Rep. Kevin Waters introduces three bills including legislation that would benefit Washington lumber mills

Rep. Kevin Waters introduces three bills, including legislation supporting Washington lumber mills, septic engineers, and breweries. Photo courtesy kevinwaters.houserepublicans.wa.gov

House Bill 1726 would prioritize lumber and wood products from Washington state lumber mills for the purpose of public works projects

17th District legislator, Rep. Kevin Waters, has introduced several new bills in the 2025 session, including one that could significantly impact the Washington timber industry, especially lumber mills.

House Bill 1726 would prioritize lumber and wood products from Washington state lumber mills for the purpose of public works projects.

“This is a big deal to our mills,” said Waters, R-Stevenson. “Prioritizing Washington mills over other mills around the country is a no-brainer. We need to do everything we can to help our mills stay in business and keep our millworkers employed.”

Under HB 1726, whenever the state, a school district, or a municipality has a construction project that uses more than $500,000 of state money, they would have to buy lumber and wood products from Washington mills first. If they could not source it from a Washington mill, they would have to try Oregon next, and if not available there, then the rest of the country, and lastly other countries.”

HB 1726 has been referred to the House Capital Budget Committee, where it waits for a hearing.

Waters is also sponsoring House Bill 1104, which would add a septic engineer to the state board of wastewater engineers.

“Septic systems are widely used in my district, so I’m aware of the work septic engineers do,” said Waters. “This is a simple, commonsense bill that would give septic engineers a rightful voice at the table.”

The House Consumer Protection and Business Committee has already voted HB 1104 out of committee, and now it waits for a vote from the entire House to advance further.

The House Consumer Protection and Business Committee also held a public hearing on House Bill 1602 on Wednesday. The legislation would allow alcohol producers, including breweries, to sub out their kitchen space.

“This bill would help several breweries in limbo, specifically one in Vancouver, that literally cannot open their space until the Liquor Control Board gets this matter fixed,” noted Waters.

Currently, a brewery must meet specific food service requirements if it wants to operate a new location using a restaurant liquor license. However, in most cases, breweries that make and sell beer are not restauranteurs.

“Many would-be breweries are stuck because of the different rules and requirements. This legislation would help them overcome the final hurdle to open for business,” said Waters. “Most breweries do not employ people with restaurant experience or qualifications and don’t want to. They simply want to hire another business to take care of that for them.”

If HB 1602 becomes law, it would allow breweries to subcontract the restaurant part of their business to individuals or entities better suited for running the food service side.

The bill now waits for a vote from the committee.

The 2025 legislative session began on Jan. 13 and will run for 105 consecutive days.

Information provided by Washington State House Republicans, houserepublicans.wa.gov