Posted January 13, 2015
The Indiana Senate Agriculture Committee delayed a bill vote that would give the state more power deciding the fate of confined animal feeding, according to an IndyStar article available here. The Shelbyville News also published an article available hereand The Republic here.
State Sen. Jean Leising’s Senate Bill 249 would “prevent a county, municipality or township from adopting an ordinance, resolution, rule, policy or other requirement that prohibits building any livestock structure, so long as it’s to be built in an area zoned for agriculture and the operator follows state laws.”
Senate Bill 249 is under scrutiny over concerns it will eliminate local authority, according to Shelby News.
“I have been one of the strongest defenders of local government in the statehouse,” said Sen. Leising.
Sen. Leising stated that the bill addresses the concerns that many counties have taken local action to prevent the construction of livestock buildings, according to The Republic.
County commissioners are concerned the bill will set a precedent, according to Shelby News.
“They want to make sure these decisions continue to reside where they have historically, and that’s at the local level,” said lobbyist William Moreau.
For more information on farm bills, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
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