[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6291472,"mediaKeyId","2529947-db74bfe92f80ec932e49ab58618fcbc9","parentId",2529947,"title","Eisman family urges committee to reduce MIOSHA reporting penalty; committee hears House Bill 4017 testimony","audioSeconds",2332,"startMs",2002000,"endMs",4334000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2529947-db74bfe92f80ec932e49ab58618fcbc9&start=2002&end=4334","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2529947-db74bfe92f80ec932e49ab58618fcbc9/thumbnail_2002000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6291472/Michigan/Eisman-family-urges-committee-to-reduce-MIOSHA-reporting-penalty-committee-hears-House-Bill-4017-testimony","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6291472-164aad907c3274b2a6d2302a7045e111/orig.mp4?Expires=1773675141&Signature=e2iPJqlghK-idUOReXW4YJt-3CRqy6iC32YDu5lMDs29WuoA3V4C6oLr95~69wQJl4hvTYXdenYTniCAzyi08wcl6sZ0Er5WMQAw4lNz-4XE91GWgrCZks7wlX2whhxw5xqQ03BJupPd24ClQxCqNAdKqG7Mo7QVk678bx~Uu45c9-1yPrb7lqpq19yvbAX9zuu4ngssEUqMUeUC0ZGCl4dKoTBzZdOL9UjKzGnUt4JZ-lieT-C3wwRwdZGf7eMgM2YbyXSm1TcQ5sCMOy3fuI06IAxsnasQCl7u31tAM2DoMF5dazAW37YOn8-8fiS-I0xdwY7V2ppnwL3-FXu3CQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Michigan House of Representatives","date","2025-03-06T00:00:00Z","article","Family members from a Blissfield farm told the Michigan House Agriculture Committee that the state's current MIOSHA reporting rule and penalties compounded their grief after a 2019 on-farm death and asked legislators to support House Bill 4017, which would reduce the penalty for failing to report an accident on a family farm operation.

\"To expect anyone who had just lost a spouse or a brother ... to call a government agency and notify them of a death during the first eight hours ... and then penalize them with a maximum fine is unrealistic, heartless, and cruel,\" Barbara Eiseman told the committee as she described finding her husband deceased on the barn floor on Nov. 26, 2019.

Barbara Eiseman and relatives said their farm later received a $5,000 fine for failing to report the death within eight hours and an additional $12,000 in other penalties following the MIOSHA inspection and investigation. \"We were in shock,\" Zell Eiseman said. \"None of us thought of making that call.\" Noel Eiseman added, \"I was in the barn that night. None of us thought of making that call.\"

A supporter of House Bill 4017 outlined the bill's intent to reduce mandatory penalties by 80% for qualifying family farm operations, and said the prior version of the bill had been vetoed by the governor on a technicality related to the definition of a family farm; the sponsor said that definition was corrected in the new bill language.

Committee members pressed witnesses on alternatives and implementation. Representative Lightner asked why the bill reduces penalties rather than lengthening the reporting window; witnesses and members said federal MIOSHA rules and state funding implications limit Michigan’s ability to change certain time and exemption parameters. Representative Lightner also said she favored eliminating the fine entirely; witnesses said that would require action at the federal level.

Committee members suggested other approaches discussed in testimony: improving outreach to first responders and local law enforcement so they can notify families of reporting obligations at the scene, encouraging industry groups to provide emergency-action plans for small farms, and clarifying how MIOSHA determines whether an incident on privately owned property constitutes a workplace incident under its jurisdiction.

Why it matters: testimony highlighted how a one-size-fits-all reporting requirement designed for larger employers can create disproportionate financial burdens for small family operations and raised practical questions about how MIOSHA enforcement interacts with coroners, sheriffs and emergency responders.

Clarifying details from testimony: MIOSHA requires that an accidental death at a workplace be reported within eight hours; the Eisenman family reported being assessed a $5,000 fine for the reporting violation and roughly $12,000 in additional penalties from the inspection related to ladder/roof safety, personal protective equipment and one other cited deficiency. The death cited in testimony occurred on Nov. 26, 2019. Witnesses said the bill would reduce the mandatory penalty by 80% for qualifying family farm operations; no committee vote was recorded at this hearing.

