The bill establishes a heritage orchard program in Washington State, recognizing the historical significance of apple cultivation in the region. It highlights the alarming decline of apple varieties, noting that half of North America's known apple varieties have become extinct since 1900, while also acknowledging efforts by Washingtonians to rediscover "lost apples" from small orchards. The intent of the legislation is to support the conservation of these rare apple varieties and preserve an important aspect of Washington's agricultural history.

To implement this program, Washington State University is tasked with maintaining a registry of heritage orchards and developing a list of rare and lost apple varieties. A "heritage orchard" is defined as either an orchard with at least five apple trees over 74 years old or containing at least one tree of a rare or lost apple variety. Additionally, the bill stipulates that if specific funding for the program is not provided by June 30, 2026, it will become null and void.