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House advances GRAMA exemption for animal-identification records amid assurances on disease-tracing
Summary
House Bill 226, amending GRAMA classifications for records tied to the National Animal Identification System, passed the House unanimously after sponsors assured members the bill protects private premise records while not hindering disease-tracing efforts.
The Utah House passed House Bill 226, which adjusts Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA) language and exempts certain Department of Agriculture records related to livestock premises and animal identification programs from public disclosure.
Representative Craig Butters, sponsor, moved amendments to change the statutory wording from 'private' to 'protected' so the bill aligns with existing GRAMA categories. He told the House the measure is aimed at protecting personal and business records of livestock premises kept by the Department of Agriculture while still allowing government disease-tracing functions. "This bill is intended to simply protect private records that are held by private individuals, private companies from scrutiny by the public," Butters said, and he emphasized the bill was not designed to obstruct efforts to trace animal diseases.
Butters described the broader national animal-identification program and said its purpose is to trace animals back to their farm of origin — ideally within 48 hours — to protect the food supply. After debate and sponsor explanation the House recorded a unanimous vote (68–0) in favor and referred the bill to the Senate.
