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Committee debates wide-ranging amendments to House Bill 119 for cattle assessment, referendum and committee structure
Summary
The committee conducted an extended walkthrough of eight proposed amendments to House Bill 119, which would create a Montana cattle assessment/referendum process and a commodity committee. Lawmakers and stakeholders disputed membership rules, referendum funding and timing, voter thresholds (10% petition v. proposed 40% turnout), ballot information, and whether committee funds may be used for legal actions.
The Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation committee spent the bulk of the meeting reviewing a packet of proposed amendments to House Bill 119, a bill to establish a Montana cattle assessment and an associated promotional/industry committee.
Carly Johnson, who presented the draft language, said the amendments aim to broaden nomination language so ‘agricultural groups with an interest in the production and marketing of cattle and cattle byproducts may submit to the governor a list of nominations and appointments within 90 days,’ allow tribal groups to participate, and align committee administration with other commodity committees by removing special procurement or bonding exemptions. Johnson said the intent was to keep the statute “evergreen” and avoid naming specific organizations in code. She also explained administrability changes: changing ballot eligibility wording from “seller” to “producer” to make…
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