Chad Kruger, WSU Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources
February 5, 2020
As we have described for several months, WSU submitted a Decision Package for a Supplemental Budget Request for additional funding for the Soil Health Initiative that was not funded in the 2019 Legislative Budget (e.g. Proviso funding in the amount of $250k / year was for FY20 and FY21). The additional amount requested by WSU was $788k / year in continuing funding, with the understanding that the $250k / year base would also continue. This request was not funded in the governor’s budget proposal released in December, though it did fund a small, $200,000 component requested by WSDA.
The House and Senate convened its session Jan. 13 and will consider WSU’s request before drafting their own budget proposals. The Supplemental Session is a short (60 day) “budget adjustment” session where course corrections and legislative fixes are often considered, but generally not “new” requests or large, complex requests. This year’s Supplemental Session has a significant “budget adjustment” to address as the Legislature is looking to plug a hole in the substantial higher education funding package approved last year. At this time, resolution appears near.
The broader Soil Health Initiative, articulating roles and budget requests for WSU, WSDA and WSCC, is encapsulated in Senate Bill 6306 – which has strong, statewide, bi-partisan sponsorship – the first sponsor being Senator Liias from Mukilteo who championed the proviso funding in 2019. Senator Liias opened the January 16th Senate Ag, Water, and Natural Resources and Parks Committee hearing on the bill with very positive and informed comments on the importance of soil health and the SHI. In his opening statement, he referenced the visit to WSU Mount Vernon and the information he learned interacting with Deirdre Griffin-LaHue and Gabe LaHue about soil health.
In addition to Senator Liias, several organizations testified on behalf of the bill, including environmental groups Carbon WA and The Nature Conservancy, PCC Community Markets, the Washington State Potato Commission, and the Washington Grain Alliance. 7 other parties signed in as pro but did not testify. WSU had me sign WSU onto the record as officially pro, and I stated “enthusiastically positive”. You can listen to the whole hearing on TVW at the link below. At the end of the hearing, Senator Warnick set me up with a soft-ball question for a #GoCougs – you can watch that at the 57:00 minute mark. 😉 https://www.tvw.org/watch/?eventID=2020011124
WSU submitted our official Fiscal Note in response to the legislation in late January. The fiscal note requests the same budget as the Decision Package – with some updated information (e.g. the $788,000 annually + continuing the existing $250,000 in the next biennium). On February 3, Chris Mulick from WSU Government Relations testified in the Senate Ways and Means Committee hearing (the key “budget consideration” committee). Again, a positive response, but likely more than a little concern regarding the price tag of the Fiscal Note / Decision Package. The Farm Bureau and Carbon Washington were signed in pro in addition to those who had signed in before. The bill was advanced from the committee on Tuesday.
In the meantime, House members are being prepped to receive the Senate bill.
There was a nice article in the Capital Press by Matthew Weaver in mid-January, and I’ve given about 4 other interviews since the January 16th hearing (so I suspect we’ll see more articles, etc.).
While I’ve had a number of opportunities in the past to coordinate with agencies and industry partners and help with state funding initiatives for CAHNRS, this is definitely the deepest direct involvement I’ve had in the legislative process. Not only did WSU have me testify, but actually had me sign in and declare “enthusiastic support for” a piece of legislation! The WSU Government Relations Team is really incredible and professional. I’ve gain a ton of appreciation for our colleagues in that unit.