Bill would create joint task force to study regulatory stress in agriculture

House Bill 2619 would establish a joint legislative task force to examine aspects of the regulatory environment that contribute to stress among agricultural producers and recommend actions to streamline or modify rules. Committee staff said the task force would include legislative members, the governor’s office and multiple state agencies, be staffed by nonpartisan legislative staff and report recommendations by Nov. 2028; the fiscal note showed operating costs of $71,518 across a four‑year outlook.

Representative Tom Dent, who spoke in support, framed the measure as arising from work-group findings that regulatory complexity contributes to higher suicide rates in the agricultural sector and urged colleagues to support a targeted review to reduce burdens on producers. He described the task force as an opportunity to identify specific regulations that could be reduced or eliminated to ease producer stress.

The committee closed the public hearing without taking a vote; the bill will be listed for possible executive session.