OLYMPIA - The state House passed a bill clarifying farm workers don't need a commercial driver's license (CDL) when hauling agricultural products and equipment from farms to storage.

Substitute Senate Bill 6423 now goes to Gov. Chris Gregoire for her signature after a vote of 97 to 1.

Sen. Janéa Holmquist Newbry, R-Moses Lake, who cosponsored the legislation, thanked Chris Voigt, Matt Harris, and other Washington State Potato Commission members for bringing the issue forward as well as the Washington Farm Bureau for supporting the bill.

"This bill will save our farm employers from having to pay thousands of dollars for a CDL that would only be used for a few weeks each year at harvest," stated Holmquist Newbry.

Current state law dictates drivers of commercial motor vehicles must obtain a CDL. Farmers operating farm vehicles used to transport agricultural products, farm machinery or supplies to or from a farm are exempt from the CDL requirement.

Holmquist Newbry said the Motor Vehicles Code defines a farm vehicle as one going from one farm to another, sometimes causing confusion for law enforcement.

The bill revises the definition of a "farm vehicle" in the Motor Vehicle Code, bringing it into conformity with the use of the term within the specific CDL exemption.

"I am happy we passed this common-sense bill bringing clarity to state law, predictability for farm employers and a clear guideline to the Washington State Patrol," Holmquist Newbry stated.