A comprehensive summary of legislative developments in agriculture by state. Email important additions to: camarigg at uark.edu

PENDING STATE AG LEGISLATION:

AK HB 155: AK MENTAL HEALTH TRUST LAND EXCHANGE. An Act authorizing a land exchange in which Alaska mental health trust land is exchanged for national forest land. Referred to Resources. Rep. Dan Ortiz (UNA-AK).

AR HB 1725: TO TRANSFER VARIOUS STATE AGENCIES TO THE ARKANSAS AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT THROUGH A TYPE 4 TRANSFER. Referred to Committee on State Agencies & Govt’l Affairs. Rep. Dan Douglas (REP-AR).

AR SB 501: TO CREATE PENALTIES UNDER THE STATE PLANT BOARD FOR THE MISUSE OF DICAMBA OR RELATED PRODUCTS; TO LIMIT THE USE OF PENALTIES ABOVE ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,000); AND TO DIRECT MONEYS TO SCHOLARSHIPS AND TRAINING OF PERSONNEL. Referred to Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development. Sen. Blake Johnson (REP-AR).

CA HR 25: NOT TITLED – Relative to Cesar Chavez. Introduced. Assemb. Reyes.

CT HB 7209: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A FARMLAND PURCHASE PROGRAM FOR BEGINNING FARMERS. To establish a farmland purchase and preservation loan program to assist beginning farmers with the purchase of farmland that will be used to conduct agricultural activities and that will be subject to a permanent agricultural easement. Public Hearing March 6. Environment Committee.

FL HB 1217: INDUSTRIAL HEMP PROGRAMS. Authorizes specified state colleges & universities to engage in industrial hemp programs under certain conditions. In Agriculture & Property Rights Subcommittee. Rep. Ralph Massullo (REP-FL).

FL HB 1231: AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES. Exempts certain animal health products from sales & use tax; revises eligibility for certain truck license plates; removes requirement for certain pesticide fees; provides that certain painted marks identify posted land. Filed March 3. Rep. Jake Raburn (REP-FL).

FL HB 1241: SUBDIVIDED LANDS. Establishes priorities for use by certain entities when awarding grants or financial assistance for legacy community projects & programs; requires a portion of specified funds or financial assistance to be awarded to entities who have submitted applications. Rep. Dane Eagle (REP-FL).

FL HB 1357: RECLAIMED WATER. Requires SBA to provide certain water supply investment summary; requires OPPAGA to review & report on water projects; authorizes water reuse incentives; requires water supply plans to include certain projects; requires DEP to make certain reuse recommendations; limits use of Water Protection & Sustainability Program Trust Fund revenues. Filed March 6. Rep. Mel Ponder (REP-FL).

FL SB 1388: MEDICAL CANNABIS. Authorizing physicians to issue physician certifications for medical cannabis or cannabis delivery devices, instead of ordering low-THC cannabis, for patients suffering from a debilitating medical condition; deleting provisions requiring successful completion of a specified course and examination by a physician who orders low-THC cannabis and by a medical director of a dispensing organization; requiring the Department of Health to register medical marijuana treatment centers, rather than to authorize the establishment of dispensing organizations, etc. Filed March 1. Sen. Frank Artiles (REP-FL).

FL SB 1536: AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES. Exempting prescription and nonprescription animal health products used to treat poultry or livestock from sales, rental, use, consumption, distribution, and storage taxes; revising the circumstances under which a truck tractor or heavy truck engaged in transporting certain agricultural or horticultural products is eligible for a restricted license plate for a fee; deleting a requirement that registrants pay a supplemental fee for pesticides that contain an active ingredient for which the United States Environmental Protection Agency has established a food tolerance limit, etc. Filed March 3. Sen. Keith Perry (REP-FL).

FL SB 1666: MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA. Authorizing physicians to issue physician certifications to specified patients for the provision of marijuana and marijuana delivery devices; requiring physicians to meet certain conditions to be authorized to issue and make determinations in physician certifications; requiring the Department of Health to register on the compassionate use registry a caregiver and to issue him or her a caregiver identification card if the caregiver meets certain requirements, etc. Filed March 3. Sen. Oscar Braynon (DEM-FL).

