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Jan. 23, 2026 | Session Day 12/60
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Amid a backdrop of cold and often foggy days in Olympia, we continue to see many bills being introduced.
While only some of these bills could impact the State Conservation Commission (SCC) and conservation districts, legislators have broader interest on the many issues that come before state government. Combined with the need to resolve a significant shortfall in the current biennial budget, the volume of work in short session is felt by everyone.
 That’s me! Presenting to the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources during a work session on recommendations from the Washington Food Policy Forum.
Conservation District Elections
As mentioned in the last newsletter, HB 2499 was filed, proposing changes to conservation district elections and creating new requirements for district supervisors. This bill has now been scheduled for a public hearing, which will occur on the House Committee on State Government and Tribal Relations on Tuesday, January 27 at 1:30 pm.
SCC has been involved in conversations on election reforms many times over the years. We are directed by our Commission to support legislation that reduces barriers for conducting district elections, serving as a district supervisor, and voting, in alignment with the recommendations from the Joint Committee on Elections. While this bill contains some things we would like to see, it doesn't get us where we need to be. In some ways, it creates new barriers. It also has some technical challenges that would make it difficult to implement.
A Focus on Food
This year, there is a growing interest from legislators on taking action to address food security in Washington. Two of our statutory responsibilities at SCC are to coordinate the Office of Farmland Preservation and, alongside the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), convene the Washington Food Policy Forum. We are monitoring a variety of bills that relate to farmland preservation and food security.
The first week of session, the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources requested a work session on recommendations from the Food Policy Forum. We worked with WSDA and the leadership of the Forum to bring forward key policy recommendations as they relate to the interests of the committee, including overall food security, local food in schools, farms to food banks, commercial access, and the production, processing, and distribution of Washington-grown food. Our presentation also shared how legislators and the public can interact with the Forum to engage on policy issues.
Resources
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A few bills we’re watching:
HB 2154: Concerning land ownership by conservation districts
Heard: Heard on January 14. Not yet scheduled for executive session.
HB 2499: Modernizing conservation district election procedures and requiring financial disclosures from district supervisors and candidates for district supervisor.
Hearing: Scheduled on January 27 at 1:30 pm at the House Committee on State Government and Tribal Relations.
HB 2238: Concerning statewide food security.
Executive Action: Passed unanimously out of committee with a substituted bill on January 21.
SB 6104: Protecting agriculture.
Hearing: Scheduled on January 29 at 1:30 pm in the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources.
SB 5893: Addressing appropriations for long-term forest health and wildfire reduction.
Hearing: Scheduled on January 27 at 4 pm in the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.
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