reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
WA Rev Code § 89.08.530 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 89 - Reclamation, Soil Conservation, and Land Settlement|Chapter 89.08 - Conservation Districts.|89.08.530 - Agricultural conservation easements program.

RCW 89.08.530 Agricultural conservation easements program.(1) The agricultural conservation easements program is created. The state conservation commission shall manage the program and adopt rules as necessary to implement the legislature's intent.(2) The commission shall report to the legislature on an ongoing basis regarding potential funding sources for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements under the program and recommend changes to existing funding authorized by the legislature.(3) All funding for the program shall be deposited into the agricultural conservation easements account created in RCW 89.08.540. Expenditures from the account shall be made to local governments and private nonprofits on a match or no match required basis at the discretion of the commission. Moneys in the account may be used to purchase easements in perpetuity or to purchase or lease easements for a fixed term.(4) Easements purchased with money from the agricultural conservation easements account run with the land.[ 2007 c 352 § 4; 2002 c 280 § 2.]NOTES:Intent—2002 c 280: "Among the rising costs that are increasingly driving Washington farmers out of business is the cost of land. Many of our oldest, well-established farms, often on the fringes of established communities, are under growing pressure to be sold for uses other than agriculture. In the face of these rising land costs, new farmers are finding it increasingly difficult to be able to afford to purchase farmland.At the same time, the conversion of these prime farmlands to development costs our communities open and green space, reduces our access to local quality food, diminishes our cultural and historic roots, often represents a fiscal loss for governments, and frequently results in environmental costs including reduced flood detention, loss of surface water filtration, diminished aquifer recharge, loss of habitat and connective wildlife migration corridors, and loss of opportunities to protect riparian lands.These concerns, among others, are leading the federal government and local jurisdictions around our state to provide funding for local programs to purchase agricultural conservation easements that help keep farmers in farming and farmland in agriculture. It is the intent of the legislature to create a Washington purchase of agricultural conservation easements program that will facilitate the use of federal funds, ease the burdens of local governments launching similar programs at the local level, and help local governments fight the conversion of agricultural lands they have not otherwise protected through their planning processes." [ 2002 c 280 § 1.]
WA Rev Code § 89.08.540 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 89 - Reclamation, Soil Conservation, and Land Settlement|Chapter 89.08 - Conservation Districts.|89.08.540 - Agricultural conservation easements account.

RCW 89.08.540 Agricultural conservation easements account.(1) The agricultural conservation easements account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from legislative appropriations, other sources as directed by the legislature, and gifts, grants, or endowments from public or private sources must be deposited into the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the purchase of easements in perpetuity or for the purchase or lease of easements for a fixed term under the agricultural conservation easements program. Only the state conservation commission, or the executive director of the commission on the commission's behalf, may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.(2) The commission is authorized to receive and expend gifts, grants, or endowments from public or private sources that are made available, in trust or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the agricultural conservation easements program.[ 2007 c 352 § 5; 2002 c 280 § 3.]NOTES:Intent—2002 c 280: See note following RCW 89.08.530.
WA Rev Code § 89.08.550 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 89 - Reclamation, Soil Conservation, and Land Settlement|Chapter 89.08 - Conservation Districts.|89.08.550 - Conservation assistance revolving account.

RCW 89.08.550 Conservation assistance revolving account.(1) The conservation assistance revolving account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. Moneys from the account may only be spent after appropriation. Moneys placed in the account shall include principal and interest from the repayment of any loans granted under this section, and any other moneys appropriated to the account by the legislature. Expenditures from the account may be used only to make loans to landowners for projects enrolled in the conservation reserve enhancement program and the continuous conservation reserve program.(2) In order to aid the financing of conservation reserve enhancement program projects and continuous conservation reserve program projects, the conservation commission, through the conservation districts, may make interest-free loans to these enrollees from the conservation assistance revolving account. The conservation commission may require such terms and conditions as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. Loans to landowners shall be for costs associated with the installation of conservation improvements eligible for and secured by federal farm service agency practice incentive payment reimbursement. Loans under this program promote critical habitat protection and restoration by bridging the financing gap between project implementation and federal funding. The conservation commission shall give loan preferences to those projects expected to generate the greatest environmental benefits and that occur in basins with critical or depressed salmonid stocks. Money received from landowners in loan repayments made under this section shall be paid into the conservation assistance revolving account for uses consistent with this section.[ 2005 c 30 § 1; 2004 c 277 § 901.]NOTES:Severability—2004 c 277: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 2004 c 277 § 919.]Effective dates—2004 c 277: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [April 1, 2004], except for sections 117 and 202 of this act, which take effect April 16, 2004." [ 2004 c 277 § 920.]
WA Rev Code § 89.08.560 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 89 - Reclamation, Soil Conservation, and Land Settlement|Chapter 89.08 - Conservation Districts.|89.08.560 - Farm plans—Disclosure of information.

