Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Agriculture Task Force topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House creates Agriculture Sustainability Task Force after amendments and reconsideration
Summary
House Bill 88, to form an Agriculture Sustainability Task Force and study solutions to sustain Utah agriculture, was amended to change an Executive Director membership slot to the Chair of the Utah Quality Growth Commission, further member-count amendments were adopted after reconsideration, and the bill passed 59–9 with a fiscal note of about $20,200.
On Feb. 17 the Utah House passed House Bill 88 to create an Agriculture Sustainability Task Force to examine ways to sustain the state's agriculture industry and recommend policy options.
Representative Draxler, sponsor, described the task force’s charge to look for solutions on pricing, markets, regulatory burdens and loss of productive agricultural land. He noted a fiscal note of approximately $20,200 and described the task force as an interim body that would meet to propose solutions. During floor debate Representative Sandler moved an amendment to replace the term "Executive Director of the Utah Quality Growth Commission" with "Chair of the Utah Quality Growth Commission" for task-force membership; the House adopted that amendment.
Representative Deane later moved reconsideration to add additional membership adjustments so the task force better reflected the House and Senate makeup; the House granted reconsideration and then adopted specific line amendments to change numerical membership allocations. Representative Ivory and others spoke in support, citing concerns about rising food prices and the importance of protecting agriculture.
Representative Draxler said the task force is designed to explore ways to reduce unnecessary regulation and support agricultural producers; he gave examples of local purchases by major companies to illustrate agriculture's economic contribution. After amendments and discussion, the bill passed the House by recorded vote, 59–9, and will be transmitted to the Senate for further consideration.
What happens next: bill will be considered by the Senate and, if adopted, the task force will meet in the interim and produce findings and recommendations; joint leadership will decide which interim groups to fund.
