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Our friends at Georgia Agribusiness Council recently published a recap of the Governor’s bill signing period. The following is an excerpt from their Ag Outlook Newsletter:
Governor Kemp, joined by First Lady Marty Kemp, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, Speaker Jon Burns, Commissioner Tyler Harper, members of the General Assembly, and other state and local leaders, signed multiple pieces of legislation dealing with agriculture. The bill signing was held on Tuesday, April 30th in Valdosta.
The Governor signed a broad array of bills of importance to the industry, including legislation dealing with the ownership of agricultural land or land near military installations by certain individuals acting as an agent of a foreign adversary, measures aimed at lowering costs for producers, more regulation on the hemp market to increase safety, and an increase in the penalty for livestock theft.
While the signings were primarily focused on agriculture-related issues, the Governor used the opportunity to sign a bill that addresses an issue that goes after those who are distributing fentanyl-laced medications or controlled substances.
A rundown of the bills on which the Governor placed his signature can be seen below:
SB 420, sponsored by Senator Jason Anavitarte and in the House by Representative Clay Pirkle, prohibits the ownership or acquisition of agricultural land or non-residential land within a radius of a military location by a nonresident alien acting as an agent of a government designated as a foreign adversary, entity domiciled/majorly owned in certain countries, or governments of countries designated as a foreign adversary by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
SB 340, originally sponsored by Senator Kay Kirkpatrick and primarily carried in the House by Representative Joe Campbell, adds diesel exhaust fluid (for agricultural uses only) to the Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption (GATE) which should help alleviate some of the high input costs.
HB 827, sponsored by Representative Tyler Paul Smith and carried in the Senate by Senator Russ Goodman, increases the penalty for livestock theft and awards Title 16 law enforcement authority to the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) and includes language from HB 1164 relating to criminal trespass involving a wild animal that is contained in a cage, enclosure, etc.
SB 494, sponsored by Senator Sam Watson, and carried in the House by Representative John Corbett, and advocated by Commissioner Tyler Harper, makes changes to the framework for hemp regulation in Georgia to allow the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) to have greater oversight and enforcement power and adds labeling, packaging, and marketing requirements to protect children from misleading and dangerous marketing in regards to Hemp products.
SB 436, sponsored by Senator Sam Watson and carried in the House by Representative Chas Cannon, expands the right of way for use of farm equipment on roadways. This will allow for authorized dealers to be classified as the operator when driving on the roadway.
SB 465, sponsored by Senator Russ Goodman, and carried in the House by Representative James Burchett, targets those involved in distributing fentanyl-laced medications to unknowing consumers by creating the offense of aggravated involuntary manslaughter for persons who manufacture or sell an apparent controlled substance that contains fentanyl and cause the fentanyl overdose death of another.
Governor Kemp also signed HB 1172 on the last day of the bill review period without an official ceremony. HB 1172 carried by House Whip James Burchette and Senator Sam Watson would provide clarity to navigable water ways and private property owners. This was a priority issue for the ag community, and we appreciate all of the hard work that went into resolving this issue over the past year.
To read the entire Ag Outlook Newsletter and learn more about the Georgia Agribusiness Council Click HERE
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