OLYMPIA - Rep. Judy Warnick is celebrating another step toward her goal of updating the state's water laws to better meet the needs of agriculture.

Warnick, R-Moses Lake, said House Bill 1381 will prevent the relinquishment of water rights for water rights holders simply because they are waiting in line to change or transfer their right. Without this exemption, she said, rights holders who do not use all of their allotment after five years could lose their entire allotment.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Christine Gregoire Thursday.

"I'm excited that Governor Gregoire signed this bill, and that we had support from the various groups and both sides of the aisle," stated Warnick. "It's important to understand that if we restrict landowners too much they do not have the freedom to conserve water they are not using. 'Use it or lose it' is a restrictive practice in this state and this bill is a great step toward more common-sense water laws."

Student page David Haley, a freshmen at Moses Lake High School and the son of Gale and Donald Haley, of Moses Lake, attended the bill signing.

"It was a unique opportunity for David to be able to join me for a bill signing, and I'm glad he could be a part of it," Warnick stated. "The governor shook his hand and even gave him one of her bill signing pens. The Page Program is such a great chance for youth to see their government in action, and this was a perfect example of that opportunity. I hope David enjoyed his week in Olympia and will take what he learned here back to his friends and fellow students."