Washington Democrats want to tax cow farts—yes, really
First, they came for your gas stove. Now, they’re coming for your cheeseburger.
Just when you thought Washington Democrats couldn’t come up with another way to tax the life out of this state, they’ve set their sights on a new revenue source: cow farts.
That’s right—while crime is rising, families are struggling with inflation, and Olympia continues hoarding billions from the disastrous Climate Commitment Act (CCA), state lawmakers have decided that the real crisis is methane emissions from cows.
Introducing House Bill 1630 (HB 1630), a bill that would require dairy farms and feedlots to report the amount of gas their cows release each year. Supporters claim this is just about collecting data, but let’s be honest—when has Washington ever stopped at data collection?
This bill could pave the way for the first-ever tax on livestock emissions in the United States. Yes, Washington is now leading the nation in taxing farm animals for existing.
What’s in the Bill?
HB 1630 forces farmers to report how much methane their livestock emit. If their emissions exceed 25,000 metric tons of CO₂-equivalent gases, they could be classified as a “covered entity” under the state’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA)—meaning they could be forced to buy carbon credits just to keep their farm afloat.
Translation? A cow tax.
Rep. Joe Schmick (R-Colfax) isn’t buying the “just data collection” argument, warning:
“If they find that there was sufficient methane equivalent to 25,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions, these facilities would likely come under the Climate Commitment Act as covered entities.”
Once that happens, farms will have to pay into the state’s cap-and-trade system—just for having livestock.
Washington’s War on Farmers
This isn’t happening in a vacuum. This is just the latest assault on Washington’s agricultural industry.
First, farmers were misled into thinking they were exempt from the Climate Commitment Act—only to get slammed with carbon fees anyway. Then, state regulators made it nearly impossible for farmers to qualify for those exemptions. And now? They want a tax on cows.
And here’s the bigger problem: Washington is already losing farms at an alarming rate.
🚜 In the last five years, roughly 3,700 farms have shut down in Washington—that’s about two per day.
🚜 Farmers are barely surviving thanks to skyrocketing fuel, fertilizer, and compliance costs.
🚜 The state is regulating farms to death while pretending to support “climate-friendly agriculture.”
Washington’s agriculture sector feeds this state. But instead of supporting farmers, Olympia’s politicians are treating them like environmental criminals.
Big Government: “Trust Us, It’s Just Data”
The bill’s sponsor, Democratic Rep. Lisa Parshley (D-Olympia), insists this isn’t a tax. She claims HB 1630 is simply about “collecting accurate data” to inform environmental policy.
“I think data is a very good way to do policy. If you don’t have data, you’re making policy based on assumption.”
Sure, Rep. Parshley—just like how Washington’s gas tax was “only for fixing roads” and the income tax was “only for the rich.” Because nothing says “definitely not a tax” like forcing farmers to track methane emissions while Democrats sit in Olympia waiting for another revenue source to milk.
And Rep. Mark Klicker (R-Walla Walla) called them out for their hypocrisy, joking that if Washington is so obsessed with methane emissions, maybe we should start by taxing Seahawks games and Mariners fans.
“I can guarantee you, somewhere in this room, there is methane being produced.”
(And honestly, he’s not wrong.)
What’s Next? A Tax on People Breathing?
If you think this stops at cows, just wait.
First, it was your gas-powered car. Then, your gas stove. Now, your cheeseburger. What’s next—a tax on Taco Tuesday?
At this rate, Washington Democrats won’t stop until they’ve taxed the very air we breathe.
What Can You Do?
If you’re sick of these never-ending taxes and regulations, it’s time to push back:
✅ Call Your Legislators – Demand they vote NO on HB 1630.
✅ Support Washington’s Farmers – Because if they go under, so does your food supply.
✅ Stay Informed – Subscribe to The Steelhead Alliance and help expose these ridiculous policies before they become law.
Washington Democrats are coming for your cheeseburger. Are you going to let them?