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State bond measure to capitalize AFPIFF passed Senate but failed in House; DACF to pursue new vehicles
Summary
DACF reported that LD 2094 (the agriculture and forestry bond) passed the Senate but failed twice to reach the two-thirds threshold for enactment in the House; the department will continue pursuing funding alternatives for the AFPIFF program.
Emily Horton, Director of Policy and Community Engagement at the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, briefed the board on the status of the agriculture and forestry bond effort that had been tied to initial AFPIFF capitalization.
Horton said the bond measure (introduced as LD 2094 in September) proposed $40 million overall, with $24 million earmarked for the fund in earlier drafts. "We introduced the bill last September LD2094," she said. "It passed the Senate and went to the House and failed on enactment because it needed two-thirds by six votes." Horton described multiple amendments and alternate vehicles over the legislative session, including an amendment to LD 299; the department and advocacy partners will continue pursuing funding through future legislative vehicles and the budget process.
Board members recognized the campaign's outreach and the large number of advocates who testified for the bond during session. The department said staff will continue efforts with stakeholders and return updates to the board as legislative opportunities arise.
The bond outcome means AFPIFF will rely on existing department resources and nonbond avenues to fund the initial targeted round while advocates and staff continue to seek larger capital pools for future rounds.
