Committee schedules RS31802 to adjust Idaho Brand Board fees and allow retention of interest

The Idaho Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee heard a presentation on RS31802 and voted to schedule the proposal for further consideration.

Cody Burlisle, director of the Idaho Brand Board and the state brand inspector, told the committee the bill would adjust statutory fee caps for brand-inspection services, clarify the Board’s process for setting service fees within those caps, and allow the Brand Board to retain interest earned on its dedicated fund. Burlisle said the proposal is the result of about 20 stakeholder meetings over 18 months.

“This legislation is a product of years of assessment, negotiation, and teamwork among industry stakeholders to address the Brand Board’s current and future financial problem,” Burlisle said. He told senators the change would result in an estimated $300,000 positive impact to the Brand Board’s dedicated fund and an estimated $40,000 negative impact to the state general fund.

Burlisle said the legislation would amend several sections of Idaho law, referencing Title 25, Chapter 11 and Title 33 of the Idaho Code, and would clarify the Brand Board’s authority to regulate service fees under statutory caps. He said the bill has industry support from the Idaho Cattle Association, Idaho Dairy Association, Idaho Farm Bureau Federation and Idaho Livestock Auction Association.

After the presentation, the committee took a motion to place RS31802 on the committee schedule. Senator Blaylock moved to schedule the proposal and Senator Semleroth seconded the motion. The chair called the voice vote and, with no opposition voiced on the record, said the item would be scheduled for a future committee meeting.

The committee did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript excerpts; the motion to schedule was made, seconded and the chair announced it would be scheduled.