Dent aims to revamp state law on noxious weed control

A District 13 legislator is leading on a bill to improve noxious weed control in Washington.

Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, said House Bill 1355 came about when the Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board and other local officials wanted to fix and update weed control regulations.

One of the things HB 1355 would address is noxious weeds along interstates, Dent said. Weeds along freeways may spread into neighboring fields with crops such as timothy hay, which is often exported.

“If you get noxious weed in that hay, then you can’t export it,” Dent said in an interview with the Herald. “It’s really important it’s kept clean.”

Class A noxious weeds are non-native with limited distribution and could cause a serious threat, according to the bill’s text. Class B noxious weeds are also non-native but can be found in some areas of the state. Other noxious weeds fall under Class C.

HB 1355 would change the member composition and term of office of the state’s Noxious Weed Control Board. One of the changes would allow the state board to employ an educational specialist.

Changes would also be made to county noxious weed boards, according to the bill’s text. One of the changes would permit a county board to deactivate only if Class A or Class B noxious weeds are nonexistent in the county.

Dent said HB 1355 makes positive changes to noxious weed laws. Controlling noxious weeds would protect farmland and livestock, as many noxious weeds are poisonous.

Other local legislators co-sponsoring the bill include Rep. Mary Dye and Rep. Joe Schmick, both representing Legislative District 9.

Mary Fee, executive secretary for the state Noxious Weed Control Board, testified in support of HB 1355 during a virtual legislative hearing Tuesday. She said the bill updates and clarifies the Revised Code of Washington 17.10.

Fee said RCW 17.10 is the state’s noxious weed law that outlines responsibilities for state and county noxious weed boards. Fee said she started her noxious weed control career in 2009 — even then, there was discussion about updating RCW 17.10.

“HB 1355 is a very well thought out bill,” Fee said.

Rebecca Chaney, a member of the King County Noxious Weed Control Board, also testified in support of HB 1355. She said the bill will allow counties to effectively carry out their mission, which is to protect and preserve agricultural land and resources.

“We have volunteers who spend countless hours on our public lands working to slow the spread of noxious weeds,” Chaney said during the hearing. “This legislation will provide important updates and enhancements to RCW 17.10.”

Representatives had not voted on HB 1355 as of Wednesday.