Reduction Analysis – One-time funding is provided to contract for a comprehensive analysis of statewide emission reduction strategies.

 

Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO)

• $275 K for Hood Canal Bridge Solutions Design – One-time funding is provided to the office to grant to Long Live the Kings to further the assessment work and design of solutions to mitigate steelhead mortality at the Hood Canal Bridge.
• $140 K for Orca Recovery Coordinator – Ongoing funding is provided for the Governor's Salmon Recovery Office to coordinate ongoing work to recover Southern Resident orcas and monitor progress toward implementation of recommendations from the Governor's Southern Resident Orca Task Force final report.
• $68 K for Carbon Sequestration – Funding is provided in FY2021 and FY2022 to incorporate carbon sequestration into agency operations, contracting, and grant-making, as described in Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2311 (Greenhouse gas emissions).
• $300 K for Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program Stewardship – One-time funding is provided for RCO to develop standardized methodology to measure and report stewardship needs of state agencies responsible for lands purchased via the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program.
• $75 K for Outdoor Recreation Advisory Group – One-time funding is provided for an outdoor recreation advisory group in collaboration with the DNR, DFW, and State Parks and Recreation Commission. The advisory group must develop a plan to promote outdoor recreation in Washington, review previous outdoor recreation plans, and create a legislative strategy.

 

Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

• $281 K for Derelict Vessel Prevention – A combination of one-time and ongoing funding is provided to implement 2SSB 6528 (Derelict vessel prevention).
• $186 K for Floating Residences – One-time funding is provided to implement Second Substitute Senate Bill 6027 (Floating residences).
• $240 K for Carbon Sequestration – Funding is provided in FY2021 and FY2022 to incorporate carbon sequestration into agency operations, contracting, and grant-making, as described in Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2311 (Greenhouse gas emissions).
• $384 for Urban and Community Forestry – A combination of one-time and ongoing funding is provided to implement Substitute House Bill 2768 (Urban and community forestry), including a variety of data analysis, technical assistance, and developing an Evergreen Communities program that was formerly under the Department of Commerce.
• $200 K for Forest Restoration Grants – One-time funding is provided for grants for reforestation, afforestation, riparian buffer restoration, and urban forest restoration, as described in Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2528 (Forest products/climate).
• $25 M for Fire Suppression – One-time funding is provided for FY2020 fire suppression costs that have exceeded the funding for this purpose in the 2019-21 enacted budget. Funding is also made available for responding to other emergencies such as caused by COVID-19.
• $4.4 M Fund Shift GFS for ALEA – The Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account (ALEA) is partly funded by sales of geoduck, including sales to China and elsewhere. Projected revenue in ALEA has decreased. Spending from ALEA is shifted onto the state general fund on a one-time basis.
• $100 K for Small Forest Landowner Assistance – Ongoing funding is provided for an additional staff person to provide technical assistance to small forest landowners.

 

State Conservation Commission (SCC)

• $99 K for Sustainable Farms and Fields – One-time funding is provided to implement the provisions of 2SSB 5947 (Sustainable farms and fields).
• $61 K for Carbon Sequestration – A combination of one-time and ongoing funding is provided to incorporate carbon sequestration into agency operations, contracting, and grant-making, as described in Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 2311 (Greenhouse gas emissions).
• $332 K for Conservation District Support – Ongoing funding is provided to increase the capacity of conservation districts to assist landowners achieve environmental stewardship and agricultural sustainability.

 

Department of Agriculture (WSDA)

• $126 K for Sustainable Farms & Fields – Ongoing funding is provided to implement 2SSB 5947 (Sustainable farms and fields).
• $299 K for Pesticide, Chlorpyrifos – Ongoing funding is provided to implement E2SSB 6518 (Pesticides, chlorpyrifos).

 

 

2020 Supplemental Capital Budget

HB 2324/SB 6248 (By request of Office of Financial Management) - Concerning the capital budget. Status: Delivered to the Governor.

 

Comparison of Puget Sound-Related 2020 Supplemental Capital Budgets

Program	Agency Request Amount	Governor’s Proposed Budget for 2019-21	H. Cap. Budget passed SHB 2324	Senate passed ESSB 6248	Legislature passed ESSB 6248 – Final
Salmon infrastructure for orcas (DFW)	$1 M	$1 M	0	0 ($500 K in Senate Op. Budget)	0 ($500 K in Op. Budget)
Soos Creek hatchery (DFW)	$2.9 M	$2.9 M	$2.9 M	$1.8 M	$2.9 M
Design & permitting for Wiley Slough dike (DFW)	$5.2 M	$972 K	$972 K	$972 K	$972 K
Beaver Creek Hatchery	$450 K	$150 K	0	0	0
Remedial Action Grants (ECY)	$23.7 M	$23.7 M	$32.7 M	$23.7 M	$32.7 M
Stormwater Financial Assistance Program (ECY)	0	$3.4 M	$5 M	$3.4 M	$5 M
Regional Conservation Partnership Program state match (SCC)	$2.25 M	$2.25 M	$849 K	$2.25 M	$2.25 M