FL SB 1686: RECLAIMED WATER. Revising a report that the Board of Administration must provide to the Legislature to include a summary of certain water supply investments; requiring the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to perform an annual review of the board in certain potential water supply projects and submit an annual report to the board and the Legislature; providing legislative findings; authorizing each water management district to adopt rules providing water reuse incentives, etc. Filed March 3. Sen. David Simmons (REP-FL).

FL SB 1696: SUBDIVIDED LANDS. Establishing priorities for use by certain entities when awarding grants or financial assistance under certain circumstances for legacy community projects and programs; requiring a portion of specified grant funds or financial assistance to be awarded to entities who have submitted applications, etc. Filed March 3. Sen. W. Greg Steube (REP-FL).

FL SB 1700: WATER MANAGEMENT. Requiring district water management plans for districts including Outstanding Florida Springs to include certain maximum sustainable groundwater estimates; requiring the water management district, instead of the Department of Environmental Protection, to conduct reviews of certain regional water supply plans upon the denial of an application for a water use permit due to impact on minimum flow or water level; requiring a district or the department, if an Outstanding Florida Spring is below minimum flow or water level, to reserve certain water quantities from permit applicants, etc. Filed March 3. Sen. Gary Farmer (DEM-FL).

FL SB 1758: MEDICAL USE OF MARIJUANA. Authorizing physicians to issue physician certifications to specified patients for the provision of marijuana and marijuana delivery devices; reducing the number of hours of coursework required of physicians who issue physician certifications; requiring the Department of Health to register on the compassionate use registry a caregiver and to issue him or her a caregiver identification card if the caregiver meets certain requirements, etc. Filed March 6. Sen. Denise Grimsley (REP-FL).

GA HB 525: AD VALOREM TAX; CLARIFY THAT BUFFER AREAS ALONG WATERWAYS BE CONSIDERED IN ASSESSMENT OF FAIR MARKET VALUE. Bill to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-5-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions relative to ad valorem taxation of property, so as to clarify that buffer areas along waterways shall be considered in assessment of fair market value for ad valorem tax purposes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.House Second Readers, March 3. Rep. Debbie Buckner (DEM-GA).

HI SCR2017 69: INVASIVE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES TASK FORCE. Offered March 7. Sen. Mike Gabbard (DEM-HI).

MN HF 1352: AVIATION TAX ON GASOLINE. Tax used as a substitute for aviation gasoline revenue dedicated to the state airports fund, and aviation tax refund to commercial pesticide applicators allowed. Committee report March 2. Rep. John Petersburg (REP-MN).

MN HF 1831: MINNESOTA WINE PROMOTION, EDUCATION, AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ESTABLISHED. Grant program established, and money appropriated. Introduction and first reading, March 1. Rep. Bob Loonan (REP-MN).

MN HF 2042: HENNEPIN COUNTY; TAX-FORFEITED LAND SALE AUTHORIZED. Introduction and first reading, March 2. Rep. Laurie Pryor (DFL-MN).

MN SF 1674: AGRICULTURE POLICY AND TECHNICAL PROVISIONS MODIFICATIONS. Referred to Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Policy, March 2. Sen. Bill Weber (REP-MN).

MN SF 1734: CLEAN WATER FUND APPROPRIATIONS. Author added March 6. Sen. Carrie Ruud (REP-MN).

MN SF 1760: CARLTON COUNTY PUBLIC SALE OF TAX-FORFEITED LAND BORDERING PUBLIC WATER AUTHORIZATION. Referred to Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance, March 6. Sen. Tony Lourey (DFL-MN).

