Nate’s Notes: Senate approves food security bill, Evergreen State Fairgrounds sees upgrades, farmers market boot camp scheduled

Food security bill passes State Senate

HB 2238, which authorizes the Washington State Department of Agriculture to develop a strategy for statewide food security to end hunger, reduce diet-related health disparities and increase agricultural viability and supply chain resilience, passed the Senate March 5 with 45 state senators voting for the bill and three voting against it. The bill heads to the governor’s office.

The strategy will define food security in terms of food access, agricultural viability and supply chain resilience. The bill requires metrics be developed and includes a framework for maintaining annually updated data for state and federal investments across the state’s hunger safety net, according to the bill.

The bill on Feb. 10 passed the State House 82-12.