Posted January 13, 2015
The
Indiana Senate Agriculture Committee delayed a bill vote that would give the
state more power deciding the fate of confined animal feeding, according to an
IndyStar article available here.
The Shelbyville News also published an article available here
and The Republic here.
State Sen.
Jean Leising's Senate Bill 249 would “prevent a county, municipality or
township from adopting an ordinance, resolution, rule, policy or other
requirement that prohibits building any livestock structure, so long as it's to
be built in an area zoned for agriculture and the operator follows state laws.”
Senate
Bill 249 is under scrutiny over concerns it will eliminate local authority,
according to Shelby
News.
“I have
been one of the strongest defenders of local government in the statehouse,” said
Sen. Leising.
Sen.
Leising stated that the bill addresses the concerns that many counties have
taken local action to prevent the construction of livestock buildings,
according to The
Republic.
County
commissioners are concerned the bill will set a precedent, according to Shelby
News.
“They want
to make sure these decisions continue to reside where they have historically,
and that's at the local level,” said lobbyist William Moreau.
For more information on farm bills, please visit the
National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
