Committee reviews avian influenza prevention bill; members approve laser grant language but reject one biosecurity amendment

House File 1503, a bill to establish a grant program to help poultry producers install bird‑deterrent devices and other avian influenza prevention measures, was heard and laid over by the House Ag Finance and Policy Committee after several amendments and testimony.

Representative Burkel offered an A1 amendment to correct drafting language; the committee approved the A1 amendment by voice. Testimony focused on layered prevention and costs for deterrent technology that producers are using to reduce high‑path avian influenza risk.

Ashley Coles, executive director of the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, told the committee that Minnesota is a large turkey producer and that growers have installed over 100 “turkey lasers” to deter wild birds. Coles described the devices as green lasers that move in randomized patterns; she said growers see the same type of technology used by airports and orchards and that a single unit costs roughly $17,000–$20,000. Coles said Minnesota turkey growers have used biosecurity and deterrents to limit 2022–2024 impacts relative to national losses and supported a grant program to help producers purchase deterrents.

Representative Hansen offered an A2 amendment that would have explicitly banned sale or distribution of raw pet food made from birds culled due to high‑path avian influenza. Department of Agriculture staff told the committee that animals culled for HPAI are USDA property and ‘‘are not allowed to enter the food supply’’ under existing federal and state rules; Commissioner testimony and a Department of Agriculture official said adulterated food is not permitted into human or pet food. The committee took a roll call on A2; the chair voted no and the roll call resulted in a 7–6 vote against the amendment, so A2 failed. Representative Hansen later offered a more expansive A3 amendment addressing monitoring of manure, compost and wastewater and proposing University of Minnesota monitoring and PPE and biomonitoring for agricultural workers; Representative Hansen withdrew A3 after discussion.

Representative Burkel said the bill’s purpose is to assist producers with prevention measures such as lasers and other deterrents and to alleviate financial and emotional strain on producers affected by HPAI. The committee laid House File 1503 over for further consideration; no final appropriation level was set during the hearing. Witnesses noted that some federal funds recently announced were focused on egg layer operations and that turkey growers are still seeking clarity about federal eligibility.

The committee’s action preserves the author’s technical amendment, rejected the A2 food‑safety language by roll call and left the larger monitoring ideas for future discussion.