MT SB 333: GENERALLY REVISE MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAWS. A bill for an Act entitled: “AN ACT REVISING THE MONTANA MEDICAL MARIJUANA ACT; REQUIRING SEED-TO-SALE TRACKING; REQUIRING LICENSING OF DISPENSARIES; ESTABLISHING A TAX ON SALES; ESTABLISHING REQUIREMENTS FOR TESTING LABORATORIES; REVISING ALLOWABLE AMOUNTS; REQUIRING TESTING OF SAMPLES COLLECTED DURING INSPECTIONS; ELIMINATING THE REQUIREMENT FOR A PARENT TO SERVE AS A MINOR’S PROVIDER; ESTABLISHING A TAX ON PROVIDERS; and ESTABLISHING A FEE FOR DISPENSARIES.” Introduced March 6. Sen. Mary Caferro (DEM-MT).

NJ AJR 144: HEALTHY POLLINATORS TASK FORCE. Second reading, March 6. Asm. Adam Taliaferro (DEM-NJ).

NY AB 6336: PROHIBITNG USE OF METHOPRENE. Prohibits the use of the chemical Methoprene, trade name ALTOSID, as a pesticide. Referred to Environmental Conservation, March 1. Fred Thiele.

OK SB 634: PESTICIDE. Authorizing the Department of Agriculture to promulgate rules for the control of feral swine. CR filed Feb. 28. Sen. Josh Brecheen (REP-OK).

OR HB 3226: RELATING TO FOREST PRACTICES. Requires State Board of Forestry to establish criteria for preserving natural resource values on forestland. Referred to Agriculture and Natural Resources, March 6. Rep. Paul Holvey (DEM-OR).

OR HB 3229: RELATING TO CANNABIS. Specifies that Oregon Health Authority may not register marijuana grow sites, marijuana processing sites and medical marijuana dispensaries. First reading, March 2. Rep. Ken Helm (DEM-OR).

OR HB 3249: RELATING TO LAND CONSERVATION. Establishes Oregon Agricultural Heritage Fund and continuously appropriates moneys in fund to Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. First reading, March 2. Rep. Brian Clem (DEM-OR).

OR SB 892: AERIAL APPLICATION OF PESTICIDES TO FORESTLAND. Requires filing notice with State Forestry Department of proposed aerial application of pesticide as planned forest management activity on privately owned forestland. Referred to Environment and Natural Resources, March 2. Sen. Michael Dembrow (DEM-OR).

OR SB 928: RELATING TO PRODUCT DISCLOSURES. Requires labeling of pesticide products containing neonicotinoids. Referred to Environment and Natural Resources, March 3. Sen. Floyd Prozanski (DEM-OR).

OR SB 954: RELATING TO FOREST OPERATIONS INCLUDING AERIAL APPLICATION OF PESTICIDES. Requires operator for forest operation that includes pesticide application by aircraft to ensure spraying does not occur within watershed supplying water for human consumption to residence or school. Referred to Environment and Natural Resources, March 3.

OR SB 1014: FORFEITURE OF MARIJUANA ITEMS. Authorizes law enforcement agency to transfer marijuana items forfeited to agency as result of conviction to nonprofit medical marijuana dispensary. Introduction March 6. Sen. Ted Ferrioli (REP-OR).

RI H 5805: AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT — DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT. Creates a division of marine fisheries within DEM to manage salt water fish and plant harvesting. Introduced March 1. Rep. Arthur Handy (DEM-RI).

RI S 389: AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY – TRESPASS AND ACTIONS FOR POSSESSION. Provides that a cause of action may be brought for encroachment upon open space land. Introduced March 2. Sen. Leonidas Raptakis (DEM-RI).

RI S 420: AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS — ADULT USE OF CANNABIS ACT. Establishes a system for the regulation and taxation for adult use and cultivation of marijuana. Introduced March 2. Sen. Joshua Miller (DEM-RI).

TX HB 2600: BEE POLLINATOR GOALS TASK FORCE. Relating to the establishment of the Bee Pollinator Goals Task Force to develop and report on statewide pollinator goals. Filed March 1. Rep. Jessica Farrar (DEM-TX).

TX HB 2943: Relating to the use of money in the state water pollution control revolving fund. Filed March 6. Rep. Lyle Larson (REP-TX).

WA HB 1562: Continuing the work of the Washington food policy forum. Second reading March 6. Rep. Mia Gregerson (DEM-WA).