KENNEWICK, WA – Governor Bob Ferguson signed a bill this week intended to make it easier for Washington farmers to access fuel exempt from Climate Commitment Act (CCA) fees. The measure, House Bill 1912, was signed during an event held at the Tri-City Development Council in Kennewick and was among several pieces of legislation signed into law focused on Central and Eastern Washington.
House Bill 1912, sponsored by Rep. Tom Dent (R-Moses Lake), addresses challenges farmers have faced in obtaining CCA-exempt fuel. While agricultural producers and transporters have been legally exempt from paying certain fees under the Climate Commitment Act, finding exempt fuel has proven difficult. The new law directs the Department of Ecology to provide clearer information on where to purchase exempt fuel, clarifies eligible fuel types, and extends the exemption for two additional years.
Governor Ferguson, who previously highlighted the measure in his inaugural address, described the legislation as part of his commitment to supporting Washington’s agricultural community.
“Washington’s agriculture is among the best in the world because of the hard work of Washington farmers,” Ferguson stated during the signing event. “Our agricultural industries operate on thin margins, and they can’t afford to pay unnecessary fees. I appreciate Rep. Dent’s leadership on this important issue.”
Rep. Dent noted that the exemption was a promise made to the agricultural industry when the Climate Commitment Act was originally passed and emphasized the bipartisan effort involved in addressing the issue.
“This was a top priority to support our agriculture producers, after all they feed us,” Dent said. “I am pleased to have worked with the Governor and had his full support along with strong, bipartisan support within the Legislature to find a solution for this issue.”
In addition to HB 1912, Governor Ferguson signed 10 other bills at the Kennewick event, including:
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House Bill 1253 – Allows cities and public utility districts to enter into joint use agreements with private companies for developing transmission, energy storage, and generation facilities. (Rep. Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy)
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House Bill 1258 – Clarifies 911 excise tax revenue sharing between city and county governments in Spokane County. (Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane)
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House Bill 1648 – Extends deadlines for child care provider credentialing and improves access to training. (Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake)
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House Bill 1934 – Restricts personal identifiers in public records to prevent harassment victims from being identified. (Rep. Rob Chase, R-Liberty Lake)
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Senate Bill 5303 – Extends timelines for Yakima Basin Integrated Plan projects by 10 years. (Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake)
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Senate Bill 5323 – Increases penalties for theft of firefighter and EMS equipment. (Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake)
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Senate Bill 5485 – Extends the Department of Agriculture’s Livestock Identification Program through 2030. (Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake)
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Senate Bill 5543 – Expands College Bound Scholarship eligibility to include students with GEDs. (Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick)
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Senate Bill 5682 – Extends the B&O tax credit for the Washington Customized Employment Training Program by five years. (Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake)
The event focused on legislation affecting sectors such as agriculture, public safety, education, and energy in the state’s eastern regions.