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WA HB2343
Bill
Status
Engrossed
2/17/2026
Primary Sponsor
Peter Abbarno
Click for details
AI Summary
- Requires publicly owned game farms operated by the Department of Fish and Wildlife to obtain concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) permits from the Department of Ecology, or follow equivalent general permit requirements
- Responds to 2024-2025 groundwater monitoring in Lewis County's Fords Prairie area that found nitrate levels exceeding federal limits in private drinking water wells, with the Bob Oke game farm confirmed as a contributing source
- Sets threshold of 5,000 or more game birds present at any time to classify a public facility as a large CAFO subject to the most protective water quality standards
- Mandates permit holders prepare and implement manure pollution prevention plans including runoff controls, land application limits, dead animal management protocols, and monitoring/recordkeeping requirements
- Directs the Department of Ecology to explicitly include pheasants and similar game birds within CAFO permit scope in its next permit update, ensuring public facilities face the same regulatory framework as private operations
Legislative Description
Protecting the public from water quality impacts of publicly owned or operated game farms.
Last Action
By resolution, returned to House Rules Committee for third reading.
3/12/2026
Committee Referrals
Rules3/12/2026
Agriculture & Natural Resources2/19/2026
Rules2/3/2026
Environment & Energy1/12/2026
Full Bill Text
No bill text available