 

 

Puget Sound-Related Supplemental Capital Budget Highlights

• The DFW Capital Budget requires the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board to develop a comprehensive statewide culvert remediation plan that works in conjunction with the state approach to fully satisfy the requirements of the United States v. Washington permanent injunction and makes both local and state funding recommendations for additional non-state barrier corrections across state culvert correction programs that maximize the fisheries habitat gain and other benefits to prey available for Southern Resident orca and salmon recovery. (See also Transportation Budget summary below.)

• $50,000 for RCO to develop funding criteria and a ranked project list to establish community forest projects for funding consideration in 2021-23. The criteria and ranked list are to be submitted to the Legislature by December 31, 2020.

• $2.25 M is provided to SCC for state match to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

 

2020 Supplemental Transportation Budget

HB 2322/SB 6497 - Making supplemental transportation appropriations for the 2019-2021 fiscal biennium.

(Status: Delivered to the Governor)

• Adds $175 million for the Fish Passage Barrier Project.
• Directs Washington State Department of Transportation to work with the Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board to provide updates on the development of the statewide culvert remediation plan to the Legislature by November 1, 2020, and March 15, 2021. The first update must include a project timeline and plan to ensure that all state agencies with culvert correction programs are involved in the creation of the comprehensive plan.

 

Policy bills the Partnership followed this session:

 

Action on Climate Change and Carbon Sequestration

HB 2311 (Slatter, by Governor’s request) – Amending state greenhouse gas emission limits for consistency with the most recent assessment of climate change science. (AKA – the “Climate Pollution Limits 1261 Bill”) (Same as SB 6272) (Status: Delivered to the Governor.)

• Modifies state anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction limits and state agency GHG emissions reduction targets.
• Requires the state and state government as a whole to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050.
• Requires state agencies to report biannually on short-term and long-term strategies for meeting emissions reduction targets.
• Requires all state agencies to seek all practicable opportunities to cost effectively maximize carbon sequestration and carbon storage in their non-land management agency operations, contracting, and grant-making activities.

SB 5811 (Nguyen) – Reducing emissions by making changes to the clean car standards and clean car program (Status: Delivered to the Governor.)

• Authorizes the ECY to adopt California zero emission vehicle program regulations.
• Removes the requirement for ECY to convene an advisory group to review rules prior to rule adoption.
• Removes the requirement for the order of adoption to include the Governor's signature.
• Expands the types of vehicles required to meet California standards to include medium duty vehicles.
• Expands the types of vehicles on which a manufacturer is required to affix a label that discloses comparative greenhouse gas emissions for that new vehicle to include medium duty vehicles.

SB 5947 (McCoy) – Establishing the sustainable farms and fields grant program (Status: Delivered to the Governor)

• Requires WSDA to develop a sustainable farms and fields grant program.
• Requires that certain activities be eligible for grants, including on-farm fossil fuel input efficiency measures, agroforestry, and carbon farming.
• Requires WSDA to report biennially to the Legislature on the performance of the program.

 

Climate bills that didn’t pass:

HB 1110 (Fitzgibbon) – Reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with transportation fuels (AKA – the “Clean Fuels Bill”) (Same as SB 2412)

HB 2427 (Duerr) – Tackling climate change as a goal of the growth management act

HB 2714 (Hoff) - Valuing the carbon in forest riparian easements (Status: Did not pass.)

HB 2892 (Fitzgibbon, by Governor’s request) (Similar to SB 6628) – Authorizing ECY to regulate greenhouse gas emissions associated with persons who produce or distribute fossil fuel products that emit greenhouse gases in Washington (AKA – the “Authority Bill”)

SB 6628 (Carlyle, by Governor’s request) – Concerning emissions of greenhouse gases (AKA – the “Authority Bill”)

 

 

Action on Growth Management

HB 2342 (Fitzgibbon) – Aligning the timing of comprehensive plan updates required by the Growth Management Act with the timing of shoreline master program updates required by the Shoreline Management Act. (Status: Delivered to the Governor.)

• Modifies the anniversary year by which certain counties and cities are required to update their comprehensive plans under the Growth Management Act and their shoreline master programs under the Shoreline Management Act.
• Requires certain counties and cities to update certain portions of their comprehensive plans at the five-year mark between full updates of their comprehensive plans.

