By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist The 2020 legislative session wrapped up on March 12, concluding its intense 60-day session on-time for the third year in a row. Legislators began the 2020 session primarily focused on homelessness, housing and figuring out transportation funding in light of voter-approved $30 car tabs. Democratic lawmakers also hoped to use their large majorities in the ... Read More »
By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Tuesday marked the 57th day of the 2020 Legislative Session which is scheduled to end on March 12. Another important legislative deadline occurred last week, in which all bills must have passed out of both chambers to remain alive, unless they are deemed Necessary To Implement the Budget. Over the next four days the legislature ... Read More »
By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Tuesday, March 3, marked the 51st day of the 2020 Legislative Session. Another important legislative deadline occurred Monday, when all bills from the opposite chamber must have passed out of their respective fiscal committee to remain alive this session. This Friday is the deadline for all bills to pass out of the opposite chamber by ... Read More »
By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Tuesday marked the 44th day of the 2020 Legislative Session. On Wednesday, Feb. 19, the Legislature reached a milestone—the deadline to pass bills out of the house of origin (House Bills must be voted out of the House, and Senate Bills must be voted out of the Senate). Bills that were not voted on are ... Read More »
By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Yesterday marked the 37th day of the 60-day session. This past week saw the passing of the second cut-off of the 2020 Legislative Session. Cut-off dates play a crucial role in the legislative process as any bill that has not made it out of a policy and fiscal committee is considered dead and no longer ... Read More »
While in Olympia meeting with legislators Jan. 21-22, wheat growers had an opportunity to testify during a House Rural Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee public hearing on HB 2498. (From left) Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) lobbyist Diana Carlen, WAWG President Ryan Poe and WAWG Past President Marci Green all testified in support of the bill, which would ... Read More »
As 2020 kicks off, the Washington Association of Wheat Growers is gearing up for a busy year where trade, fighting mandatory carbon regulations and preserving the lower Snake River dams top the legislative to-do list. “At the state level, we will be opposing any potential harmful carbon regulations that would unfairly impact our growers. Protecting the lower Snake River dams ... Read More »
By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist On Jan. 13, 2020, the Washington State Legislature will convene in Olympia for a 60-day “short session.” The main task of legislators will be to pass supplemental budgets for the operating, transportation and capital budgets. The supplemental budgets are generally minor adjustments to the biennial budgets (passed in the 2019 “long session”) based on updated ... Read More »
By Diana Carlen WAWG Lobbyist Since the Legislature adjourned at the end of April, we are in the time period known as interim where the focus has shifted to agency implementation of legislation, primarily taskforces and work groups established by the legislature. The Washington Association of Wheat Growers (WAWG) is actively engaged in the following work groups: Snake River Dams ... Read More »
From NW News Network Washington lawmakers adjourned at midnight Sunday after majority Democrats approved an initiative to restore affirmative action and passed a $52.4 billion, two-year state operating budget. The budget relies on an array of tax increases, including on businesses and real estate transactions, but doesn’t impose a new capital gains tax as had been proposed. Read the rest ... Read More »
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