POLICY WATCH CALENDAR STATES RIGHTS CONTACT WATER. Utah Farm Bureau Federation utfb.fb.org. February Council of County Presidents

Transcription

1 Utah Farm Bureau Federation utfb.fb.org POLICY WATCH CALENDAR February Council of County Presidents February UFBF Women s Conference March/April County Farm Bureau Spring Issue Surfacing Meetings STATES RIGHTS 1S HB 91, Utah Enabling Act Litigation, Rep. Sumsion (R) American Fork - Requires Utah's Attorney General to file an action to enforce the Utah Enabling Act if the United States does not comply with certain demands. Appropriates $350,000 to the Public Lands Litigation Fund allowing this action to occur. Waiting for House action. Farm Bureau supports. HB 351, Opt Out of Executive Order on White House, Rep. Ivory (R) West Jordan - Requires any State of Utah agency to report to the Utah Legislature before implementing any directive from the White House Rural Council. Waiting for House action. Farm Bureau supports. CONTACT Leland Hogan, President Leland.hogan@fbfs.com Steve Osguthorpe, V. P. saosguthorpe@aol.com Randy Parker, CEO rparker@fbfs.com Sterling Brown, V.P. of Public Policy scb@fbfs.com WATER HCR 10, Provo Canal Title Transfer, Rep. Dougall (R) Highland - Waiting for bill text. HCR 12, Urging Congress to Transfer Navajo Trust Fund Monies, Rep. Noel (R) Kanab - Waiting for bill text. 1S HB 67, Stormwater Capture Amendments, Rep. Cox (R) West Valley City Allows for commercial, mixed use or multifamily projects to collect and use precipitation without obtaining a water right from the State Water Engineer. Persons collecting the precipitation may only collect up to 2,500 cubic feet if the precipitation is absorbed into the ground or evaporated. Otherwise, persons must register with the State Water Engineer. Farm Bureau is working to amend the bill so fields, ditches, canals, etc. are not included. The bill is held in committee waiting for amendments. Farm Bureau is monitoring. NOTE: Policy Watch News headings correspond with Utah Farm Bureau policy book headings. * Waiting for the Governor's signature, or the bill failed.

2 Page 2 Check out the Real Farmwives of America and Friends on Facebook to catch a glimpse inside the world of a family farm. Follow along as a group of real farm wives blog about their hectic and amazing lives, answering questions about what they do and the food you eat. Find American Farm Bureau on Facebook and on Twitter. Find Utah Farm Bureau on Facebook Facebook.com/ UtahFarmBureau and on Twitter. HB 127, Navajo Water Rights Negotiation Account, Rep. Watkins (D) Price - Creates the Navajo Water Rights Negotiations Account that will hold state and federal funds used to develop water infrastructure on the Navajo reservation. This account is a result of nearly 10 years negotiation efforts between the State of Utah and reservation in acquiring water rights from the Colorado River - 81,500 ac. ft. of water for the reservation. Waiting for further House action. Farm Bureau supports. HB 153, Diversion of Water, Rep. Briscoe (D) Salt Lake City - Allows the State Water Engineer to reinstate a lapsed exchange application if the applicant files with a written request to reinstate and the exchange is for a small amount of water. Waiting for further House action. Farm Bureau supports. HB 170, Water Rights Amendments, Rep. McIff (R) Richfield - Waiting for bill text. HB 174, Sales and Use Tax Allocations for Water Resources Construction Fund, Rep. Painter (R) Nephi - Beginning July 1, 2015, requires Utah to annually deposit 15% of the growth in the amount of revenues collected in the current year (2011). Funds collected will go towards Lake Powell Pipeline and other future water projects. Waiting for House action. Farm Bureau supports those directly benefiting from the water projects should pay the cost. Farm Bureau opposes. HB 368, Abandonment or Forfeiture of Water Rights, Rep. Galvez (R) West Haven - Waiting for bill text. HB 369, Adjudication of Water Rights, Rep. Briscoe (D) Salt Lake City - Waiting for bill text. HB 458, Wastewater System Amendments, Rep. Painter (R) Nephi - Amends the provisions related to a loan for a municipal sewage treatment facility. Waiting for House action. Farm Bureau supports. HB 485, Change Application Amendments, Rep. Wilcox (R) Ogden - When the federal government (example the Bureau of Reclamation) wants to file for a change application, they are required to obtain signatures from both the the local water users or water district and the owner of the water right. Waiting for House action. Farm Bureau supports. HB 486, Water and Irrigation Amendments, Rep. Hendrickson (D) West Valley City - Waiting for bill text. HB 489, Safe Drinking Water Disclosure Act, Rep. Barrus (R) Centerville - Waiting for bill text. SB 78, Water Conservancy District Amendments, Sen. Valentine (R) Orem - Waiting for bill text.