SB 6574 (Takko) – Clarifying the respective administrative powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Growth Management Hearings Board (GMHB) and the Environmental Land Use and Hearings Office (Status: Delivered to the Governor.)

• Changes the size of the GMHB from seven members to five members.
• Modifies the duties of the Chair of the GMHB and of the Director of the Environmental Land Use Hearings Office.

 

Action on Plastic Pollution Prevention

HB 2722 - Concerning minimum recycled content requirements. (Status: Delivered to the Governor.)

• Establishes postconsumer recycled plastic content requirements for certain beverage containers.
• Establishes fees for beverage manufacturers not meeting postconsumer recycled plastic content requirements.
• Authorizes ECY to audit reports and implement and enforce fees.
• Preempts local government laws and ordinances for beverage container minimum recycled content requirements.

ESSB 5323 (Das) – Reducing pollution from plastic bags by establishing minimum state standards for the use of bags at retail establishments. (Status: Delivered to the Governor.)

• Prohibits a retailer from providing a customer a single use plastic bag, a paper or reusable plastic bag that does not meet recycled content requirements.
• Requires a retailer to collect a pass-through charge of $0.08 for each recycled content large paper or plastic carryout bag provided.
• Preempts local carryout bag ordinances, except for ordinances establishing a $0.10 pass-through charge in effect as of January 1, 2019.
• Specifies recycled content requirements for paper and plastic bags.

 

Plastic Pollution Prevention Bills that Didn’t Pass:

2SHB 1205 (Peterson) – Reducing pollution from plastic bags by establishing minimum state standards for the use of bags at retail establishments.

ESSB 5077 (Kuderer) – Prohibiting single-use plastic straws.

SB 6213 (Das) (Same as HB 2429) - Concerning certain expanded polystyrene products.

 

 

Regulating Gravity Siphon Aquatic Mining

SHB 1261 (Peterson) – Ensuring compliance with the federal Clean Water Act by prohibiting certain discharges into waters of the state. (Status: Delivered to the Governor.)

• Prohibits motorized or gravity siphon aquatic mining or discharge of effluent from such an activity within the ordinary high water mark of certain waters of the state.
• Requires ECY to provide information and technical assistance prior to taking enforcement actions.

 

Delaying ban on copper-based hull paint

SB 6210 (Lovelett) – Concerning antifouling paints on recreational water vessels. (ECY request bill) (Status: Delivered to the Governor.)

• Requires ECY to conduct a review of antifouling paints and submit a report to the Legislature by June 30, 2024.
• Prohibits the sale of copper-based antifouling paints for use on recreational vessels beginning January 1, 2026, if ECY determines that safer and effective alternatives to copper-based antifouling paints are feasible, reasonable, and readily available.
• Prohibits antifouling paints containing cybutryne on recreational vessels beginning January 1, 2023.
• Authorizes ECY to collect certain information from antifouling paint manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers.

 

Water Pollution Prevention

SHB 2265 (Doglio) (Same as SB 6360) – Eliminating exemptions from restrictions on the use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in firefighting foam. (Status: Delivered to the Governor.)

• Removes exceptions to the restrictions on the manufacture, sale, and distribution of PFAS firefighting foam for use in chemical plants, oil refineries, and oil terminals.
• Authorizes the ECY to issue a waiver from PFAS foam restrictions to chemical plants, oil refineries and terminals upon receipt of specified information.
• Removes exceptions from restrictions on the manufacture, sale, or distribution of PFAS foam where required by federal law, effective no earlier than two years after federal law changes.

 

Derelict Vessel Prevention

SB 6528 (Lovelett, by DNR Request) – Concerning the prevention of derelict vessels. (Status: Delivered to the Governor)

• Changes the minimum vessel length that triggers requirements related to inspections and marine insurance before ownership of certain vessels may be transferred.
• Provides certain DNR staff with the authority to issue tickets by mail for the purpose of enforcing vessel registration requirements.
• Authorizes the DNR to issue grants to local law enforcement agencies to compensate them for time and equipment needed to enforce vessel registration and aquatic laws as related to the Derelict Vessel Removal Program.
• Authorizes the DNR to carry out a pilot project for the purpose of testing possible recycling streams for wood and fiberglass recovered from derelict vessels.
• Removes the limitation that the DNR may spend no more than $200,000 per biennium to carry out the Derelict Vessel Removal Program.

 

Other Puget Sound-Related Bills that Passed:

HB 1187 (Dent) – Revising hydraulic project eligibility standards under RCW 77.55.181 for conservation district-sponsored fish habitat enhancement projects. (Status: Delivered to the Governor.)

