Committee advances bill to simplify county fair funding, eliminate surcharge and reduce administrative burden

Senator James Church presented a bill identified in the transcript as "SB 6:13" that would consolidate various county fair funding streams into a single agrifare fund, eliminate a 4.5% admission surcharge previously paid into livestock and poultry accounts, remove a $2-per-horse fee, and give counties more local control over district fairs and premium distributions.

Church said the bill seeks to reduce reporting complexity for largely volunteer county fair managers and to provide stable, ongoing funding without raising taxes or fees. "We're eliminating a 4.5% admission surcharge...We're getting rid of that and allowing them to keep that," he said, and added the horse fee amounted to roughly $6,000 a year and could be absorbed by the department.

A Department of Agriculture representative identified in the transcript as Wes Ford (also referred to earlier in the hearing as Wes Ward) supported the changes, saying the department spent thousands of hours tracking records in 2019 and that the bill would let livestock inspectors focus on inspections rather than administrative work.

Senator Beckham questioned language on page 12 that would allow the agrifare fund to be used for "personal services and operating expenses of the department," expressing concern that the department could use the fund at its discretion. Senator Church and the department representative said appropriation lines would include administration for inspectors and that counties would retain local control over content at county fairs. Beckham stated she "wonder[ed] why we're going backwards on morality," reflecting concern about loosening content restrictions.

Senator Church closed, moved that the bill "do pass," and the committee approved the measure by voice vote. The bill will proceed from committee for further consideration.