Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Feedlot Practices topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Panel reviews repeal of feedlot dead‑animal notification and penalty
Summary
SB 79 would repeal a requirement that feedlots notify brand inspectors and producers when animals die and would remove a $500 penalty and potential jail term; sponsors and department officials said mandatory reporting of designated reportable diseases to the state veterinarian remains unaffected.
Senator Josh Kasmeier presented Senate Bill 79 as another statutory cleanup that would repeal an inspection and notification requirement for dead animals at feedlots and eliminate the $500 penalty and possible six‑month jail provision associated with failing to notify.
Jay Bodner said the requirement historically forced feedlot operators to call the Department of Livestock to inspect dead animals; the department would charge roughly $1 per dead head for inspection and then notify the owner. He told the committee many feedlot operators and producers were unaware the law existed and that modern communications between owners and feedlots reduce the need for the statutory notification and penalty.
Committee members pressed on public‑health and biosecurity concerns. Bodner said the state maintains a list of mandatory reportable diseases and a veterinarian who identifies a reportable disease is required to notify the state veterinarian; not all causes of death are reportable. He said tissue samples can be sent to the state veterinary diagnostic lab for testing and that failing to report a mandatory disease could jeopardize a veterinarian's license. Kasmeier clarified SB 79 removes only the notification‑to‑producer/penalty requirement and does not change mandatory disease‑reporting obligations.
Industry witnesses supported SB 79 as modernization that reflects current practice. The hearing recorded extensive Q&A but no committee vote on SB 79.
