Gov. Christine Gregoire signed Senate Bill 6423 Thursday afternoon, clarifying in state law that farmers and their employees are not required to possess commercial driver’s licenses under certain conditions. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, received unanimous support from the Washington State Senate and passed the House of Representatives97-1.

“It’s a tough time in our state right now, and the ag community doesn’t need to bear any more of a burden than it already has,” King said after the bill’s signing. “Our state’s farmers and farm workers won’t have to worry about breaking the law any longer and can now concentrate on moving their products and equipment to continue driving our economy forward.”

King’s bill broadens the definition of “farm vehicle” as it applies to the state’s motor-vehicle code. The new, broader definition allows farmers and their employees to transport their products and equipment anywhere that is necessary to continue successful farming operations without fear of a traffic citation by law enforcement.

“The law being changed clarifies that a farmer would no longer need a commercial driver’s license to use farm vehicles for transporting ag products, farm machinery or supplies from a farm to a storage facility,” King added. “In a legislative session where we saw so many bills that seemed to attack our state’s ag community, I’m very pleased to see this one to help our farmers become law.”

The new law will take effect June 7.