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• Introduced by Sen. Phil Rockefeller, (D-Kitsap County) (D) on January 29, 2010, to promote the clarity needed for both a sustainable livestock industry and effective water resource management, the bill intends to define "stock watering purposes," and establish a process under which existing operations may register groundwater that has been put to beneficial use. The bill also establishes quantity limits for new livestock operations that intend to rely upon the permit exemption for withdrawals in the future, and facilitate more efficient consolidation and movement of livestock and their associated water requirements among registered livestock operations.
  • Referred to the Senate Environment, Water & Energy Committee on January 29, 2010.
    • Substitute offered in the Senate on February 5, 2010, to make the bill applicable only to dairy farms that are licensed under chapter 15.36 of the RCW. Exempts new dairy farms from permitting if the total withdrawal for stock watering purposes does not exceed 13.8 acre feet per year, and annual withdrawal quantities are metered and recorded. The substitute passed in the Senate by voice vote on February 5, 2010.
  • Referred to the Senate Ways & Means Committee on February 5, 2010.
    • Substitute offered in the Senate on February 9, 2010, to make technical changes including correcting references within the bill. The substitute passed in the Senate by voice vote on February 9, 2010.