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Committee advances bill giving Department short-term quarantine powers, with guardrails
Summary
SB2174 SD2 would let the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity declare short emergency quarantines (96 hours, extendable by Board vote) without governor approval; DAB and DLNR supported the measure, Jonathan Hoad clarified it is narrower than a governor-level biosecurity emergency, and the committee passed the bill with amendments to add oversight and reporting.
The Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems moved SB2174 SD2 forward after hearing mixed testimony about the need, scope, and safeguards for a statutory, department-level emergency quarantine authority.
Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity staff stood on written testimony in support. Patrick Chi of the Department of Land and Natural Resources said acting quickly during the first hours of an invasion is critical and supported the expanded, narrowly tailored authority.
Multiple agricultural organizations…
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