MLIRD bill passes

OLYMPIA - State senators passed an amended version of a bill aiming to reform elections and assessments for the Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District (MLIRD) on Friday.

Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6512 was originally promoted by MLIRD board directors Mick Hansen and Rich Archer, along with former Sen. Harold Hochstatter, and was sponsored by Janea Holmquist Newbry, R-Moses Lake.

The bill received strong bipartisan support in the Senate, passing unanimously through committee in January before receiving a 46 to 1 vote of support from the full Senate Friday.

It will now move to House committee and, if voted on and passed, would see a final vote by the full state House of Representatives sometime before the end of the session in early March.

Rep. Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, said he opposed the bill due to the language and is working to prevent it from being voted on. He spoke via a video conference to Moses Lake residents last week.