RCW 89.08.560 Farm plans—Disclosure of information.(1) Conservation districts, before developing a farm plan, shall inform the landowner or operator in writing of the types of information that is [are] subject to disclosure to the public under chapter 42.56 RCW. Before completion of the final draft of a farm plan, the district shall send the final draft farm plan to the requesting landowner or operator for verification of the information. The final farm plan shall not be disclosed by the conservation district until the requesting owner or operator confirms the information in the farm plan and a signed copy of the farm plan is received by the conservation district.(2) For the purposes of this section and RCW 42.56.270, "farm plan" means a plan prepared by a conservation district in cooperation with a landowner or operator for the purpose of conserving, monitoring, or enhancing renewable natural resources. Farm plans include, but are not limited to, provisions pertaining to:(a) Developing and prioritizing conservation objectives;(b) Taking an inventory of soil, water, vegetation, livestock, and wildlife;(c) Implementing conservation measures, including technical assistance provided by the district;(d) Developing and implementing livestock nutrient management measures;(e) Developing and implementing plans pursuant to business and financial objectives; and(f) Recording, or records of, decisions.[ 2006 c 369 § 1.]
WA Rev Code § 89.08.570 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 89 - Reclamation, Soil Conservation, and Land Settlement|Chapter 89.08 - Conservation Districts.|89.08.570 - Crop purchase contracts for dedicated energy crops.

RCW 89.08.570 Crop purchase contracts for dedicated energy crops.In addition to any other authority provided by law, conservation districts are authorized to enter into crop purchase contracts for a dedicated energy crop for the purposes of producing, selling, and distributing biodiesel produced from Washington state feedstocks, cellulosic ethanol, and cellulosic ethanol blend fuels.[ 2007 c 348 § 207.]NOTES:Findings—2007 c 348: See RCW 43.325.005.
WA Rev Code § 89.08.580 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 89 - Reclamation, Soil Conservation, and Land Settlement|Chapter 89.08 - Conservation Districts.|89.08.580 - Puget Sound partners.

RCW 89.08.580 Puget Sound partners.When administering water quality and habitat protection grants under this chapter, the commission shall give preference only to Puget Sound partners, as defined in RCW 90.71.010, in comparison to other entities that are eligible to be included in the definition of Puget Sound partner. Entities that are not eligible to be a Puget Sound partner due to geographic location, composition, exclusion from the scope of the Puget Sound action agenda developed by the Puget Sound partnership under RCW 90.71.310, or for any other reason, shall not be given less preferential treatment than Puget Sound partners.[ 2007 c 341 § 29.]NOTES:Effective date—2007 c 341: See RCW 90.71.907.
WA Rev Code § 89.08.590 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 89 - Reclamation, Soil Conservation, and Land Settlement|Chapter 89.08 - Conservation Districts.|89.08.590 - Administering funds—Preference to an evergreen community.

RCW 89.08.590 Administering funds—Preference to an evergreen community.When administering funds under this chapter, the commission shall give preference only to an evergreen community recognized under RCW 76.15.090 in comparison to other entities that are eligible to receive evergreen community designation. Entities not eligible for designation as an evergreen community shall not be given less preferential treatment than an evergreen community.[ 2021 c 209 § 22; 2008 c 299 § 32.]NOTES:Findings—Intent—2021 c 209: See note following RCW 76.15.005.Short title—2008 c 299: See note following RCW 76.15.020.
WA Rev Code § 89.08.610 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 89 - Reclamation, Soil Conservation, and Land Settlement|Chapter 89.08 - Conservation Districts.|89.08.610 - Sustainable farms and fields grant program—Definitions.

