John Braun — John Braun is introduced as being present and scheduled to testify, then delivers his opening remarks on the bill. He explains that the proposal was developed from the experience of fishermen in southwest Washington and informed by similar programs in Oregon and Alaska. He acknowledges disagreement with the fiscal note but says there is not time or funding to debate it, asks for the committee’s support, and offers to answer questions. A possible striking amendment is also mentioned in connection with the bill.
SB6241 — Senate Bill 6241 is presented as a bill to enhance steelhead populations by directing the Department of Fish and Wildlife to implement a wild broodstock conservation program and develop hatchery management plans through rulemaking. Staff outlines the program and notes a fiscal note of $14.6 million in FY 2027. Senator Braun introduces the bill, acknowledges the high cost, and says a substitute is being considered while still expressing support for moving the program forward. Additional remarks frame the bill as beneficial for fisheries, communities, and local economies, mention a possible striking amendment for Monday’s executive session, and cite research from Oregon and Washington as evidence the approach is working. A witness then testifies in favor, emphasizing volunteer involvement, expanded fishing opportunities, and protection of wild genetics.
SB6241 — The public hearing on Senate Bill 6241 was closed after testimony concluded.
Keith Wagoner — The transcript appears to refer to Senator Wagoner, likely as the questioner; the name is uncertain in the audio and is marked questionable.
Shelly Short — Referenced as Ranking Member Short during witness introduction.
Shelly Short — A question is attributed to Senator Short, likely the ranking member referenced earlier.
Shelly Short — Senator Shelley Short introduced herself as the State Senator for the 7th Legislative District and spoke in support of the Senate Joint Memorial, emphasizing the importance of federal firefighting capacity. She then concluded her remarks by thanking the chair.
Shelly Short — Told about the federal proposal to collapse fire services into one division.
Shelly Short — Senator Short is thanked for support and leadership on the memorial.
Shelly Short — The students say they met with Senator Short earlier in the day.
Shelly Short — The speaker thanks Senator Short for meeting with the students earlier and references a visit to their area.
Shelly Short — Wren addresses her as Ranking Member Short.
Shelly Short — Chair Chapman refers to the next panel after thanking the prior witness; no direct speech by Short in this section.
Shelly Short — The chair, Senator Chapman, is referenced in connection with the county's fiscal outlook; the mentions are overlapping and describe the same context without a change in topic.
Shelly Short — Shelly Short is acknowledged at the start of testimony, then referenced again in connection with the speaker’s district and committee visit, including an invitation to learn more about the project on behalf of Shelly Short and the speaker.
David Moskowitz — His testimony is cut off by the chair due to time limits; he notes the proposal is expensive and lacks a track record.
Nello — The chair calls the next witness, Nello.
Nello Pucinich — Executive director of the Coastal Conservation Association; testifies in support of the bill and emphasizes recreational angling's economic value.
Ryan Swanson — Ryan Swanson is introduced as the next witness, then testifies that he is a recreational fisherman from Seattle and that steelhead opportunities have sharply declined in Puget Sound drainages. He concludes by urging the committee to move the bill out of committee.
Amanda Fox — Amanda Fox is brought into the remote testimony queue, announced as the next witness, and then begins her testimony representing the Animal Research Initiative in Washington State, where she supports SB 6241 as a partial solution to fish population declines.
Amanda Fox — Amanda Fox was introduced as a remote testifier and then delivered testimony on behalf of the Animal Research Initiative. She said her concern with SB 6104 was not its intent but its structure, arguing it was too broad and could protect current practices without adequately addressing transition, health, consumer choice, farmer finances, or ecosystem protection. She urged the committee not to advance the bill in its current form and closed by thanking the committee and inviting questions.
Josh Harold — The chair asks staff to bring Josh Harold into the remote testimony queue.
Jonathan Stomp — The chair asks staff to bring Jonathan Stomp into the remote testimony queue.
SB6241 — Amanda Fox testifies in support of SB 6241, describing it as a necessary but incomplete stopgap measure that can help support fish populations.
SB5851 — The witness urges opposition to SB 5851, saying it unfairly targets pin and pen and predation.
Judy Warnick — The speaker appears to refer to Senator Warnick when saying 'Senator Wagner'; the transcript likely misidentifies her.
Judy Warnick — Senator Short is addressed during the testimony and then engages in a question about the bill, asking which section would prevent modernization or other changes and noting the bill’s focus on preserving farmland.
Judy Warnick — Addressed as part of the committee leadership in the prior context; no new direct mention in this excerpt.
Judy Warnick — Troy Nichols addresses Senator Short and praises the committee's action.
Josh Harrell — Josh Harrell, a recreational angler from southwest Washington, testified in support of angler-led broodstock programs. He said he fishes winter and summer steelhead across Washington and the Oregon coast, especially enjoying the Wilson and Stuck rivers after broodstock programs were implemented, and concluded by thanking the committee for the opportunity to comment.
