Rural Lobbyist: Clean-up bills make clean sweep through committees.

January 20, 2016 – By #South Dakota Farmer Union

 Much like in sessions past, many committees kicked of this year’s legislative sessions with “clean-up” legislation from the state’s numerous departments. In the House Ag and Natural Resources Committee and on the House floor, three clean-up bills were passed unanimously by its members. These bills include:

HB 1018 define certain terms related to commercial fertilizer and soil amendments. House bill 1018 created a sub definition under commercial fertilizer to define “manipulated manure.” This definition includes “any animal or vegetable manure collected or stored in a manner consistent with practices commonly implemented in agricultural production that has been subjected to practices including composting, mechanical dewatering, or pelletizing or altered in any way to change chemical, physical, or biological characteristics.” 

HB 1019revise certain provisions related to milk sampling and grading licenses and tester and grader licenses. This bill simply changed when the sampling and grading licenses would need to be renewed each year. If passed, all licenses would be valid for one year and be terminated July 1st of each year. 

HB 1020revise certain provisions concerning fire prevention and compacts related to the prevention and control of forest fires. House bill 1020 attempts to amend state statute relating to fire prevention compacts. The new language would allow for cooperation in the prevention and control of forest fires with Canada and its provinces.  

All three bills, having passed committee and the House floor will make their way to the Senate. These bill will most likely be heard in the Senate Ag and Natural Resources Committee. 

*It should also be noted that Senate bill 23 extending the time allowed for conditional land exchanges was amended and passed unanimously out of the Senate Ag and Natural Resources Committee and awaits decision on the Senate floor.

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Last Modified: 01/20/2016 11:05:21 pm MST