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• Introduced by Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, (D-Camano Island) (D) on January 17, 2006, to require conservation districts, before developing a farm plan, to inform the landowner or operator in writing of the types of information subject to disclosure to the public. When farm plans are prepared by conservation districts to comply with a regulatory requirement of the landowner or operator, private and proprietary information will be redacted from the farm plan before release.
  • Referred to the Senate Agriculture and Rural Economic Development Committee on January 17, 2006.
  • Substitute offered to the Senate Agriculture and Rural Economic Development Committee on February 1, 2006, to clarify that certain farm plans required by federal law to be disclosed are not exempt from disclosure under state law. Farm plans that are prepared to comply with state water permit requirements are subject to disclosure with information in ranges as provided in 2005 legislation.
  • The substitute passed in the Senate by voice vote on February 8, 2006.
• Passed in the Senate (46 to 0) on February 8, 2006, to require conservation districts, before developing a farm plan, to inform the landowner or operator in writing of the types of information subject to disclosure to the public. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the House on February 10, 2006.
  • Referred to the House Local Government Committee on February 10, 2006.
  • Amendment offered to the House on February 23, 2006, by the House Local Government Committee, to define "farm plans" and specifies that plans used for the application or issuance of all permits, rather than only for the application or issuance permits under the CWA, are subject to disclosure requirements. Technical changes are made.
  • The amendment passed in the House by voice vote on March 1, 2006.
• Passed in the House (98 to 0) on March 1, 2006, to exempt farm plans (plans) developed by conservation districts from public disclosure requirements unless permission to release the plan has been granted by the landowner or operator requesting the plan, or the plan is used for applications or permit issuances. Specifies that plans developed under certain state water pollution control provisions that are not subject to the federal Clean Water Act are subject to specific dairy and animal feedlot disclosure requirements. Obligates conservation districts, before developing a plan, to inform the applicable landowner or operator of the types of information that are subject to public disclosure requirements. Specifies requirements that must be satisfied before a plan is disclosed by a conservation district to the public. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Received in the Senate on March 4, 2006, to concur in House amendments, for final passage of the bill. Passed in the Senate (43 to 0) on March 4, 2006. [Vote Details and Comments]
• Signed by Gov. Christine Gregoire on March 31, 2006, to require conservation districts, before preparing a farm plan, to inform the landowner or operator in writing of the types of information that is subject to disclosure to the public.