WA SB5947
There is a bill making its way through the Washington state capitol, and if you are a WA constituent, I’d love your help! SB5947 will provide funding for farmers and ranchers through a voluntary grant program to support them in growing toward more bee-friendly agricultural practices.
Background:
The bill's text:
http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2019-20/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5947-S2.pdf
The bill's history:
https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5947&Year=2019&Initiative=false
Summary:
The bill would establish a voluntary grant program to address climate change while also supporting farm businesses and rural communities. The program would fund work in three areas:
Reducing carbon emissions generated throughout farming and ranch processes, including from fertilizers, pesticides, and fuels.
Adoption of regenerative agricultural practices like no-till, cover-cropping, manure, compost, and biochar additions.
Agroforestry, the addition of new trees and shrubs on agricultural and ranch settings that sequester carbon.
The bill just passed the Senate and is now in the House's Committee on Rural Development, Agriculture, & Natural Resources, chaired by Brian Blake. This bill had passed last year, but stalled in the same committee, due to pressure from corporate interests. It appears there is support in the House to pass the bill, but there won't be a vote unless it gets out of committee.
SB 5947 received overwhelming and diverse community support at the February 7th hearing.
Action needed:
Great news! SB 5947 just passed the House! This would not have happened without all of your hard work and advocacy. Thank you!
Next, the bill is off to the Senate for a consensus vote. We expect that the Senate will be busy with bills that need to make the opposite house cutoff this week. We could use all of your help to motivate your networks to make a final round of phone calls to Senators over the weekend on on Monday asking them to support the House language for SB5947.
Thank you for supporting climate-friendly farming practices in Washington State!
