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Senate committee advances bill to create permissive "equestrian zones," adopts amendments after extensive testimony
Summary
After hours of testimony for and against, the Senate Local Government and Housing Committee adopted amendments making Senate Bill 149 permissive and educational, and forwarded the bill to the committee of the whole with a 6-1 vote.
The Senate Local Government and Housing Committee on Thursday advanced Senate Bill 149, a measure to create an optional statewide framework for "equestrian zones," after adopting three amendments that make the bill permissive and emphasize educational guidance rather than new enforceable traffic penalties.
Senate Bill 149 would provide a framework for local governments to identify equestrian zones, install signage and crossings, and promote public education about safely sharing roads and trails with horses. Committee members and a broad set of witnesses debated whether the bill would create unfunded mandates for counties and whether it should be mandatory or permissive.
Sponsor Senator Lindsey Daugherty (the transcript identifies the sponsor as Senator Doherty) told the committee the bill grew out of a fatal equestrian-vehicle collision and aims to provide guidance on signage, crossings and trailer parking: "The overall goal of the bill is…
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