Committee cards read after testimony showed the Michigan Farm Bureau supported the bill and the Michigan AFL-CIO registered opposition (both entries were noted without speakers appearing to testify). Representative Alexander moved to adopt the Feb. 20 meeting minutes earlier in the session; that motion passed by unanimous consent. The committee took no formal vote on House Bill 4017 during this hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Agriculture - 3/06/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Family members who operate a small farm in Blissfield told the Michigan House Agriculture Committee that they were fined after a 2019 on-farm death and asked legislators to support House Bill 4017, which would reduce MIOSHA penalties for qualifying family farm operations.","taxTitle","2025-2026 House Legislature MI, Michigan","taxId",77683,"location","Michigan","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6291477,"Michigan potato industry tells House Agriculture Committee it produces $2.5 billion in annual economic activity",1756,237000,1993000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2529947-db74bfe92f80ec932e49ab58618fcbc9&start=237&end=1993","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2529947-db74bfe92f80ec932e49ab58618fcbc9/thumbnail_237000.jpg","/articles/6291477/Michigan/Michigan-potato-industry-tells-House-Agriculture-Committee-it-produces-25-billion-in-annual-economic-activity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6291477-d3fdf8d25b507bd0c7c883408662cce0/orig.mp4?Expires=1773675141&Signature=A-DXUHyCPVxdEyDrSQdabPSHzytwLPpfwDV4yO8ZBX6gh93clogb01RlRMsI3Y8kUJWbXJxj0e5JWMdPDyscvl0xmCmvCkNdxYOASgrqnEp09TBAOm3sajBs8wRvRDkAhKtX6unScvPxkZodnWHW9N9jqqRS2uqnxk8kT2W5W2rzODmTG5x09uEyLKV~nYiqUiF7Nbg27aRGOEzQoG9op4MtG5De6qDwlKQ7RB-~rH3AUDCe6ASLc8Bnz~BxQdAw5DfqrHXNMZm5BDshm3NtqFaiIAcsZQegkb8CiC-lHE6zd1uCEfj3CRqjoiE8cChFeNflcefMPlBlOW8W8Fo7XQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kelly Turner, a representative of the Michigan Potato Industry Commission and the Potato Growers of Michigan, told the Michigan House Agriculture Committee that an economic-impact study conducted with Michigan State University found the potato industry contributes about $2.5 billion a year to the state economy, including roughly $1.5 billion in direct activity from growing, processing, wholesaling and retail sales.

The study, Turner said, shows Michigan is the eighth-largest potato producer by volume and sixth by sales in the United States and produces higher-value potatoes on average. \"We're cooler than we thought we were,\" Turner said, summarizing the commission's reaction to the results.

The report and committee testimony underscored the industry's role as a statewide employer and buyer for processors. Callie Bagley, owner-operator of a kettle chip company in Waterford, said Michigan potatoes are widespread in the snack supply chain: \"One in every four bags of chips across the United States contains Michigan potatoes,\" she said, and urged continued federal support to keep potatoes accessible in school breakfast programs.

Phil Gismano, representing Detroit-based Better Made Snack Foods, described how local processors rely on Michigan-grown varieties that can be stored for year-round production and said the company employs about 280 people in the city. \"Michigan potatoes offer phenomenal opportunities,\" Gismano said, noting collaboration with Michigan State University to develop varieties that store longer and reduce the need to source potatoes outside the state.

Dennis Ayatt, owner of Ayatt Seed Farm in Kalkaska and president of the Potato Growers of Michigan, outlined policy priorities for growers: preserving water access and quality, securing labor (including guest-worker programs to supplement domestic labor), maintaining access to pest-management tools, and protecting farmland from large-scale conversion to solar arrays. \"We oppose efforts to commoditize water,\" Ayatt said, and urged improvements to Michigan's Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool so it reflects local conditions.

Committee members asked about research partnerships and breeding techniques. Representative Rangas asked whether the potato organizations work with the MSU Innovation Lab; Turner said the industry works directly with Michigan State University researchers, including renowned potato breeder Dave Dauschus, and supports two full-time positions on MSU's Potato Outreach Team.

Turner and Ayatt also described the crop mix and markets. According to testimony, recent production totaled about 1.9 billion pounds across seed, frozen, dehydrated and processing categories. Turnout by end-use was presented as roughly 20% to fresh-market potatoes, about 5% to seed, about 5% to certain processing categories such as canning, and the remaining share grown for larger processors and shipping. Turners said potato chips alone generate about $246 million in annual economic activity.

Why it matters: witnesses told the committee the report quantifies potatoes as a substantial agricultural commodity for Michigan and frames the industry's requests on workforce development, research and local processing capacity as steps to retain and grow jobs statewide.

Members were invited to attend industry tours the commission organizes; presenters said those tours show storage and processing operations that photos do not fully capture.

Clarifying details from testimony: the industry cited a $2.5 billion annual economic-impact figure (about $1.5 billion direct); a recent two-year production figure of about 1.9 billion pounds; potato-chips-related sales estimated at $246 million annually; a reported crop breakdown by end use of approximately 20% fresh, 5% seed, 5% certain processing, and roughly 70% for shipping/processing contracts. The presenters identified Montcalm County as the state's largest potato-producing county and referenced the MSU Potato Outreach Team as a two-position, commission-funded research group.

Ending: Committee members thanked the presenters; the panel encouraged legislators to visit growers and processors to see storage and breeding operations firsthand. No formal action or vote on legislation resulted from the presentation at this hearing.","Representatives of the Michigan Potato Industry Commission, Potato Growers of Michigan and processors told the House Agriculture Committee that potatoes generate an estimated $2.5 billion in annual economic impact, support jobs in urban and rural areas, and face policy concerns including labor, water regulation and farmland conversion to solar.","actionData","errors"]

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Eisman family urges committee to reduce MIOSHA reporting penalty; committee hears House Bill 4017 testimony

Michigan potato industry tells House Agriculture Committee it produces $2.5 billion in annual economic activity