Five to 10 years in prison was the penalty lawmakers in Olympia considered enacting for people who break certain water or air quality laws in Washington state.

Farmers feared a mistake on the farm could be mischaracterized as a deliberate criminal act under the proposed change.

Thankfully, the misguided proposal failed to move forward in Olympia’s current session, and John Stuhlmiller, Washington State Water Resources Association Executive Director, joins Dillon with details.