By KEVIN WALKER

Michigan Correspondent

LANSING, Mich. — Numerous bills making their way through the Michigan legislature could have a lasting impact on agriculture in the state.

The moves, controversial because a new governor and legislators beginning in 2019 might have other ideas, could alter the landscape of the industry in the state for years. Legislation would impact the state's wetlands, animal welfare rules, wages for farm workers and rules for trucks used in agriculture, among others.

The Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) has identified a number of pieces of legislation it would like to see make it through the legislature and to Gov. Rick Snyder’s desk for his signature. Once he's had time to review each piece of legislation in its final version, he will make a policy-based decision on whether to sign each one, said Jordan Kennedy, a Snyder spokesman.

Snyder, a Republican, is the outgoing governor and will be replaced on Jan. 1 by Democrat Gretchen Whitmer.

Of special interest to those at MFB is state Senate Bill 1211, a wetlands reform bill supported by MFB policy. It recently passed the Senate 23-14 and was referred to the House Competitiveness Committee for consideration.

“We think it's valuable from the standpoint of agriculture and will help to clarify state and federal jurisdictional boundaries,” said Matt Smego, MFB's government relations manager.

He noted there are “a lot” of pieces of legislation right now in Michigan that could affect the state's agriculture industry. “Needless to say, there's a lot of legislation we've been looking at,” added Katie Parrish, a spokeswoman for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters (LCV).

The LCV is opposed to S.B. 1211. It would, among other things, modify notification requirements for violations; modify the definition of “inland lake” to be greater than five acres or a “water of the United States;” and modify the definition of “stream” to be limited to evidence of continuous flow and meeting the definition of a water of the United States.

The bill would also require the Department of Environmental Quality to consider costs, existing technology and logistics when evaluating alternatives for farm and forest road construction.

“These bills will have direct negative impacts on the fish and wildlife, which sustain our hunting and fishing lifestyle and economy in Michigan,” said Drew YoungeDyke, a spokesman for the National Wildlife Federation, in referring to 1211 and several other bills impacting state wetlands.

A total of 11 House bills pertaining to the Animal Industry Act have been wending their way through the legislature during the current lame-duck session, which could continue through Dec. 20. This package of bills would rewrite the state's Animal Industry Act, making comprehensive changes.

The MFB supports the package, which would institute changes including codification of a definition of what constitutes “animal welfare,” and grant the state veterinarian authority to stop animal movement for up to 72 hours in the event of a major animal disease outbreak, then requiring permission from the affected animal industry after 72 hours.

It would also update the agriculture department's ability to seize or destroy animals based on new biosecurity practices, and require the state vet to serve as the authority for animal welfare oversight on livestock-related issues, as well as requiring them to develop and enforce laws and rules pertaining to the health and welfare of animals.

Other pieces of current legislation include one that would partially negate a statewide voter-approved measure to raise Michigan’s minimum wage and index it to the federal Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of the cost of living, or inflation.

Senate bills 1171 and 1175 would, among other things, delay the minimum wage increase to $12.05 to the year 2030. Without the bills, the minimum wage would increase to $12 in 2022 and would have further increases tied to the CPI. The Senate bills would eliminate any increases based on the CPI.

Under House Bill 5945, commercial vehicles used in agriculture would be excluded from local ordinances prohibiting commercial truck traffic. The MFB supports this bill, which passed the House by a vote of 106-3 and has been awaiting committee referral in the Senate.

Regarding the voter-approved measure on marijuana, H.B. 6330 would create an industrial hemp advisory board and require the state agriculture department to establish an industrial hemp licensing program. The MFB says it supports industrial hemp growing, but only after federal approval of hemp production (which was given, with restrictions, in a farm bill vote last week).

Another piece of lame-duck legislation, H.B. 6122, would increase the allowable moisture level of soil removed from sugar beets from 35 to 55 percent, allowing its continued exclusion from the definition of solid waste. MFB said this measure is needed because new technology is being used that removes more dirt from the beet than before, but puts more moisture into the soil than is being removed.

Increasing the moisture level allowance ensures better use of the removed soil rather than placing it in landfills as unusable, the MFB explained. The legislation passed the House unanimously.