House adopts agricultural bond language and votes to send the farm and forestry bond package forward
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Summary
After debate about funding approach, interest costs, and target beneficiaries, the House adopted committee and senate amendments to LD 20 94, a $45 million‑scale agricultural/forestry bond package, and voted to engross the bill for subsequent voter and constitutional steps.
The House took up LD 20 94, an agricultural and forestry bond package, and debated whether to fund agriculture and forestry via bonding or through the annual budget.
Supporters described the bond as a time‑limited, targeted investment offering low‑interest financing and capital support for farms and forest businesses facing drought, storms and tight credit. Representatives from farm towns and members with agricultural districts detailed declining farm counts and stressed the need for capital and infrastructure to keep working land productive.
Opponents said bond interest is an additional cost borne by future taxpayers and urged funding through the budget instead of borrowing. Representative Collamore (speaker 9) warned guardrails were needed to prevent a small share of farmers from receiving a disproportionate share of grant funding.
The House adopted senate amendment A and committee amendment language on the floor, and the motion to engross the bill prevailed in recorded votes. The measure will proceed through engrossing and the constitutionally required voter‑approval steps for bonds.
