HB 1775 — Prohibiting activities related to the production and manufacturing of fur products.

H-1543.2H-0010.1 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1775 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By House Agriculture & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Walen, Parshley, Ramel, Springer, Peterson, Fosse, Ormsby, Pollet, Macri, Hill, and Leavitt)Leavitt READRead FIRSTfirst TIMEtime 02/21/25.02/03/25.

Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources.

amending RCW 16.72.01016.72.010; and 16.72.020;

creating a new section;

repealing RCW 16.72.020, 16.72.030, and 16.72.040;

NEW SECTION.

(1) The legislature finds that the demand for products made of animal fur has been in decline and that the fur industry represents a very small portion of Washington's economy.

For example, according to the United States department of agriculture, mink pelt production decreased 15 percent from 2018 to 2019, and the value of mink pelts produced decreased 30 percent in the same time frame.

In Washington, mink pelt production accounted for only 1.4 percent of total production in the United States in 2018, decreasing to less than one percent in 2019.

(2) The legislature finds that there are growing concerns for the welfare of the animals used in fur farming.

For instance, there are no federal or state humane slaughter laws that regulate the industry.

In addition, there are significant concerns related to the environmental impact of fur farming.

For these and other reasons, the p.

1 HB 1775 legislature finds that it is in the public interest to end fur trading and farming.

(3) Recognizing the harmful impacts on animals and the environment, the legislature intends to end fur farming, to provide assistance to existing farmers transitioning to other types of farming or livelihood, and to end the production and manufacture of fur products in Washington by 2026.

Sec.

2.

"Director" means director of agriculture.))agriculture. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Department" means the department of agriculture.agriculture.)) The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(2)(1) "Director""Fur" means theany directoranimal ofskin agriculture.or part thereof with hair, fleece, or fur fibers attached thereto, either in its raw or processed state.

(3)(2) "Fur""Fur farming" means anybreeding, animalraising, skinand orrearing partof thereofmink, withmarten, hair,fox, fleece,and orchinchilla fur fibers attached thereto, either in itscaptivity raw or processedenclosures. state.

(4)(3)(a) "Fur farming"product" means breeding,any raising,article andof rearingclothing or covering for any part of mink,the marten,body, fox,or any fashion accessory including, but not limited to, handbags, shoes, slippers, hats, earmuffs, scarves, shawls, gloves, jewelry, keychains, toys or trinkets, and chinchillahome accessories and decor, that is made in captivitywhole or enclosures.in part of fur.

(5)(a) "Fur product" means any article of clothing or covering for any part of the body, or any fashion accessory including, but not p.

1 SHB 1775 limited to, handbags, shoes, slippers, hats, earmuffs, scarves, shawls, gloves, jewelry, keychains, toys or trinkets, and home accessories and decor, that is made in whole or in part of fur.

(6)(4) "Person" includes any individual, firm corporation, trust, association, copartnership, society, or other organization of individuals and any other business unit, devicedevice, , or arrangement.

(7)(5) "Produce or manufacture" means to engage in any activity related to processing raw materials to create a fur product for distribution or sale.

(8)p. "Taxidermy" means the practice of preparing, stuffing, and mounting the skin, in lifelike form, of any fish, reptile, amphibian, bird, or mammal.

(9)2 "UltimateHB consumer"1775 (6) "Taxidermy" means athe personpractice whoof buyspreparing, forstuffing, theirand ownmounting use,the orskin, forin thelifelike useform, of another,any butfish, notreptile, foramphibian, resalebird, or trade.mammal.

(10)(7) "Used"Ultimate furconsumer" product" means fura inperson anywho formbuys thatfor hastheir beenown wornuse, or usedfor bythe anuse ultimateof consumer.another, but not for resale or trade.

(8) "Used fur product" means fur in any form that has been worn or used by an ultimate consumer.

2.3.

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a person may notneither produceparticipate orin manufacturefur afarming, furnor product,produce or fur-relatedmanufacture product,a made from farmed fur unlessproduct. the fur is sourced from a farm that is a member of an organization that recognizes a professional certification program that includes animal welfare and environmental standards, and is fully in compliance with inspection and certification requirements.

p.(b) A fur product used for traditional tribal, cultural, or spiritual purposes by a member of a federally recognized Native American tribe;

2 SHB 1775 (b) A fur product used for traditional tribal, cultural, or spiritual purposes by a member of a federally recognized Native American tribe;

and (d) TheA manufactureproduct ofwhere furall productsof tothe befur used in fishingits gear;production is from a used fur product.

and (e) A product where all of the fur used in its production is from a used fur product.

3.4.

Grant funds may be used only for technical assistance, permitting, new facility construction, equipment,p. and labor costs associated with transitioning out of fur farming.

3 HB 1775 equipment, and labor costs associated with transitioning out of fur farming.

4.5.