Noxious weeds list/crops

AN ACT Relating to establishing a review process before the state 1
noxious weed control board may list certain agricultural crops as 2
noxious weeds; amending RCW 17.10.080; and creating a new section.3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that effective 5
communication between affected parties and regulators is always 6
important, but especially so at the present time, as agricultural 7
producers and the agricultural economy are under strain. Therefore, 8
the legislature intends to restrict the listing of any agricultural 9
crops as noxious weeds before the state noxious weed control board 10
has the opportunity to hold public hearings on recommendations 11
provided by work groups convened by the department of agriculture and 12
composed of agricultural producers.13
Sec. 2. RCW 17.10.080 and 2011 c 126 s 1 are each amended to 14
read as follows: 15
(1) The state noxious weed control board shall each year or more 16
often, following a hearing, adopt a state noxious weed list.17
(2) The state noxious weed control board shall adopt guidelines 18
by rule for placing plants on the state noxious weed list. These 19
guidelines must include criteria for reconsideration of proposed new 20
H-0914.1
HOUSE BILL 1707
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Dent and Dye
Read first time 01/29/25. Referred to Committee on Agriculture &
Natural Resources.
p. 1 HB 1707
species that were not adopted by the state noxious weed control 1
board, including the need for the board to be presented with 2
additional data from scientific sources regarding any invasive and 3
noxious qualities of the species and from existing positive economic 4
benefits before taking any action. These guidelines must prohibit the 5
listing of agricultural crops as noxious weeds before the board 6
receives, and conducts a public hearing on, recommendations provided 7
by a work group convened by the department of agriculture that has 8
members who include, at a minimum, affected agricultural producers 9
and one member of the board.10
(3) Any person may request during a comment period established by 11
the state noxious weed control board the inclusion, deletion, or 12
designation change of any plant to the state noxious weed list.13
(4) The state noxious weed control board shall send a copy of the 14
list to each activated county noxious weed control board, to each 15
weed district, and to the county legislative authority of each county 16
with an inactive noxious weed control board. 17
(5) The record of rule making must include the written findings 18
of the board for the inclusion of each plant on the list. The 19
findings shall be made available upon request to any interested 20
person. 21
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p. 2 HB 1707