3 Page 3 SB 134, State Water Development Commission Amendments, Sen. Dayton (R) Orem - Changes the composition of the current Water Development Commission by eliminating non-legislative members and making the Commission all legislative members. Farm Bureau is working to amend the bill to ensure rural Legislators, by law, remain on the Commission. Waiting for further Senate action. Farm Bureau is monitoring. Bridging the gap between the 2 % of the U.S. population who are members of farm families and the remaining 98% who are not is easier than ever thanks to social media. Facebook posts from the farm, tweets from the tractor seat and blogs from the back 40 explain how today s food is grown, processed and brought to market. Visit the Ag Chat Foundation (agchat.org) to connect with a farmer or rancher. Farm Bureau Food and Farm Facts SB 187, Forfeiture of Water Rights, Sen. Okerlund (R) Monroe - Waiting for bill text. SB 246, Share Certificates in Land Companies, Sen. Okerlund (R) Monroe - Waiting for bill text. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT SB 22, Definition of Wolf in Wildlife Resources Code of Utah, Sen. Christensen (R) North Ogden Creates a Utah wolf hunting permit if the permit is issued by Utah s Division of Wildlife Resources. Waiting for Senate action. Farm Bureau supports. SB 87, Predator Control Funding, Sen. Hinkins (R) Orangeville - Waiting for bill text. SB 245, Coyote Bounty Program, Sen. Okerlund (R) Monroe - Waiting for bill text. PUBLIC LANDS HJR 3, Federal Transfer of Public Lands, Rep. Barrus (R) Centerville - Waiting for bill text. HB 148, Transfer and Taxation of Public Lands Act, Rep. Ivory (R) West Jordan - Waiting for bill text. HB 209, Utah Lands Protection Act, Rep. Cox (R) West Valley City Expands the definition of sovereign lands to include lands claimed through judgment, decree, purchase, compact, exchange, gift or other conversion. Further, the bill prohibits Utah s Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands from selling or changing the management of certain sovereign lands. In addition, if certain sovereign lands were sold, the State School Fund would receive 5% of the net proceeds. Waiting for House action. Farm Bureau is monitoring. HB 340, State Land Use Planning, Rep. Herrod (R) Provo - Waiting for bill text.

