2008 Bills To Watch
Bills pre-filed for the 2008 legislative session of interest to WSNLA.
HB 2425 – An act relating to small-scale powered equipment.
Creates a new 6% sales tax on "Small-scale powered equipment" including: lawnmowers, string trimmers, leaf blowers, air compressors, chainsaws, turf equipment, lawn and garden tractors, and vehicles designed for off-road use that are powered by a gasoline, diesel, or propane spark ignition engine that are fifty horsepower or less. Proceeds from this tax would be used for grants to cities or counties to create programs designed to subsidize the purchase of alternatives to small-scale powered equipment that are powered by an electrical cord or a rechargeable battery. For more information, click here.
HB 2429 – An act relating evaluating alternatives to the roadside application of pesticides.
The department of health shall convene a work group to study policies, strategies, and alternatives related to the roadside application of pesticides. (There are concerns that this may lead to increased spread of weeds.) For more information, click here.
HB 2468 - Authorizing the department of natural resources to establish an inventory, conduct an assessment, and develop recommendations to improve community and urban forest conditions in Washington state. "Community and urban forest assessment" means an analysis of the value of urban forest-related benefits, highlight trends and issues of concern, identify high priority areas to be addressed, outline strategies for addressing critical issues and urban landscapes, and identify opportunities for the planting of additional trees to sustain Washington's urban and community forests. The criteria for a statewide community and urban forest inventory may include, but is not limited to: Tree size; species; location; condition; contribution to canopy cover and volume; available planting spaces; and economic, social, and monetary value. DNR shall conduct an urban forest assessment and develop recommendations to the legislature to improve community and urban forestry in Washington State by January 1, 2009. For more information, click here.
SB 6197 – An act relating to children working for their parents.
Allows children under the age of fourteen to work for their parents. (This is already the case for farm work. The bill would expand it to all work.) For more information, click here.
HB 2587 - An ACT Relating to the practice of landscape architecture. For more information, click here.
SB 6228 - Protecting lake water quality by reducing phosphorus from lawn fertilizers.
Bans the use of phosphorous containing fertilizer from turf. (Oddly enough, I don’t think it affects beds.) For more information, click here.
SB 6245 - Providing a sales tax exemption for horticultural plants native to Washington State. For more information, click here.
SB 6242 - Addressing pesticide registration & license fees. Increases pesticide applicator license fees. For more information, click here.
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