Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington HB2343: Game farm/water quality
Status: Passed one chamber, March 12, 2026
Protecting the public from water quality impacts of publicly owned or operated game farms.
What the bill says
An act Relating to protecting the public from water quality impacts of publicly owned or operated game farms; adding a new section to chapter 77.12 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 90.48 RCW; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT Relating to protecting the public from water quality impacts of publicly owned or operated game farms; adding a new section to chapter 77.12 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 90.48 RCW; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1)(a) The legislature finds that protecting public health and the safety of drinking water supplies is a fundamental responsibility of the state. In 2024 and 2025, groundwater monitoring conducted by Lewis county, the city of Centralia, and the department of fish and wildlife identified nitrate concentrations in multiple private drinking water wells in the Fords Prairie area that exceeded the federal maximum contaminant level for nitrates. Subsequent investigations, including the Bob Oke game farm groundwater investigation completed in November 2025, determined that multiple sources contribute nitrates to the aquifer, and confirmed that manure generated by pheasants at the Bob Oke game farm is a contributing source of nitrate loading to groundwater. (b) The legislature further finds that, although the department of ecology administers a concentrated animal feeding operation permit program to prevent manure and nutrient pollution from animal feeding operations, the current rule-based thresholds do not expressly include state-operated game farms or other facilities raising pheasants or similar game birds. As a result, these facilities are not required to obtain concentrated animal feeding operation permits, even when …
Sponsors
- Peter Abbarno (R) · primary sponsor
- Ed Orcutt (R)
- Cyndy Jacobsen (R)
- Virginia Graham (R)
Latest actions
- : By resolution, returned to House Rules Committee for third reading.
- : Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 1:30 PM.
- : Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 1:30 PM.
- : First reading, referred to Agriculture & Natural Resources.
- : Third reading, passed; yeas, 97; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.
- : Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
- : 1st substitute bill substituted
- : Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
- : Referred to Rules 2 Review.
- : ENVI - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
Votes
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (February 17, 2026): 97 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Committee on Environment & Energy: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass (January 29, 2026): 21 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: FISH AND WILDLIFE, DEPARTMENT OF
Common questions
- What is HB2343?
- HB2343 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Game farm/water quality.
- What does HB2343 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to protecting the public from water quality impacts of publicly owned or operated game farms; adding a new section to chapter 77.12 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 90.48 RCW; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION.
- What is the status of HB2343?
- Passed one chamber as of March 12, 2026. Latest action: By resolution, returned to House Rules Committee for third reading. (March 12, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB2343?
- Peter Abbarno (R), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB2343?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2343&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.