4 Page 4 *SB 38, Wildland Fire Amendments, Sen. Dayton (R) Orem Requires a person to be liable for the cost of suppressing a wildland fire that is negligently, recklessly, or intentionally caused or spread by that person. Farm Bureau was originally concerned how this may impact private agricultural burns. Passed both the Senate and the House. Now waiting for the Governor's signature. Farm Bureau supports. SB 61, Invasive Species Amendments, Sen. Okerlund (R) Monroe - Allows Utah's Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) to spend its invasive species funds on rehabilitation efforts, not just preventing wildfires. Also, the UDAF may grant money to political subdivisions, not just state and federal agencies. The bill requests $1 million of new money. Waiting for further Senate action. Farm Bureau supports. SITLA HB 151, Trust Land Revisions, Rep. Noel (R) Kanab - Waiting for bill text. AGRICULTURE and OPEN SPACE HB 220, Classification of Counties, Rep. Menlove (R) Garland - Establishes a Legislative Interim Committee that will look at how to define a rural versus urban counties. Passed the House. Now waiting for Senate action. Farm Bureau supports. HB 302, Land Use Penalties, Rep. Morley (R) Spanish Fork - Municipalities must provide written notice to landowners after each civil penalty has occurred. In addition, landowners will have reasonable opportunity to resolve the ordinance violation. Waiting for further House action. Farm Bureau supports. SB 46, Agriculture Sustainability Act, Sen. Jenkins (R) Plain City - Requires 1st, 2nd and 3rd Class counties (voluntary for remaining counties) to create an Agriculture Sustainability Investment Fund and deposit rollback taxes into the fund. Funds will be used to purchase Agriculture Conservation Easements within the county. Furthermore, allows landowners with "prime agricultural lands" to record these lands with the county. These "prime lands" are then given added protection - specifically prohibiting political subdivisions from condemning authority. Farm Bureau supports using rollback funds to preserve agriculture land and open space. Waiting for further Senate action. Farm Bureau supports. SB 86, Agriculture Protection Amendments, Sen. Bramble (R) Orem - Requires land that is put into Agricultural Protection Areas must first be enrolled in Greenbelt. County Agricultural Advisory Boards serve as an advisory to the County Commission/Council. Creates an appeal process to the District Court. Waiting for Senate action. Farm Bureau is monitoring. *SB 118, Transferable Development Rights Amendments, Sen. Niederhauser (R) Sandy - Authorizes a municipality or county to adopt an ordinance permitting the transfer of Transferable Developmental Rights. Passed both the Senate and House. Waiting for the Governor's signature. Farm Bureau monitored. SB 122, Urban Farming Assessment Act, Sen. Niederhauser (R) Sandy Allows for land in a county of the first class (Salt Lake) that is used for urban farming to be assessed on its value for agricultural purposes. Urban farming is narrowly defined including land only 2 to 4.99 acres. In addition, allows for a 10- year rollback of taxes if the land ceases to be eligible for assessment under the urban farming provisions. Waiting for further Senate action. Farm Bureau supports.

5 Page 5 PLANNING COMMISSIONS Utah Farm Bureau 9865 S. State St. Sandy, UT utfb.fb.org Did You Know? Direct-to- Consumer sales of farm products total about $1.2 billion per year. Talk to those who grow or produce fresh fruits & veggies, flowers, meats, cheeses, baked goods and other value-added foods at a farmers market. Murray and South Jordan Farmers Markets will begin in early August. For more information, call Aurline Boyack HB 176, County Land Use Plans, Rep. Noel (R) Kanab - Creates a process for a county to recommend its county land-use plan that involve federal lands to Utah's legislature. Once approved by the legislature, then the United States Congress can take action. Farm Bureau supports county-by-county plans without state or federal intrusion. Waiting for House action. Farm Bureau opposes. HB 464, County Land Use Amendments, Rep. Wright (R) Holden - Waiting for bill text. FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY HB 198, Growing of Food, Rep. Herrod (R) Provo - Food that is solely grown or stored by an individual and consumed by the same individual or immediate family member can not be regulated by the local or federal government. Farm Bureau is considering some possible unintended consequences with the bill. Waiting for further House action. Farm Bureau is monitoring. HB 505, Agricultural Code Amendments, Rep. Galvez (R) West Haven - Waiting for bill text. SB 34, Production and Sale of Food in Utah Revisions, Sen. Anderson (R) Cedar City Prohibits federal regulation of an agricultural product that remains in Utah after it is made, grown, or produced in Utah. Also, allows a person to identify certain agricultural products by indicating that they are Made in Utah, Grown in Utah, or Produced in Utah. Farm Bureau feels there are a number of unintended consequences with this bill. Farm Bureau opposes. ANIMAL HEALTH HB 344, Disposal of Livestock, Rep. Mathis (R) Vernal - Waiting for bill text. AGRICULTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT HB 28, Economic Development Task Force, Rep. Wilson (R) Kaysville Creates a 13-member Economic Development Task Force comprised of legislators and various business leaders. The purpose of the Task Force would be to look at ways to increase economic activity throughout the state, attract more high paying jobs, attract more businesses and decrease undo regulations. Farm Bureau worked to amend the bill to include at least one rural member to serve on the Task Force. Passed the House. Now waiting on the Senate. Farm Bureau supports.

