FINAL STRETCH OF THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN OLYMPIA

The February 17, 2026 House of Origin deadline has come and gone. That means the noise level in Olympia just shifted. The list of “what could happen” is now a much shorter list of “what actually might.”

For Washington agriculture, that’s a good thing.

This session has been a study in contrasts. On one hand, we’ve seen serious revenue proposals and labor expansions that would materially increase costs on employers. On the other, we’ve advanced real, practical policy wins that support production agriculture and recognize food security as a statewide priority. Now that bills have either cleared their chamber or died trying, we can see the board more clearly.

The Big Picture: Revenue, Labor, and Regulation

This session continues to revolve around three themes that directly affect growers:

1. Revenue pressure. The Millionaire’s Tax and estate tax changes remain in play. While these are not agriculture-specific, they signal the broader fiscal direction of the majority and the appetite for new revenue.
2. Labor expansion. Substitute Senate Bill 6045, agricultural collective bargaining, remains one of the most consequential bills of the session. This proposal would place farm workers under the Public Employment Relations Commission for collective bargaining. Agriculture has been united in opposition because our industry is fundamentally different: seasonal, weather-dependent, and operating on tight margins. The bill cleared key hurdles and remains alive in the opposite chamber.
3. Regulatory layering. Whether it’s environmental enforcement, carbon compliance, or employer mandates tied to immigration audits, we continue to see a pattern of new requirements being layered onto farms and food processors.

At the same time, we have secured targeted wins and that matters.

Dead Bills: What Didn’t Survive

Cutoff deadlines exist for a reason. Several bills that would have significantly affected agriculture failed to advance.

Washington Farmers Feeding Families (HB 2463) — Rep. Kristine Reeves (D–Federal Way) This proposal would have expanded the state’s farm-to-food-pantry framework. It did not move out of Appropriations before cutoff. While disappointing from a food security standpoint, it removes near-term implementation questions for growers.

Washington Local Food for Schools (HB 2369) — Rep. Kristine Reeves (D–Federal Way)

Another food-system bill that stalled in Appropriations. It sought to formalize and expand procurement of Washington-grown foods in K–12 systems. It did not advance.

Diesel Fuel Tax Reduction (HB 2404) — Rep. Alex Ybarra (R–Quincy) This would have rolled back the special fuel tax on diesel. It never received meaningful movement this session.

PFAS & Rodenticide Restrictions

• HB 2279 — Rep. Lisa Parshley (D–Olympia)
• HB 2516 — Rep. Lisa Parshley (D–Olympia)

Efforts to restrict rodenticides and impose additional PFAS-related evaluations in agriculture failed to move forward before fiscal cutoff. That removes immediate regulatory risk for producers.

32-Hour Workweek Mandate (HB 2611) — Rep. Shaun Scott (D–Seattle) A broad labor proposal that would have required overtime after 32 hours per week stalled in committee. For production agriculture, that’s a significant near-term relief. Dead does not mean gone forever but it does mean not this year.

Bills Still Alive and Moving: Now for the bills that cleared the House of Origin and remain in play.

Farm Machinery Sales Tax Exemption (HB 2584) — Rep. Tom Dent (R–Moses Lake) This is real relief. The bill creates a temporary sales and use tax exemption for high-value farm machinery used directly in production by qualifying producers. It cleared committee unanimously and moved through the House. This is exactly the type of targeted competitiveness policy we need.

Lubricant Carbon Tax Relief (HB 2215) — Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (D–West Seattle) Through amendment, we secured an exemption for emissions tied to lubricants, including motor oil, hydraulic fluids, and similar products, from Climate Commitment Act compliance beginning in 2027. That was a priority for agriculture. The bill has advanced and is now in the opposite chamber.

Hazardous Substance Tax Extension (SB 6244) — Sen. Nikki Torres (R–Pasco) Extends the existing hazardous substance tax exemption for warehoused crop protection products from 2028 to 2038. This is technical but important. It protects supply chain efficiency and avoids unnecessary cost shifts.

Green Fertilizer Incentives (SB 5971) — Sen. Matt Boehnke (R–Kennewick) Establishes a state incentive program to support in-state production and on-farm use of low-carbon nitrogen fertilizer. It passed the Senate unanimously and continues moving.

Agricultural Regulatory Reform Task Force (HB 2619) — Rep. Tom Dent (R–Moses Lake)

Creates a bipartisan task force to review and streamline regulations impacting land use, water, grazing, and pesticide oversight. It cleared committee and remains alive. This is long-term structural work that agriculture needs.

Statewide Food Security Coordination (HB 2238) — Rep. Kristine Reeves (D–Federal Way) Expands WSDA’s role in coordinating statewide food security efforts and developing a strategy focused on hunger, nutrition, and agricultural viability. It passed the House with strong bipartisan support and is now in the Senate.

Bills of Concern Still in Play

Agricultural Collective Bargaining (SSB 6045) — Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D–Seattle)

Still alive. Still concerning. This bill applies collective bargaining specifically to farm workers. It would fundamentally alter the labor structure of Washington agriculture. We continue to engage aggressively.

Immigrant Worker Protection Act (SHB 2105) — Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self (D–Mukilteo)

Creates new state-level employer obligations tied to federal I-9 audits and authorizes both Attorney General and private enforcement actions. It has passed one chamber and remains active.

Environmental Crime Penalties (ESSB 5360) — Sen. Yasmin Trudeau (D–Tacoma)

Creates tiered criminal penalties under environmental statutes, including potential felony exposure. The industry continues to push back hard.

Apple Health Employer Assessment (SB 6173) — Sen. Emily Alvarado (D–West Seattle)

Imposes a new employer assessment on businesses with employees enrolled in Apple Health. As a budget-related bill, it is not subject to normal cutoff rules and remains very much in play.

Finishing Out Session

We’re not taking our foot off the gas. We’re continuing direct conversations with legislators, senior staff, and agency leadership every single week to make sure growers’ priorities stay front and center. Yes, we’ve secured some important wins, but there are still several bills and policy decisions moving through Olympia that could directly — and indirectly — impact farms across Washington. Labor costs, regulatory exposure, carbon policy, employer assessments — none of this happens in a vacuum. We’re going to stay engaged, stay pragmatic, and keep pushing for policies that protect the long-term viability of Washington agriculture.