Bill sponsored by Rep. Buys to protect hop grower lot information from public disclosure is signed into law
A bill that would exempt from public disclosure trade information related to hop grower lot information was signed by the governor today.
Currently, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) conducts physical grading and chemical analysis of hops, by lot, to verify each crop meets certain quality standards before the department issues export documents. Rep. Vincent Buys, the bill's prime sponsor, says this has left growers exposed to 'unfair competition.'
“Right now, hop grower lot numbers and lab results are publicly disclosable, which leaves the potential for competitors to reverse-engineer export contracts,” said Buys, R-Lynden. “My bill allows growers to avoid potential unfair competition and underbidding while still maintaining high quality standards.”
House Bill 2682 allows hop grower lot numbers and associated laboratory results used by the WSDA to issue export documents to be exempt from public disclosure under the Public Records Act.
The bill will go into effect later this year.