6 Page 6 HB 76, Air Quality Task Force, Rep. Arent (D) Salt Lake City Creates a legislative Air Quality Task Force comprised of five Senators and eight Representatives. The Task Force purposes would be two-fold: review public and private sector efforts to improve air quality, and second, review and suggest changes to state laws that could improve air quality. Farm Bureau has two concerns: this effort may be duplicating what the Executive Branch is already doing, and second, ensuring rural Utah is properly represented on the Task Force. Passed the House. Now waiting on the Senate. Farm Bureau is monitoring. *HB 199, Elimination of Daylight Saving Time, Rep. Nielson (R) Bountiful Exempts the State of Utah from the federal law requiring observance of daylight saving time. Further, the bill requires the State of Utah to observe Mountain Standard Time throughout the year. Failed to get out of Committee - bill failed. Farm Bureau monitored. *SB 11, Department of Environmental Quality Boards Adjudicative Proceedings, Sen. Dayton (R) Orem amends the requirements when adjudicative proceedings challenge Utah s Department of Environmental Quality. Passed both the Senate and the House. Waiting for the Governor's signature. Farm Bureau supports. 1S SB 21, Department of Environmental Quality Boards Revisions, Sen. Dayton (R) Orem Amends the membership of each board that is created under Utah's Department of Environmental Quality. Further, requires specific qualifications for board members, transfers some powers and duties from the boards to the executive director and gives rulemaking authority to the Department of Environmental Quality. Passed the Senate. Now waiting for House action. Farm Bureau supports. EMINENT DOMAIN 1S HB 74, Eminent Domain Amendments, Rep. Noel (R) Kanab Allows for qualified agencies or persons to bring eminent domain action for roads necessary to provide access for exploration, development, or production of oil or gas, if the agency/person first complies with specific negotiation and notice requirements. Waiting for further House action. Farm Bureau is monitoring. HB 457, Eminent Domain Revisions, Rep. Last (R) Hurricane - Waiting for bill text. HB 511, Eminent Domain of Federal Lands, Allows to cities, towns and counties to use eminent domain on property possessed by the federal government unless the property was acquired by the federal government with the consent of the Utah Legislature. Waiting for House action. Farm Bureau is monitoring ENERGY HB 48, Coalition of Energy Producing States, Rep. Barrus (R) Centerville Changes the number of state Senators that can serve on the Multi-State Domestic Energy Committee from two to one. Committee members are charged to encourage domestic development of energy in the United States and ensure each state continues to develop domestic natural resources. Passed the House. Now waiting for Senate/House concurrence. Farm Bureau supports.

7 Page 7 HB 137, Energy Changes, Rep. Barrus (R) Centerville - Further defines the responsibilities of Utah's Office of Energy Development. This office was created last year by Utah's legislature with emphasis in further developing responsible energy throughout the state. Waiting for further House action. Farm Bureau supports. HB 330, Subsurface Geothermal Energy Amendments, Rep. Noel (R) Kanab - Waiting for bill text. 1S SB 12, Energy Amendments, Sen. Madsen (R) Lehi Allows for authorized electric corporations to enter into contracts to supply electric service from a renewable energy facility. Waiting for further Senate action. Farm Bureau is monitoring. SB 77, Surface Owner Protection Act, Sen. Van Tassell (R) Vernal - Waiting for bill text. SB 83, Uintah Basin Energy Zones, Creates a "Uintah Basin Energy Zone" through much of Duchesne and Uintah counties on Forest Service, BLM and SITLA lands. This Zone is established for the purpose of maximizing efficient and responsible development of energy and mineral resources. Farm Bureau is working with the Senator to ensure energy development is not given higher priority than livestock grazing and other multiple uses. Waiting for Senate action. Farm Bureau is monitoring. MONETARY AND TAX HB 41, Property Taxation of Business Personal Property, Rep. Painter (R) Nephi Increases the taxable tangible personal property tax exemption for business personal property from $3,500 to $25,000. Held in the House committee for amendments. Farm Bureau supports. TRESPASS HB 86, Posting of Trespass, Rep. Mathis (R) Vernal - Amends the requirements of landowners on noncultivated lands to post "No Trespass" signs in a location that can be reasonably seen by a person in the area. Current law states posting must occur at all corners, fishing streams crossing property lines, roads, gates and rights-of-way entering the land. Waiting for House action. Farm Bureau supports. HB 187, Agricultural Operation Interference, Rep. Mathis (R) Vernal - A person is guilty of a Class A Misdemeanor if he/she records an image or sound of an agriculture operation without permission of the farmer/ rancher. Waiting for House action. Farm Bureau supports. HB 192, Private Property Rights, Rep. Wilson (R) Kaysville - Ensures property owners are not responsible to keep the property safe for trespassers to enter. Current law states that landowners are not responsible to keep the property safe from persons entering the property. Waiting for further House action. Farm Bureau supports.