• Removes the requirement that conservation district-sponsored fish habitat enhancement projects eligible for streamlined review follow design standards established by the SCC through an interagency agreement with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Natural Resource Conservation Service.
• Provides that conservation district-sponsored fish habitat enhancement projects determined to be eligible for streamlined review must be approved by conservation districts.

HB 1622 (Blake, by ECY request) – Concerning drought preparedness and response (Status: Delivered to Governor.)

• Authorizes ECY to issue a drought advisory when it appears that drought conditions may develop.
• Makes various changes to ECY's responsibilities when an emergency drought order has been issued.
• Directs ECY to initiate a pilot program to explore the cost, feasibility, and benefits of entering into long-term water right lease agreements to alleviate water supply conditions which may occur as a result of drought conditions.

HB 2571 (Goodman) – Concerning increased deterrence and meaningful enforcement of fish and wildlife violations. (Same as SB 6071) (Status: Delivered to the Governor.)

• Allows for the safe disposal or release to the environment of seized fish, shellfish, and wildlife by fish and wildlife officers under certain circumstances.
• Provides additional direction regarding the forfeiture of seized fish, shellfish, and wildlife based on case disposition.
• Reorganizes and reclassifies certain fish and wildlife violations and adds additional violations which may be cited as infractions.
• Modifies license suspension timeframes for repeated fish and wildlife violations.
• Allows DFW to hire lawful permanent residents as enforcement officers.

HB 2641 (Fey) – Authorizing cities to provide passenger-only ferry service (Status: Delivered to the Governor.)

• Allows cities bordering the Puget Sound and Lake Washington to establish, finance, and provide passenger-only ferry service if certain criteria are met.
• Requires that a passenger-only ferry investment plan: (1) Include consultation with treaty tribes to ensure impacts to tribal fishing are minimized; (2) show design and funding considerations for propulsion types and technologies that meet low, ultra-low, and zero emission targets; and (3) show best management practices and technologies available and considered to reduce impacts to water quality, prevention of whale strikes, and underwater noise that impact the Southern Resident orca population, other marine mammals, and aquatic life.

SB 6072 (Rolfes, by DFW request) – Dividing the state Wildlife Account into the fish, wildlife, and conservation account and the limited fish and wildlife account (Status: Delivered to the Governor.)

• The bill changes the way revenue sources are accounted that support the operating budget of DFW. The State Wildlife Account is eliminated and is replaced by two new accounts. The Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Account is used to receive revenue that by statute, is more discretionary in nature. The Limited Fish and Wildlife Account is used to receive revenue that, by statute, limits how DFW uses the funds.

SB 6613 (Rolfes) – Concerning the inspection of marine aquatic farming locations. (Status: Delivered to Governor.)

• The director of DFW must develop rules that provide for the recovery of actual costs incurred for required inspections, monitoring, and compliance testing of marine aquatic farms by DFW.

 

Other Puget Sound-Related Bills that Didn’t Pass:

HB 1733 (Gregerson) – Retaining productive farmland

HB 2503 (Barkis) – Addressing the removal of fish passage barriers

HB 2549 (Lekanoff) – Integrating salmon recovery efforts with growth management act; and HB 2550 (Lekanoff) – Establishing net ecological gain as a policy for application across identified land use, development, and environmental laws. NOTE: Although neither of these bills passed, the supplemental operating budget includes $256 K for DFW to contract with the Washington Academy of Sciences to submit a report to the Legislature assessing how to incorporate a net ecological gain standard into state land use, development, and environmental laws and rules.

HB 2603 / SB 6494 (by ECY Request) – Concerning trust water rights. NOTE: Although these and other water resource policy bills did not pass, The operating budget requires ECY to convene a work group of affected entities to study the design and use of the state water trust, water banking, and water transfers, and present its findings, including a summary of discussions and any recommendations on policy improvements, to the appropriate committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

HB 2768 (Ramos, by DNR Request) (Same as SB 6529) – Concerning urban and community forestry.

HB 2552 (Lekanoff) – Creating a joint legislative salmon committee

HB 2559 (Springer) - Concerning payments in lieu of real property taxes by the Department of Fish and Wildlife

HJM 4012 (Lekanoff) – Recognizing the international year of the salmon

SB 6147 (Salomon) – Concerning the replacement of shoreline armoring

SB 6365 (Warnick) – Concerning payments in lieu of real property taxes by the Department of Fish and Wildlife

SB 6432 (Rolfes) – Concerning offshore oil extraction

SJM 8014 (McCoy) – Concerning logging and mining in the upper Skagit watershed

 

 

 

For more information, contact Jeff Parsons, Puget Sound Partnership, jeff.parsons@psp.wa.gov, 360-999-3803

Reminder that all Puget Sound Partnership Legislative Updates from the 2020 session are posted on the Partnership's website.