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HB2525 • 2026

Heritage orchard program

Establishing the heritage orchard program.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Representative Mendoza, Representative Springer, Representative Corry, Representative Dufault, Representative Leavitt, Representative Ley, Representative Ybarra, Representative Bernbaum, Representative Chase, Representative Parshley, Representative Manjarrez, Representative Barnard, Representative Macri, Representative Eslick, Representative Nance
Last action
2026-02-12
Official status
H subst for
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Heritage orchard program

Heritage orchard program

What This Bill Does

  • Heritage orchard program

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-12 House

    1st substitute bill substituted.

Official Summary Text

Heritage orchard program

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
AN ACT Relating to establishing the heritage orchard program; 1
adding a new section to chapter 28B.30 RCW; and creating a new 2
section. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that the apple 5
is intertwined with the history of Washington and the United States. 6
American propagation of apples began as early as the 1600s and by 7
1900, there were approximately 20,000 known varieties of apples 8
across North America.9
(2) The legislature further finds that: 10
(a) Since 1900, half of North America's known apple varieties 11
have become extinct; and 12
(b) Dedicated Washingtonians have discovered at least 29 13
varieties of apples previously thought to be extinct. Such "lost 14
apples" are often located in small orchards originally planted on 15
homesteads or other family farms. 16
(3) It is, therefore, the intent of the legislature to create a 17
heritage orchard program to support the conservation of rare apple 18
varieties and to preserve this element of Washington's history.19
H-2943.1
HOUSE BILL 2525
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Mendoza, Springer, Corry, Dufault, Leavitt, Ley,
Ybarra, Bernbaum, Chase, Parshley, Manjarrez, Barnard, Macri, Eslick,
and Nance
Read first time 01/16/26. Referred to Committee on Postsecondary
Education & Workforce.
p. 1 HB 2525
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28B.30 1
RCW to read as follows: 2
(1) Washington State University shall establish a heritage 3
orchard program. At minimum, the heritage orchard program must:4
(a) Maintain a registry of heritage orchards in Washington;5
(b) Provide resources to preserve heritage orchards;6
(c) Propagate rare and lost apple cultivars for backyard and 7
commercial production; and 8
(d) Develop and maintain a list of rare and lost apple varieties.9
(2) For the purposes of this section, "heritage orchard" means:10
(a) An orchard with at least five apple trees that are more than 11
74 years old; or 12
(b) At least one tree of a rare or lost apple variety, as defined 13
by the heritage orchard program. 14
--- END ---
p. 2 HB 2525