Jonathan Stump — Testified for Trout Unlimited in opposition to the bill.
SB6104 — The committee moved to Senate Bill 6104 and requested a staff report. Staff then introduced SB 6104, describing it as a bill relating to protecting agriculture, and began summarizing its major provisions, starting with the requirement that agricultural impact statements include specified components.
SB6104 — The hearing on Senate Bill 6104 featured testimony opposing the bill in its current form, mainly due to concerns about expanding the Habitat Conservation Account (HCA) to provide mitigation or financial compensation for lost property. The witness noted that the bill still prioritizes avoiding and mitigating impacts to working lands before using HCA compensation, but the coalition does not currently support it because of uncertainty around the HCA’s expanded use. A senator asked whether removing the HCA portion would make the bill acceptable, and the witness suggested the coalition might support it if that uncertainty were removed. The segment then concluded with a final appeal to pass the legislation and the chair closing the public hearing on SB 6104.
Elena Becker — Committee staff presented the staff report on Senate Bill 6104.
Ron Muzzall — Senator Ron Muzzall was welcomed as the prime sponsor and delivered opening remarks on Senate Bill 6104, arguing that Washington agriculture is under serious economic and regulatory pressure, farms are disappearing, and the state is losing both farmers and the culture that sustains farming. He emphasized that preserving agricultural viability will require difficult decisions and concluded that a farm cannot exist without the farmer. The discussion then briefly shifted to thanks and acknowledgment of his work on the issue in the prior year, remaining within the same bill presentation context.
Ron Muzzall — A senator is addressed by name at the end of the exchange, with the transcript showing an unclear or misspelled version of Senator Muzzall’s name; both mentions refer to the same brief closing address.
Mark Struly — Mark Struly testified in strong support of the bill on behalf of agricultural industry groups, saying it would help protect agricultural viability and encourage agencies to act. He praised the bill’s agricultural viability language and hierarchy for agency consideration, noted that agencies can become siloed, and supported compensation provisions if agricultural viability is no longer possible on affected land. He concluded by expressing hope that the bill would move forward.
Kenton Gartel — Kenton Gartel was brought up as a remote witness and then testified in opposition to SB 6104. He argued the bill is overly focused on agency coordination and procedural measures rather than providing practical help to small farmers. Using his own 25-acre ranch as an example, he described how he turned unused land into a diversified organic ag tourism operation without meaningful state help. He said farms under 50 acres are left without support while larger corporate farms receive subsidies, and he added that fees, inspections, and other market-access requirements make it difficult for small producers to sell at Washington farmers markets. He also noted that he had emailed his testimony to the bill sponsors and legislative representatives.
Yvonne Krause — Named as a remote testifier to be brought up next.
SB6104 — SB 6104 is discussed as the subject of testimony, with speakers focusing on the bill’s requirement to prioritize keeping farmland and minimizing impacts to agricultural operations. The discussion raises concerns about how this mandate could affect modernization efforts, but the core point is that the bill explicitly directs decision-makers to preserve farmland.
Yvonne Krause, Executive Director of the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition — Yvonne Krause, Executive Director of the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition, introduces herself and begins her testimony, stating that the coalition is opposed to Senate Bill 6104 in its current form while indicating support for farmland preservation.
Dave Hedrick — Dave Hedrick is brought into the remote panel and then introduced as the last testifier, with the chair inviting him to begin his testimony.
Laurie Jinkins — The chair is addressed in closing remarks and in the introduction of the final witness.
Dave Hedrick, Ferry Conservation District, Ferry County — Testifies in support of the bill and describes agricultural decline in Ferry County.
Sally Jewell — Sally Jewell is introduced as part of the first in-person panel and then begins her testimony, identifying herself as the former U.S. Secretary of the Interior and noting her roles with Green Diamond and The Nature Conservancy.
Kyle Smith — Kyle Smith was introduced as part of the first in-person panel and then testified as the director of forest management for The Nature Conservancy. He spoke in support of stronger federal wildfire response and greater state investment in wildfire preparedness, describing his leadership of more than 2,500 acres of fuels reduction work in Kittitas County communities and the benefits of that work for both local communities and forests.
Jason Callahan — Jason Callahan is introduced as part of the first in-person panel of testifiers and then comes forward to testify. He identifies himself as working for Green Diamond Resource Company and speaks in support of the joint memorial.
HB1168 — Requested full funding to protect lives, landscapes, and communities and avoid higher future costs.
HB1168 — Greg Kuhl says the bill is projected to save over $8 for every $1 invested and should continue to be funded.
Mel Tanasket — Mel Tanasket of the Colville Confederated Tribes was introduced by the chair and then testified on behalf of the Colville Confederated Tribal Council in support of the bill.