Sen. Judy Warnick's cattle tracking bill signed by governor
Governor Jay Inslee signs the Sen. Judy Warnick bill that introduces electronic cattle tracking. From left with the governor are: Kirk Robinson, acting Deputy Director for Dept. of Ag, Steve Fuller, Policy Asst. to the Director, Jack Field, WA Cattlemen's Assoc., Monty Dent, Dana Dent, Representative Dent, Senator Warnick, Hanna Castro, Kyle Lynch, Sen. Warnick's Legislative Assistant.
OLYMPIA - Thirteenth District Sen. Judy Warnick's Senate Bill 5733, a new law that allows increased flexibility for the cattle industry by implementing an electronic livestock transaction system, was signed by Gov. Jay Inslee recently.
"This legislation provides more flexibility for dairies and modernizes the way the state manages animal disease traceability programs," said Warnick, R-Moses Lake. "The law is about increasing efficiency, using technology for better outcomes and food supply safety."
The legislation allows licensees to electronically report cattle transactions as an alternative to mandatory cattle inspection requirements currently in place. The new law also requires the state's Department of Agriculture to provide annual reports to the Legislature on the implementation of the new program.
Jay Gordon of the Washington State Dairy Federation offered, "A big thank to Senator Warnick and Representative Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, on their leadership on this bill."
"The bill is one more step to improving our ability to help protect our farms and rural economies from serious contagious foreign animal diseases," he said.
The law is a result of cooperation between lawmakers, industry leaders and state agencies to improve and modernize reporting of animal disease traceability.
"This bill is important for the safety of the public and the growth of our economy," Dent said. "I've been a passionate advocate for having an effective and accurate system in place to track infected cattle. So I'm glad to see Senate Bill 5733 signed into law."
The Washington Cattlemen's Association expressed appreciation for the leadership and support that the 13th District team of Warnick and Dent displayed to help the cattle industry work Senate Bill 5733 through the legislative process."
"This law will help provide a meaningful tool in traceability", Executive Vice President Jack Field said.