[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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",6123520,"mediaKeyId","2689502-0bb551a3d6fdb9a71b1922b82f2e5f8f","parentId",2689502,"title","Committee adopts March 6 minutes, refers House Bill 4,017 to rules in unanimous votes","audioSeconds",3778,"startMs",267000,"endMs",4045000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2689502-0bb551a3d6fdb9a71b1922b82f2e5f8f&start=267&end=4045","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2689502-0bb551a3d6fdb9a71b1922b82f2e5f8f/thumbnail_267000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6123520/Michigan/Committee-adopts-March-6-minutes-refers-House-Bill-4017-to-rules-in-unanimous-votes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123520-0c7610b94c09c49d453a648e2e5848f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775025085&Signature=B4CwxRgY1MKBCV8vFXvCw~EPEfcxK-k40QZv1yPwx39zqiK4uZrCZwdstq0NK22hO~qyp3B3LfPdRZ4ce4PU~MAe6BjUOOw07cKi2qy4-TagWpOU9632UPBh9kmH-lMT4Nb4seL-nRyEfv6TvYe748CwsIGT9ucEcYChE8C-rQUBQZzTtTCOQuRzEwQduAOPLWBEKNz7Ae66TQggeea8ml4lFqDcvFEILf3V40coDZPJ177qyJ8kJ2ZbiMgODCMJxDNoFZDjnKQ~skHsEC4cY9lwtrlbyLCJx7iG3w1Rxd~zfyRDRCO4uOJ4-9qcacjTlnarCFbQ1eHyZO83cuIVrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Michigan Legislature","date","2025-03-13T00:00:00Z","article","The House Agriculture Committee carried two procedural motions and closed the meeting with an excusal.

Representative Alexander moved to adopt the committee minutes from March 6. The clerk conducted a roll‑call vote and reported \"10 yeas, 0 nays, 0 pass; the motion prevails.\" Committee members recorded in the roll call included Chair Nyar and representatives voting \"yes\" as read by the clerk.

The committee then considered House Bill 4,017 and the clerk conducted a roll‑call vote to refer the bill to the Committee on Rules. The clerk reported the vote as 10 yeas, 0 nays; the motion to refer prevailed. The transcript does not identify an individual mover for the referral; the clerk performed the roll call at the committee’s request.

At the end of the session, Representative Fox moved to excuse all absent members. The committee approved the motion by voice when there were no objections. The chair then adjourned the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Agriculture - 3/13/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The House Agriculture Committee adopted minutes and referred House Bill 4,017 to the Committee on Rules by recorded roll calls that the clerk reported as 10 yeas, 0 nays. Representative Fox moved to excuse absent members by voice vote; no objections were recorded and the committee adjourned.","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},6123525,"Sponsor, townships clash over bill to allow wedding venues on agriculturally zoned land",1402,2639000,4041000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2689502-0bb551a3d6fdb9a71b1922b82f2e5f8f&start=2639&end=4041","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2689502-0bb551a3d6fdb9a71b1922b82f2e5f8f/thumbnail_2639000.jpg","/articles/6123525/Michigan/Sponsor-townships-clash-over-bill-to-allow-wedding-venues-on-agriculturally-zoned-land","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123525-d3b6c0fb154be4142821444de1b51528/orig.mp4?Expires=1775025085&Signature=YqHmYoLJ8gXSBPBZUeuwdS8Q4dfzgsOO~Vw3YUQTU6valMpYMcvjTS~YX2CoS5v0U13dvrMMI75Elq3jhDEMQR3uTFljcfMSYRF24vRyBFDXDYSDXxHWqLvD1VAN6D578~5PQ5gW2~GU7hWxdc56bvSxKYxBhIzabvosPNL3QxMosKfiD0KItxZLEM4vnHJRKI1O8I86DICfHx~jXRJzy0Y7tZRBo4YghHEkdwDWAumXzEKlaHF7NKpptr-ht6lI8HN7N0EJYLduzW2o0o-d0ZxRXF7-Zet1o6qs2jINqIimRfHN4VGwUQWHKXBEuu5shW6A80RBgpIJ9BlgwZ4MTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Beerline introduced House Bill 4,006, a proposed amendment to the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act that would expressly allow barns and facilities on agriculturally zoned land to be used as commercial venues for weddings and similar events.

\"Agritourism has become an essential part of this adaptation,\" Representative Beerline said in testimony, arguing the bill would help family farms diversify revenue without overturning local ordinances on noise, hours or traffic. He said amendments under discussion would require the farm to be actively farming and file appropriate paperwork to avoid non‑farm properties converting to event venues.

Why it matters: The bill would change how local units of government regulate commercial uses on farmland and could affect property tax classification, inspection regimes and local land‑use control.

Committee members asked tax, inspection and local‑control questions. Beerline acknowledged he did not have a definitive answer on property tax treatment and said assessors determine classification; he said food service on site would be subject to public‑health inspections and that farms often obtain required licenses. He told the committee he and staff were working with stakeholders and municipal associations on clarifying language.

Judy Allen, director of government relations for the Michigan Townships Association, testified that MTA is working with the sponsor but raised concerns and questions, not an official position. Allen said the bill’s current language would require townships to allow event venues under all circumstances and could eliminate local discretion to prohibit venues in unsuitable locations. \"Under this language, we would have to allow it,\" she said, and warned the provision could spur litigation over vague terms such as \"similar events\" and unspecified conditions.

Allen described scenarios in which event venues exist beside residential neighborhoods or on small parcels where noise, traffic or lighting would create local problems. She said special land‑use permits currently let nearby residents comment on or oppose a commercial venue; the bill would remove the special‑use process for agriculturally zoned land.