RCW 89.08.610 Sustainable farms and fields grant program—Definitions.The definitions in this section apply throughout this section and RCW 89.08.615 through 89.08.635 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Carbon dioxide equivalent emission" means a metric measure used to compare the emission impacts from various greenhouse gases based on their relative radiative forcing effect over a specified period of time compared to carbon dioxide emissions.(2) "Carbon dioxide equivalent impact" means a metric measure of the cumulative radiative forcing impacts of both carbon dioxide equivalent emissions and the radiative forcing benefits of carbon storage.(3) "Commission" means the Washington state conservation commission created in this chapter.(4) "Conservation district" means one or a group of Washington state's conservation districts created in this chapter.[ 2020 c 351 § 2.]NOTES:Findings—Intent—2020 c 351: "The legislature finds that Washington's working agricultural lands are essential to the economic and social well-being of our rural communities and to the state's overall environment and economy. The legislature further finds that different challenges and opportunities exist to expand the use of precision agriculture for different crops in the state by assisting farmers, ranchers, and aquaculturists to purchase equipment and receive technical assistance to reduce their operations' carbon footprint while ensuring that crops and soils receive exactly what they need for optimum health and productivity. Moreover, the legislature finds that opportunities exist to enhance soil health through carbon farming and regenerative agriculture by increasing soil organic carbon levels while ensuring appropriate carbon to nitrogen ratios, and to store carbon in standing trees, seaweed, and other vegetation. Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to provide cost-sharing competitive grant opportunities to enable farmers and ranchers to adopt practices that increase appropriate quantities of carbon stored in and above their soil and to initiate or expand the use of precision agriculture on their farms. This act seeks to leverage and enhance existing state and federal cost-sharing programs for farm, ranch, and aquaculture operations." [ 2020 c 351 § 1.]Public funds—2020 c 351: "No public funds shall be awarded as grants under this act until public funds are appropriated specifically for the sustainable farms and fields grant program." [ 2020 c 351 § 9.]
WA Rev Code § 89.08.620 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 89 - Reclamation, Soil Conservation, and Land Settlement|Chapter 89.08 - Conservation Districts.|89.08.620 - Grant recipients—Prioritization.

RCW 89.08.620 Grant recipients—Prioritization.(1) When prioritizing grant recipients, the commission, in consultation with the department of agriculture, Washington State University, the department of fish and wildlife, and the United States department of agriculture natural resources conservation service, shall seek to maximize the benefits of the grant program by leveraging other state, nonstate, public, and private sources of money. The primary metrics used to rank grant applications must be made public by the commission.(2) The grant program must prioritize or weight projects based on consideration of the individual project's ability to:(a) Increase the quantity of organic carbon in topsoil through practices including, but not limited to, cover cropping, no-till and minimum tillage conservation practices, crop rotations, manure application, biochar application, compost application, and changes in grazing management;(b) Increase the quantity of organic carbon in aquatic soils;(c) Intentionally integrate trees, shrubs, seaweed, or other vegetation into management of agricultural and aquacultural lands, with preference for native vegetation where practicable and appropriate;(d) Reduce or avoid carbon dioxide equivalent emissions in or from soils;(e) Reduce nitrous oxide and methane emissions through changes to livestock or soil management; and(f) Increase usage of precision agricultural practices.(3) The commission shall develop and approve a prioritization metric to guide the distribution of funds appropriated by the legislature for this purpose, with the goal of producing cost-effective carbon dioxide equivalent impact benefits.(4) Applicants that create riparian buffers along waterways, or otherwise benefit fish habitat, must receive an enhanced prioritization compared to other grant applications that perform similarly under the prioritization metrics developed by the commission.(5)(a) Applicants that create or maintain pollinator habitat must receive an enhanced prioritization compared to other grant applications that perform similarly under the prioritization metrics developed by the commission.(b) For the purposes of this subsection, "pollinator habitat" means an area of land that is or may be developed as habitat beneficial for the feeding, nesting, and reproduction of all pollinators, including honey bees, as determined by the department of agriculture.(6) The commission shall downgrade a specific grant proposal within its prioritization metric if the proposal is expected to cause significant environmental damage to fish and wildlife habitat.[ 2021 c 278 § 9; 2020 c 351 § 4.]NOTES:Purpose—Intent—2021 c 278: See note following RCW 43.23.320.Findings—Intent—Public funds—2020 c 351: See notes following RCW 89.08.610.
WA Rev Code § 89.08.625 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 89 - Reclamation, Soil Conservation, and Land Settlement|Chapter 89.08 - Conservation Districts.|89.08.625 - Methods for measuring, estimating, and verifying outcomes.

