House Agriculture Committee holds organizational meeting, sets hearing procedures

At an organizational meeting in Room 138, the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development conducted member and guest introductions and reviewed committee procedures for the upcoming legislative session.

The committee chair outlined expectations for decorum and committee process, including that a quorum is 11 members, agendas are prepared two days in advance, sponsor notifications are emailed two days before a meeting and amendments should be submitted in writing. The chair said items called up for consideration will be moved to the bottom of the active agenda if the sponsor is absent, and that any bill called up three times will drop to the deferred list unless the sponsor notifies staff.

Members and invited stakeholders used the meeting to introduce themselves and their connections to Arkansas agriculture. Representative Dan Vaught, who represents District 87 and farms livestock, said, "It is the largest industry in the state of Arkansas, and it's something that we should all be proud of." Representative David Whitaker, House District 22, said on returning to the committee, "home at last." Representative Bruce Cozart said he represents portions of Garland County and noted his background in cattle and construction.

Industry and interest-group representatives also introduced themselves. Stanley Hill, lead lobbyist for the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation, told the committee the group represents roughly "over a 80,000 member families" and has 76 county farm bureaus. Jeff Weaver, director of government affairs for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, said the division operates extension offices in 75 counties with about 1,200 employees and noted a recently opened research facility outside Jonesboro focused on rice and soybeans. Adam Shea of Riceland Foods said Riceland serves about 5,500 members.

Staffing and logistics were confirmed. Zane Rogers was introduced as the committee analyst and Terry as the administrative assistant. The committee analyst told attendees the committee will meet in Room 138 and that special-order hearings can be scheduled at the sponsor's request for controversial bills with out-of-town witnesses.

No bills were taken up at this meeting. The chair said the committee had no business to conduct at the time and adjourned after the introductions.

The session served largely to establish process for handling bills and testimony and to allow members and stakeholders to identify points of contact for the session ahead.