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Committee holds bean-commission assessment bill after substitute motion; SB 1054 sent back to committee
Summary
The House Agricultural Affairs Committee heard testimony supporting an increase in the Idaho Bean Commission assessment but approved a substitute motion to hold Senate Bill 1054 in committee after a late-session procedural challenge and objections about bill language.
Representative John Shirts introduced Senate Bill 1054 on March 10, which would raise the bean-commission assessment from $0.12 per hundredweight to a baseline of $0.16 with authority up to $0.24 per hundredweight. Shirts said the increase would fund research and promotion that bean growers and dealers support.
The bill drew multiple supporters from industry. Andy Wolf Wybie, executive director of the Idaho Bean Commission, told the committee the commission typically meets quarterly and confirmed that compensation for commission members comes from the assessment. Monte Hamilton, board executive, said dealers would pay half of the proposed increase while growers would not see an immediate increase this session. Richard Wynne and Michael Goodson testified in favor and described research funded by the commission, including disease- and pest-related projects at the Parma Extension Center.
Debate and procedural motion: Representative Levitt asked whether the bills language, which refers to a levy and imposed "tax" of not less than 16 cents, should be revised; he moved to send the bill back to the sponsor to change language. The chair ruled that motion out of order, and Representative Levitt then moved to hold SB 1054 in committee. Sponsors and other supporters said the assessment is an industry-funded measure and not drawn from the general fund; several members urged sending the bill to the floor rather than delaying it late in the session. After discussion the committee took the substitute motion to hold the bill and passed it by voice vote.
Why it matters: The measure affects bean growers, dealers and dealers' ability to fund promotion and research activities the industry says it cannot afford individually. Witnesses stressed that the assessment "levels the playing field" and cited research and marketing benefits that accrue to growers and dealers.
Formal action: An initial motion to send SB 1054 to the floor was made; Representative Levitt's substitute motion to hold the bill in committee was then approved by voice vote. The transcript records the substitute motion carrying; members opposing the hold requested to be recorded.
Next steps: With the substitute motion approved, SB 1054 remains in committee pending any future action or revised language that the sponsor or stakeholders may present.
