A comprehensive summary of today’s judicial, legislative, and regulatory developments in agriculture and food. Email important additions HERE.
LEGISLATIVE: Includes Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, Rhode Island
COLORADO
HB 22-1313 clarifies the housing requirements for agricultural workers with which agricultural employers must comply only applies during a statewide public health emergency that concerns COVID-19. Info here.
HAWAII
SB 339 extends the period during which the important agricultural land qualified agricultural cost tax credit is available to December 31, 2030. Info here.
HAWAII
HB 871 authorizes the state’s department of agriculture to plan, design, construct, operate, manage, maintain, repair, and remove infrastructure on any lands under the jurisdiction of the department to support and promote agriculture; establishes the agricultural enterprise program. Info here.
HAWAII
SB 2384 amends the procurement preference for state products to only apply to agricultural goods, value-added products, and commodities, where procurement of these products will promote the state’s goal of increasing agricultural production and sustainability. Info here.
HAWAII
SB 2284 authorizes the state’s department of agriculture to regulate the transportation, purchase, possession, and sale of specific aquaculture products as may be necessary to protect indigenous species; requires the state’s department of agriculture to prepare programmatic environmental impact reports and acquire land for aquacultural purposes. Info here.
HAWAII
SB 2960 requires the state’s department of agriculture to partner with the state’s agricultural community to establish and implement a food safety certification training program to help small- to medium-sized farms comply with federal food safety certification mandates. Info here.
HAWAII
SB 3325 establishes a carbon smart land management assistance pilot program to incentivize carbon sequestration activities through incentive contracts that provide compensation for eligible practices by program participants, and repeals the carbon offset program. Info here.
IOWA
HF 2571 requires the state’s department of agriculture to establish and administer a choose Iowa promotional program to advertise for sale on a retail basis a food item that originates as an agricultural commodity produced on an Iowa farm. Info here.
LOUISIANA
SB 437 authorizes the creation of a state timber and agriculture transportation group self-insurance funds. Info here.
MAINE
LD 574 amends the state’s food sovereignty act to authorize county commissioners to adopt ordinances regarding direct producer-to-consumer transactions within one or more unorganized territories within that county and the state will recognize such ordinances. Info here.
MAINE
LD 1911 prohibits certain application of sludge and sale and distribution of compost and other agricultural products and materials containing sludge and septage on any land within the state. Info here.
MAINE
LD 2019 requires the registration of adjuvants in the state and to regulates the distribution of pesticides with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Info here.
MICHIGAN
HB 5742 authorizes the state’s department of agriculture to facilitate continued access to markets for pesticides. Info here.
MICHIGAN
HB 5748 authorizes the state’s department of agriculture to regulate the production, transportation, handling, processing, delivery, and sale of grade A milk and milk products. Info here.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
HB 1503 adopts the Uniform Commercial Code relative to controllable electronic records and exempts the developer, seller, or facilitator of the exchange of an open blockchain token from certain securities laws. Info here.
RHODE ISLAND
HB 7129 restricts the use of neonicotinoids to certified applicators. Info here.
REGULATORY: AMS, FCIC, NRCS, CODEX
AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE
Proposed rule inviting comments on proposed amendments to Marketing Order 905, which regulates the handling of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and pummelos grown in Florida. Info here.
FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE CORPORATION
Final rule amending FCIC’s regulations to enhance production reporting terminology and assist producers with production reporting requirements. Info here.
NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE
Notice announcing that NRCS is holding its second public meeting of the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Advisory Committee. Info here.
U.S. CODEX OFFICE
Notice informing the public of the sanitary and phytosanitary standard-setting activities of the Codex Alimentarius; providing a list of other standard-setting activities of Codex, including commodity standards, guidelines, codes of practice, and revised texts; and seeking comments on standards under consideration and recommendations for new standards. Info here.