This bill amends RCW 15.36.551 to continue a statewide levy on all milk processed in Washington and requires the director, by rule, to set an assessment (stated as "not to exceed fifty-four one-hundredths of one cent per hundredweight") that, together with a general fund contribution, will support an inspection program to maintain compliance with the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipment pasteurized milk ordinance. The assessment is levied on the operator of the first milk processing plant receiving milk for processing, including plants that process their own milk or receive milk from others, and plants whose monthly assessment totals less than $20 are exempt for that month. All monies collected must be paid to the director by the 20th day of the succeeding month for the previous month's assessments. The bill creates a "dairy inspection account" within the agricultural local fund (RCW 43.23.230) and requires the director to deposit collected funds into that account for use only to provide inspection services to the dairy industry. Unpaid assessments become a lien on property owned by the operator and are to be reported and collected with the same priority as delinquent taxes under chapters 84.60 and 84.64 RCW. The amendment extends the statutory provision through June 30, 2031, takes effect June 30, 2025, and includes an emergency clause declaring immediate necessity. The text does not define who the "director" is or describe the rulemaking process or criteria the director will use to set the specific assessment amount.

If enacted, milk processors in Washington will continue to pay a small, monthly per-hundredweight fee (capped at "fifty-four one-hundredths of one cent per hundredweight") that is collected by the state and put into a new dairy inspection account to pay for inspection services aimed at keeping state milk handling in line with the national pasteurized milk ordinance. The first processor that receives milk for processing is the one billed, plants whose monthly bill is under $20 pay nothing that month, and collected funds must be turned in by the 20th of the following month; the state can place a tax-like lien on an operator’s property for unpaid assessments. The most affected parties are milk processing plant operators, who will continue to face a small, regular assessment and the risk of liens if they fall behind, and the dairy industry, which is likely to see more stable funding for inspections. The director (agency not specified in the text) must set the specific assessment by rule and combine the assessment with general fund money to support the inspection program; the bill does not specify which director that is or exactly how the assessment amount will be determined, which leaves some implementation details uncertain. The change takes effect June 30, 2025 and the section expires June 30, 2031.