HB 1707 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Establishing a review process before the state noxious weed control board may list certain agricultural crops as noxious weeds.

HB 1707 requires the state noxious weed control board to consult a work group - including agricultural producers and a board member - before listing agricultural crops as noxious weeds. The bill amends state law to mandate that the board consider scientific data on invasive risks and existing economic benefits of crops, and to provide a formal review process for proposed listings. This directly affects farmers and agricultural producers by ensuring their input is formally integrated into decisions about crop listings. The law creates a structured procedure where the board must wait for work group recommendations before taking action on agricultural crop designations.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Feb 19, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill → Substitute Bill · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered and its title updated to reflect a 'Substitute' version. The core policy change restricts the state noxious weed control board from listing agricultural crops as noxious weeds until they have received recommendations from a work group that includes affected agricultural producers. This replaces a previous requirement for a mandatory public hearing with a more flexible process where the board must simply receive the work group's recommendations before taking action.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on the listing process for agricultural crops, but the procedural requirements for the state noxious weed control board have been modified to prioritize work group recommendations over mandatory public hearings.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the requirement for a public hearing to a requirement that the board receive recommendations from a work group including agricultural producers before listing crops.

Updated the legislative intent language to reflect that the board must 'consider' recommendations rather than just hold hearings on them.

Added a new clause allowing the guidelines to provide for exceptions in noxious weed listings.

TIMELINE

Removed specific language about conducting a public hearing, shifting the timeline to depend on when the work group submits its recommendations.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that the work group convened by the department of agriculture must include affected agricultural producers and one board member.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 10:30 AM.

lower

Feb 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 10:30 AM.

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor