Washington State Department of Agriculture Pollinator Health Program.  In 2019, the Legislature passed SSB 5552 and directed the Department of Agriculture (WSDA) to establish a program to promote and protect pollinator habitat and the health and sustainability of pollinator species.  The program provides technical and financial assistance to state agencies, local governments, and private landowners to implement practices promoting habitat for managed pollinators, as well as beekeeper and grower best management practices. 

The legislation also directed WSDA to establish a pollinator health task force including representatives from various state agencies, agricultural industries, Washington State University (WSU), pesticide distributors and applicators, conservation organizations, beekeeping organizations, a youth representative, and members of the public.  The task force submitted recommendations to the Legislature in November 2020. 

Pollinator Habitat.  SSB 5552—2019, directed the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Transportation, State Parks, and the Recreation and Conservation Funding Board to consider pollinator habitat when managing lands or habitat.

Legislation passed in 2020 directed the Conservation Commission (commission) to develop a Sustainable Farms and Fields Grant Program (program) in consultation with WSDA, WSU, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service within the United States Department of Agriculture.  The commission must develop and approve a prioritization metric to guide the distribution of funds under the program.

The Open Space Taxation Act allows property owners to have their open space, farm and agricultural, and timber lands valued at their current use rather than at their highest and best use. The act states it is in the best interest of the state to maintain, preserve, conserve, and otherwise continue in existence adequate open space lands for the production of food, fiber, and forest crops and to assure the use and enjoyment of natural resources and scenic beauty for the economic and social well-being of the state and its citizens.

Washington State Department of Agriculture Pollinator Health Program.  The purpose of this act is to implement the recommendations of the Pollinator Health Task Force created in SSB 5552.  WSDA must create and chair a Pollinator Health Task Force that includes representatives from various state agencies, agricultural industries, WSU, pesticide distributors and applicators, conservation organizations, beekeeping organizations, a youth representative from an organization that encourages students in agricultural education, and two members of the public. 

The task force must assist with the development of an implementation plan to implement the state pollinator health strategy and assist with implementation of the recommendations of the previous task force.  WSDA must submit the implementation plan to the Legislature by December 31, 2021.  Additionally, WSDA must:

• develop protocols to increase communication between beekeepers, farmers and growers, and pesticide applicators;
• review education needs related to pollinator education, create a catalog of pollinator health resources, educate the public about blooming nectar plants, and increase availability of pollinator-related resources on the WSDA website and other state agencies' websites as appropriate;
• document the bee species in the state, survey beekeepers whether to expand the apiary program, and provide materials about certification programs that support pollinator health;
• provide economic and environmental impacts of weed listing and pollinator health impacts to county noxious weed control boards;
• continue and maintain partnerships with federal agencies and neighboring states to promote pollinator health;
• increase the availability of pollinator-related resources on WSDA's website; and
• develop guidelines for allowing beekeeping on state managed lands.

The task force expires January 1, 2024.  WSDA must provide information related to implementation of the state pollinator health strategy and a recommendation of whether to extend the task force beyond January 1, 2024, to the Legislature by December 1, 2022. 

 
WSDA must continue to evaluate and update pesticide regulatory and education programs focused on measures to protect pollinator health.  WSDA must also:

• evaluate and adapt pesticide training and drift reduction technical assistance programs to include protection measures for pollinators;
• support WSU’s pesticide education programs incorporation of pollinator protection measures;
• coordinate with WSU on research for reducing pollinator health impacts associated with pesticides and on pesticide-related investigations;
• evaluate and, if necessary, update the pesticide civil penalty matrix related to pollinator death or damage due to the misuse of pesticides and ensure pollinator health protections are included when evaluating either pesticide investigation violations or penalties; and
• evaluate the inclusion of pollinator protection course materials for pesticide license credit issuance.

WSU Extension must develop a pollinator extension education and outreach program and develop a pollinator education plan.  The plan should emphasize pollinator best management practices for both native and managed species.  

 
Pollinator Habitat.  It is unlawful for someone to introduce or move non-native managed bumble bees into Washington to be used in open-field agricultural use.  If a public works project includes landscaping, at least 25 percent of the landscaping must be pollinator habitat.  The Department of Fish and Wildlife must evaluate various restoration techniques with the goal of improving habitat for native pollinators where practicable when making habitat improvements or for riparian restoration.  Applicants that create or maintain pollinator habitat must receive enhanced prioritization under the Sustainable Farms and Fields Grant Program.  The definition of “open space land” for the state Open Space Taxation Act is amended to include pollinator habitat that is managed through habitat management practices described in a conservation plan.