House Agriculture Committee approves House Bill 269 as amended

The House Agriculture Committee approved House Bill 269 as amended during an executive-action meeting. Vice Chair Minor moved the final passage after the committee adopted an amendment earlier in the session.

The amendment was moved by Representative Tillman. In explaining the change, Representative Tillman said, "This is, pretty much the amendment from the Farmers Union and the Department of Agriculture, kinda getting those concerns taken out and making sure that the organic association, had input on the organic killing the organic committee." The committee approved the amendment by voice vote, and later approved the amended bill by voice vote.

Vice Chair Carter spoke in support of the amended bill, saying the opposition had expressed hesitation previously but indicated they would be satisfied with the amendment: "...the opposition had hesitation and they were gonna be good with, amendments on it. And so with that, mister chair, I'll support this with the amendment." After the committee vote, a staff member announced that Representative Lynch and Representative Griffith had voted aye by proxy.

The meeting opened with roll call handled by Miss Bauer and included a brief announcement that there were no new bills for introduction that day; committee time was limited to executive action on House Bill 269. Members noted scheduling for future meetings: a bill planned for Thursday (House Bill 356 was mentioned for Thursday) concerning livestock-loss reimbursement for black bear predation, and another bill targeted for Tuesday but not yet dropped to the clerk.

The committee adjourned following the passage announcement.