Committee hears overview of HB 119 proposal to create state beef checkoff; referendum planned

Department of Livestock staff briefed the committee about House Bill 119, a proposal to establish a state beef checkoff and a referendum for cattle owners.

Brian Simonson summarized the proposal: an ad hoc group has drafted language to create a state-level beef checkoff that would require a referendum of cattle owners. "They're gonna establish a committee… and they're gonna run a referendum," Simonson said. He explained that the federal beef checkoff currently collects a dollar per change of ownership and that the proposed state program would add an additional dollar per head if the referendum passes.

Simonson said the referendum mechanism in HB 119 would require a statewide vote of cattle producers; if passed, the state checkoff would create a committee to administer state-level promotion or research programs funded by the assessment. He said HB 119 was being heard in the House Agriculture Committee on the day of the briefing and that details such as exact assessment language were included in the House bill.

The committee recorded the informational briefing; HB 119 was not voted on by the Senate committee during the organizational meeting.