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Minnesota Senate committee advances agriculture-policy omnibus, approves labeling and agritourism changes
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Summary
The Minnesota Senate Committee on Agriculture advanced 'senate file 45 61' to the floor on March 25 after adopting multiple amendments, including updated labeling for soil/plant amendments, agritourism off‑road vehicle waivers, and clarifications for deer farms; sponsors said changes align Minnesota with other states and impose no fiscal cost.
The Minnesota Senate Committee on Agriculture, Veterans Broadband and Rural Development voted March 25 to recommend senate file 45 61 — an agriculture‑policy omnibus bill — to the full Senate as amended.
Committee Chair opened the session and moved the bill's organizing A2 amendment and a follow‑up technical A10; both were adopted by voice vote. Sponsors then offered substantive fixes that the committee approved, including an A4 amendment to change labeling requirements for soil and plant amendments, an A3 agritourism amendment to allow limited off‑road vehicle waivers, an A6 tweak on cell‑cultured food disclosure, and an A9 clarification for deer‑farm fencing rules.
Senator Jean Doernick (Senator Doernick) said the A4 amendment corrects a labeling insufficiency that had required manufacturers to list inert ingredients and amounts, effectively exposing proprietary formulations. Doernick said the amendment follows guidance from the National Organization for State Regulators and requires manufacturers to submit a certificate of composition to the Department of Agriculture at registration. "This will ensure the department continues to have the information needed to ensure the products they register meet the necessary requirements," a committee participant observed; Doernick added that she had not heard opposition and that the change has no fiscal cost.
Senator Holstrom (Senator Holstrom) described the A3 amendment as a way to add off‑road vehicles to agritourism exclusions so operators offering rides can obtain waivers while maintaining safety limits. When Senator Dames asked whether weight restrictions would change, Holstrom said they would not and that waivers would not authorize irresponsible use.
Senator Kupak said the committee also adopted A7, a drafting fix related to veterinary technicians, and A6, which narrows liability language in a cell‑cultured food provision. Senator Westrom raised the idea of adding rotational‑grazing grant language elsewhere but acknowledged finance committee review would be required and that the proposal was not included in the omnibus bill.
After the amendments were adopted, Senator Kupak moved that senate file 45 61, as amended, be recommended to pass and be sent to the floor of the Minnesota Senate with staff authorized to make technical corrections. The committee approved the motion by voice vote.
The committee chair closed by thanking members for a collaborative process and noting the committee will reconvene April 8 for a split session with the veterans affairs subcommittee.
The committee took no recorded roll‑call vote counts on the amendments; all recorded actions in this session were voice votes and were announced as adopted.
