SB 6104: Agriculture impacts

Summary

• Defines agricultural impact statements and requires the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Department of Ecology (Ecology), the Forest Practices Board, Department of Labor and Industries, cities, towns, code cities, and counties to complete agricultural impact statements when undertaking certain actions.
• Directs DNR, WDFW, Ecology, the Forest Practices Board, and the Department of Labor and Industries to consult with the Washington State Department of Agriculture and the State Conservation Commission to develop methods and procedures that give agricultural viability appropriate consideration in decision-making.
• Requires DNR, WDFW, Ecology, the Forest Practices Board, and the Department of Commerce to propose mitigation up to and including in-kind compensation from the habitat conservation account when proposing actions that will result in the deprivation of the beneficial use of real property engaged in agricultural or natural resource based commercial activities.
• Requires cities, towns, code cities, or counties to conserve adjacent agricultural land at a rate of one to one or non-adjacent agricultural land or unfarmed land at a rate of three to one when adopting a zoning amendment that changes a designation from agriculture to some other designation.
• Directs the Office of Financial Management to develop an agricultural fiscal note process.

From the Senate Bill Report (SB 6104), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