KGMI News
OLYMPIA, Wash. – A bill to address the state Supreme Court’s Hirst decision out of Whatcom County was introduced on the legislature’s first day in session.
The court’s decision effectively limited the water rights of rural Washington property owners.
The senate bill, sponsored by Sequim democrat Kevin Van De Wege, would allow property owners to drill new wells and withdraw enough well water for typical household use while their communities develop and adopt plans to permanently govern usage.
Under the proposal, counties would have up to five years to implement new watershed plans. The bill is currently in committee.
Lawmakers are also working to comply with a 2012 state Supreme Court ruling requiring them to fully fund the state’s basic education system.
The court has told them that while a plan passed last year was sufficient, it needs to be fully implemented this year, instead of 2019 as lawmakers wanted.
The legislature also needs to address a roughly $4 billion capital budget that has been held up by a dispute over the Hirst decision.