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Bill would transfer alfalfa seed oversight to Department of Agriculture amid grower objections
Summary
House Bill 171 would eliminate the governor‑appointed Alfalfa Seed Commission and transfer its duties to the Montana Department of Agriculture, with scheduled public meetings and protections for assessment funds; growers testified they were not notified and raised concerns about a $168,000 checkoff fund.
The Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Committee heard testimony on House Bill 171, a measure to eliminate the governor‑appointed Alfalfa Seed Commission and move its regulatory and administrative duties to the Montana Department of Agriculture. Representative Eric Tillman, sponsor of the bill, told the committee the change would cut red tape and allow the department to provide ongoing oversight rather than relying on a board that meets infrequently.
The bill would add statutory definitions for the alfalfa seed industry, grant rulemaking authority to the Department of Agriculture, and require the department to hold public meetings tied to…
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