Quick Look

Rep. Mary Dye introduces bills in support of Republican ORCA (Outdoor Recreation and Climate Adaptation) Plan

OLYMPIA–Rep. Mary Dye has introduced legislation as part of the House Republican ORCA (Outdoor Recreation and Climate Adaptation) Plan that provides a roadmap toward cleanup of Puget Sound, expands funding for outdoor recreation, addresses climate issues, and eliminates state parks fees, including the Discover Pass. For more information visit: https://houserepublicans.wa.gov/2021/12/01/real-solutions-for-wa-environment/

Senate passes bill to help school districts to address building maintenance needs

By Sen. Mark Schoelser

OLYMPIA–Senate Bill 5202 allows school districts to create a “depreciation subfund” that can receive a transfer of up to two percent of a school district’s general fund each fiscal year. It would provide another path for school districts to handle building- or facility-maintenance needs.

Two elections bills make my “Worst Bills List”

By Sen. Mark Schoesler

The first to make the list is Senate Bill 5540, which seeks to move our state’s candidate filing week to the Monday of the fourth week in February and the state’s primary to the third Tuesday in May. Past legislation to move up filing week to February and the state primary to May has failed. Let’s hope this bill dies as well.

The other bill is Senate Bill 5820. It would make the superintendent of public instruction a position appointed by the governor, effectively ending what is now by law a non-partisan office. (An accompanying measure, Senate Joint Resolution 8212, would seek to amend the state constitution to eliminate the SPI from its list of elected positions.). Currently, the office of SPI is up for election every four years, as are the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, insurance commissioner and treasurer.

USDA Announces Additional Farm Service Agency and Rural Development State Directors

WASHINGTON D.C.– President Joe Biden announced his intent to appoint eight U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regional positions, including five Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Directors and three Rural Development (RD) State Directors.

Farm Service Agency: Blong Xiong, FSA State Executive Director for Calif .; Matt Gellings, FSA State Executive Director for Idaho; Whitney Place, FSA State Executive Director for Minn .; Heidi Secord, FSA State Executive Director for Penn .; Dr. Ronald Howell, Jr., FSA State Executive Director for Virginia

Rural Development: Lakeisha Hood, RD State Director for Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands; Rudy Soto, RD State Director for Idaho; Helen Price Johnson, RD State Director for Wash.

USDA to Invest up to $225 Million in Partner-Driven Conservation on Agricultural and Forest Land

WASHINGTON D.C.–The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced up to $225 million in available funding for conservation partners through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). RCPP is a partner-driven program that leverages collective resources to find solutions to address natural resource challenges on agricultural land. This year’s funding announcements include opportunities for projects that address climate change, benefit historically underserved producers and support urban agriculture.