8 Page 8 LABOR HB 143, Alien Workers Related Amendments, Rep. Wright (R) Holden - Amends specific tax provisions in the "Utah Pilot Sponsored Resident Immigrant Program Act" (last years HB 116 bill). Specifically, fees imposed to the guest worker program will be equivalent to income and employment taxes. Further, if the federal government collects federal taxes, then Utah is not required to impose or collect the certain employment fees. Waiting for House action. Farm Bureau supports. HB 300, Illegal Alien Related Amendments, Rep. Herrod (R) Provo - Changes last years "Utah Immigration Accountability and Enforcement Act" (HB 116) to the name of "Utah Illegal Alien Family Transition Pilot Program." Changes the implementation date from July 2014 to when the President of the United States signs into law adequate immigration legislation. Urges Utah's Congressional delegation to support the establishment of a three-year agricultural visa that applies to year around operations. Requires e-verify for all employers - including agriculture. Waiting for House action. Farm Bureau is monitoring. SB 79, Immigration Related Amendments, Sen. Robles (D) Salt Lake City - Waiting for bill text. SB 157, Utah Immigration Accountability and Enforcement, Sen. Urquhart (R) St. George - Repeals the "Utah Immigration Accountability and Enforcement Act (HB 116). This bill passed the Utah Legislature last session. Farm Bureau monitored the bill last year. New Farm Bureau policy supports the bill that passed last year. Waiting for Senate action. Farm Bureau opposes. TRANSPORTATION HB 133, Vehicle Registration Amendments, Rep. Peterson (R) Ogden - Allows for a 6-month vehicle registration if the vehicle is less than 12,000 pounds. This bill is an attempt to help those with boats, RV's, etc. that may be used only certain months of the year. Farm Bureau is looking into whether farm trucks and Implements of Husbandry should be included. Waiting for House action. Farm Bureau is monitoring. HB 401, Off-Highway Vehicle Revisions, Rep. Painter (R) Nephi - Exempts off-highway vehicles of husbandry and which are required to have a sticker from having to register. Waiting for House action. Farm Bureau supports. 1S SB 15, Off-Highway Vehicle Amendments, Sen. Okerlund (R) Monroe Increases the registration fee for snowmobile registrations from $17 to $26. Passed the Senate. Now waiting for House action. Farm Bureau is monitoring. 1S SB 113, License Plates Amendments, Sen. Robles (D) Salt Lake City Allows for license plates to not be required to be attached to the front of a vehicle if the vehicle was not originally designed or manufactured to hold a front license plate. Also, the bill requires to have certain lights for license plates. Farm Bureau is concerned this bill may also include Vehicles of Husbandry. Waiting for further Senate action. Farm Bureau is monitoring.

9 Page 9 HEALTHCARE HB 54, Prescription Drug Access in Rural Areas, Rep. Pitcher (R) Ogden Prohibits a third party payor of prescription drug benefits from charging a patient higher co-payments for a prescription drug if the patient resides in a rural area of the state and chooses not to use an out-of-state mail order pharmacy. Waiting for House action. Farm Bureau is monitoring. NOTE: Policy Watch News headings correspond with Utah Farm Bureau policy book headings. * Waiting for the Governor's signature, or the bill failed.