RCW 89.08.625 Methods for measuring, estimating, and verifying outcomes.(1) The commission shall determine methods for measuring, estimating, and verifying outcomes under the sustainable farms and fields grant program in consultation with Washington State University, the department of agriculture, and the United States department of agriculture natural resources conservation service.(2) The commission may require that a grant recipient allow the commission, or contractors hired by the commission, including the Washington State University extension program, access to the grant recipient's property, with reasonable notice, to monitor the results of the project or projects funded by the grant program on the grant recipient's property.[ 2020 c 351 § 5.]NOTES:Findings—Intent—Public funds—2020 c 351: See notes following RCW 89.08.610.
WA Rev Code § 89.08.630 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 89 - Reclamation, Soil Conservation, and Land Settlement|Chapter 89.08 - Conservation Districts.|89.08.630 - Reports to the legislature and governor—Updates—Evaluations.

RCW 89.08.630 Reports to the legislature and governor—Updates—Evaluations.(1) By October 15, 2021, and every two years thereafter, the commission shall report to the legislature and the governor on the performance of the sustainable farms and fields grant program.(2) The commission shall update at least annually a public list of projects and pertinent information including a summary of state and federal funds, private funds spent, landowner and other private cost-share matching expenditures, the total number of projects, and an estimate of carbon sequestered or carbon emissions reduced.(3) By July 1, 2024, the commission, in consultation with Washington State University and the University of Washington, must evaluate and update the most appropriate carbon equivalency metric to apply to the sustainable farms and fields grant program. Until this equivalency is updated by the commission, or unless the commission identifies a better metric, the commission must initially use a one hundred year storage equivalency that can be linearly annualized to recognize the storage of carbon on an annual basis based on the storage of 3.67 tons of biogenic carbon for one hundred years being assigned a value equal to avoiding one ton of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.(4) The grant recipient and other private cost-sharing participants may at their own discretion allow their business or other name to be listed on the public report produced by the commission. All grant recipients must allow anonymized information about the full funding of their project to be made available for public reporting purposes.[ 2020 c 351 § 6.]NOTES:Findings—Intent—Public funds—2020 c 351: See notes following RCW 89.08.610.
WA Rev Code § 89.08.635 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 89 - Reclamation, Soil Conservation, and Land Settlement|Chapter 89.08 - Conservation Districts.|89.08.635 - Sustainable farms and fields account.

RCW 89.08.635 Sustainable farms and fields account.The sustainable farms and fields account is created in the state treasury. All receipts of money directed to the account must be deposited in the account. Expenditures from the account may be used only for purposes relating to the sustainable farms and fields grant program established in RCW 89.08.615. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation.[ 2020 c 351 § 7.]NOTES:Findings—Intent—Public funds—2020 c 351: See notes following RCW 89.08.610.
WA Rev Code § 89.08.640 (2021)
2021 Revised Code of Washington|Title 89 - Reclamation, Soil Conservation, and Land Settlement|Chapter 89.08 - Conservation Districts.|89.08.640 - Habitat for managed and native pollinators—Small grants program.

RCW 89.08.640 Habitat for managed and native pollinators—Small grants program.(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the commission is authorized to develop an ongoing small grants program to provide funding to the conservation districts to educate residents and community groups in urban, suburban, and rural nonfarm areas about the value of habitat for both managed and native pollinators, and to provide the necessary technical and financial assistance and materials to create it.(2) Educational efforts should include the benefits of habitat diversity, especially pollen-rich and nectar-rich flowering forbs and shrubs. Preference for pollinator plants should be given to native plants or noninvasive, nonnative plants.(3) Planting projects should provide diverse native or nonnative, noninvasive plants of high quality for pollinator foraging, nesting, and overwintering, as determined by site suitability. Options may include, but are not limited to, bee or eco-lawns, flowering meadow gardens, xeriscaping, shrub plantings, tree plantings, rain gardens, riparian restoration, and other pollinator-friendly landscaping.(4) Criteria to rank applicants should include a detailed budget demonstrating funding needs, resource concerns addressed, value to at-risk native pollinators, multiple-use benefits of habitat, planned project longevity, and plans for long-term maintenance.[ 2021 c 278 § 10.]NOTES:Purpose—Intent—2021 c 278: See note following RCW 43.23.320.