Senator Irvin wins amendment to fair-district bill to add Tri-County Fair and move Independence County

Sen. Missy Irvin, sponsor of a bill updating district listings for county fairs, successfully amended the measure to add the Tri-County Fair and to move Independence County from the North Central to the Northeast district.

Irvin told the Senate Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development Committee she had heard concerns from local fair organizers and public commenters and adjusted the draft accordingly. "We're adding ... the Tri County Fair. Lee County, Monroe County, and Phillips County make up that Tri County Fair. They do receive funding as well," Irvin said. She also said White County Fair asked to change a provision from "review and approval" to "review only," which was incorporated into the engrossed bill.

Committee Chair (unnamed in transcript) asked for questions and, after no speakers requested public comment, recognized Irvin to close. Irvin said she appreciated the work of volunteers and intended the bill to make fair administration simpler: "We really are trying to make this as simple as we possibly can for them to continue to do what they're doing."

Sen. Stone seconded the motion to adopt the amendment; the committee approved the amendment by voice vote. The committee later moved the bill as amended; the motion to pass as amended was seconded by Sen. Gilmore and carried by voice vote.

No formal roll-call vote on the final passage was recorded in the transcript; the committee recorded the passage by voice vote. The transcript shows no outstanding objections and no further amendments after the amendment to add the Tri-County Fair and move Independence County.