Kathy Davis, Communications
The Washington State Legislature finished their 60-day session on March 10. During this short-session year, lawmakers approved a supplemental budget that adjusts the state’s two-year operating budget to address new developments and needs. The budget bill still needs the governor’s signature to become law.
In the approved supplemental budget, WSDA received $103.8 million in additional funding for agency activities.
The Legislature included funding to provide state employees with a general wage increase of 3.25% starting July 1, 2022.
Below are some highlights from the budget bill. Some amounts represent one-time only funds, while others are ongoing.
Food assistance - $58 million to implement a state program of providing farmers-to-families food boxes, and $17.6 million for capacity grants to support emergency food system operations, such as equipment, building maintenance, and staffing.
Invasive pest eradications - $5.4 million to eradicate the Japanese beetle detected in the Grandview area, $964,000 to eradicate the newly named “spongy” moth, and $170,000 to detect and eradicate the spotted lanternfly.
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| WSDA received additional funds for the "We Feed WA" food box program. Contractors source and stock boxes based on the unique needs of the community being served. |
Cannabis - $790,000 to a policy bill that creates a multi-agency task force for cannabis lab standards and requires WSDA to establish quality lab testing standards by rule, and $200,000 for rulemaking for a voluntary cannabis certification program consistent with the existing Organic Program.
Emergency management - $732,000 for emergency response efforts for the agricultural industry and food safety.
HEAL Act - $656,000 to support environmental justice assessments, community engagement and other requirements of the HEAL Act.
Organic materials management - $301,000 for WSDA to develop a program to reimburse farmers for the costs of using compost not generated by the farm.
Regional markets - $250,000 to support local and regional markets and develop agricultural infrastructure in southwest Washington.
Pollinator health - $252,000 for a citizen science project to better understand the geographic distribution of bee species across the state.
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| Pretty but destructive, the Japanese beetle is a highly invasive pest that poses a serious threat to agriculture. |
The budget also included $2.2 million to reverse the savings taken in the 2021-23 operating budget for vacancy management and agency overhead.
The agency’s spending authority was increased by $3.8 million for an anticipated increase in federal funds for the Specialty Crop Block Grants Program.
Other WSDA activities that received increased funds include the electric vehicle charging stations law, hemp task force and commission, wolf-livestock conflict grants, and the food and farm finder grant.
To review the full list of supplemental budget changes and exact dollar amounts, go to the summary on the LEAP (Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program) website. WSDA details begin on page 473.
In summary: The Washington State Legislature finished their 60-day session on March 10. During this short-session year, lawmakers approved a supplemental budget that adjusts the state’s two-year operating budget to address new developments and needs. WSDA received $103.8 million from the Legislature in additional funding for agency activities. Read about the highlights in this Insider blog post.
