Legislatures in Alabama and Georgia are considering bills that impact agriculture, while Florida’s legislature has adjourned their regular session dates. The Alabama Legislature is considering several bills including those dealing with healthcare, tethering or confining of dogs, utility tax exemptions, funding of CAFOs, funding the state’s feral swine program, and private property rights bills. On the rural healthcare bill, Alabama Farmer’s Federation External Affairs Department Director Brian Hardin said, “Legislators overwhelmingly approved Alfa Health Plans last year to combat affordability issues while offering coverage outside the standard, overregulated options on the current market. Legislatively mandated health coverage threatens that affordability for not only Alfa Health Plans but all insurance plans offered throughout the state.”
In Florida, the legislature has adjourned with work remaining on the budget expected to commence when they reconvene after Easter. Additional topics to be discussed then is property tax reform as well as congressional redistricting. According to the Florida Fertilizer and Agrochemical Association, the bills they were tracking that impacted agriculture included the Florida Farm Bill, a bill relating to former phosphate mining sites, a bill to streamline the agricultural enclave designation process, and pesticide product liability bill that did not advance.
According to the Georgia Agribusiness Council, the General Assembly voted to suspended the state’s fuel tax, personal property tax refunds, as well as renaming the Georgia Development Authority, egg candling provisions, veterinary telemedicine and veterinary teletriage and a rabies vaccination bill.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.