Representatives asked whether existing venues and corn‑maze attractions already operate under special‑use permits; testimony indicated many do, and that venues are concentrated in some counties. Representative Skaggs noted committee members believed the state has \"triple digits\" of event facilities on agricultural land.

Beerline said one planned safeguard would require the farm to be an active farming operation — for example documenting agricultural activity with federal Schedule F filings each year — and that the sponsor was working with the Michigan Township Association to find compromise language.

The committee read the sponsor testimony and public comment into the record and took no final vote on HB 4,006 at this meeting.","Representative Beerline introduced House Bill 4,006 to allow barns and farm facilities on agriculturally zoned land to be used as commercial event venues; the Michigan Townships Association warned the bill would force townships to allow venues in unsuitable locations and could increase litigation.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6123531,"Michigan agriculture director outlines priorities, warns bird‑flu remains a concern",1014,352000,1366000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2689502-0bb551a3d6fdb9a71b1922b82f2e5f8f&start=352&end=1366","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2689502-0bb551a3d6fdb9a71b1922b82f2e5f8f/thumbnail_352000.jpg","/articles/6123531/Michigan/Michigan-agriculture-director-outlines-priorities-warns-birdflu-remains-a-concern","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6123531-ad87d3eab869cac88a3f0d07fc1f785d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775025085&Signature=D7wOwhF9VRh-bR5Qhbl159O2VZfqm37pCsvZrJjYUAUSYmJs~GJTBavbdvJet438uUPxT~gtIqhgnG6mfFOW8gSRmLewm5WbsuExJXv~MzfhHXI2j~RHA7mX0M4bP1cDqw4NMdQtiY~Fy3w54-LRwCOHEhG3VSm~FMu0XnRt~xQFqs4Cc3aaz4Z-4ot-xxgqtyxcrHySXeFPHgV6sCPo0FYjILEkUFQdoiWLnFDH1LeDeD-p1QiuBb5DdDUz8f9F-eydTFTaUWDq42X3wjUxd0inB708-58WKMmPGXD3VJkaaCh8SaA~b0UAUUkXAYeIgcB58MErihZnqCfvf9LeqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Director Tim Boring, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, told the House Agriculture Committee that the department will prioritize plant and soil diagnostics, biosecurity against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), climate‑resilient and regenerative practices, and renewal of the state’s freshwater protection fund.

Boring said the department is “positioning ourselves to seize opportunities” and stressed the economic significance of Michigan agriculture, including recent craft‑beverage figures and Ag Census data. \"We have 5,200,000 gallons of craft beverage here in the state,\" he said, and noted the 2022 Ag Census lists about 200 commodities produced in Michigan and a roughly 20% reduction in the number of farms from 2017 to 2022.

Why it matters: MDARD’s priorities affect farm revenue, rural economies and interstate commerce for Michigan commodities. The department’s actions on disease surveillance, biosecurity and grant programs shape whether producers can move products across state and national lines and how federal funding supports research and risk‑mitigation tools.

Boring told the committee MDARD derives a significant portion of some bureau budgets from federal funds but accounts for about 0.18% of the total state budget, saying the agency aims to be “streamlined” while delivering services. He described four MDARD bureaus — agricultural development and producer services, environment and sustainability, food safety and animal health, and laboratory and consumer protection — and highlighted work ranging from meat inspection to enforcement of weights and measures.

On avian influenza, Boring said Michigan was an early state to detect spillover of the virus into dairy cattle and has since partnered with USDA’s National Milk Testing Surveillance Program. \"We have been several months now without a detection in dairy cattle,\" he said, and added the state is about three months into participation in the USDA testing program. He said commercial poultry impacts in Michigan since December have been “far more limited” than in some neighboring states but cautioned the virus persists in wild migratory birds and remains a continuing concern.

Boring described MDARD actions used during last year’s outbreak — emergency biosecurity guidance, visitor logs, and targeted on‑farm measures — and said the department will continue to work with DNR, DHHS and labor agencies to coordinate public‑health and animal‑health responses. \"We've prioritized making sure that we're working closely with not only state partners, but local health partners,\" he said, citing a recent public‑health call with about 200 participants.

The director also discussed regenerative agriculture and market incentives: he said producers may receive cost‑share aid for practices such as cover crops, but payments should be linked to demonstrable environmental outcomes so farmers are compensated for improved soil health and resiliency.

Other priorities Boring listed include addressing invasive species that limit market access for nursery and Christmas tree products, continuing plant and soil diagnostic capacity, and pursuing renewal of the freshwater protection fund to support pesticide and fertilizer assessments and related programs.

Commissioner David Williams, a fifth‑generation producer who serves on MDARD’s advisory commission, described the commission’s makeup and advisory role, noting members represent different production sectors and meet every other month to advise the director.

Committee members asked about the effect of potential federal funding cuts, industry implementation of cage‑free egg laws, PPE and worker health during outbreaks, soil mineral nutrition, and the department’s role in farm‑siting disputes. Boring said MDARD has testified before the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee about specialty crops and the importance of a federal farm bill for research and risk‑mitigation tools, and pledged to provide additional follow‑up information requested by representatives.

The committee moved on after roughly an hour of MDARD briefing and questions.","Director Tim Boring told the House Agriculture Committee that MDARD will prioritize plant and animal diagnostics, biosecurity for highly pathogenic avian influenza, climate‑resilient and regenerative practices, and renewal of the freshwater protection fund. He said Michigan remains engaged with USDA surveillance and industry partners.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee adopts March 6 minutes, refers House Bill 4,017 to rules in unanimous votes

Sponsor, townships clash over bill to allow wedding venues on agriculturally zoned land

Michigan agriculture director outlines priorities, warns bird‑flu remains a concern