Senator Haugen’s defense of farms earns state bureau’s recognition

OLYMPIA – The Washington Farm Bureau today awarded Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, its Certificate of Commendation for her efforts to protect farmers from groundless complaints.

The bureau’s award recognized Haugen “for her work to preserve our right to farm without interference from illegitimate nuisance complaints.”

Haugen was the lead sponsor of a bill that protects farmers against actions, claims or counterclaims that are found to be unverified or found to have been initiated maliciously and without probable cause. The bill allows a farmer to recover any reasonable costs spent in defending against the action and, depending upon the circumstances, exemplary damages as well.

The bill also requires sellers of property within one mile of a farm to inform prospective buyers of the property’s proximity to farmland and the “ordinary noise, dust, odors” and other common characteristics of farms.

“No farmer can afford to waste time fending off complaints that have no basis in reality,” Haugen said. “This lets them stick to the business of farming, which is their right.”

The legislation, Senate Bill 5962, was signed into law by Gov. Christine Gregoire last spring.

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