Advocate

第十三周立法会报告

 

LEGISLATIVE REPORT  WEEK 13

April 6, 2022

 

IN THIS ISSUE:

  • 大会无限期休会
  • GFB的#1优先级获得最终通过
  • 生奶法案获得最终通过
  • FY23 Budget Complete
  • 法案被送到了州长的办公桌上

 

大会永远休会

On Monday, April 4th, 随着大会在午夜后不久休会，2022年立法会议落下帷幕. 这标志着两年两年期的结束和即将开始的繁忙的竞选季节, 许多立法者要么退出公共服务，要么寻求更高的职位.  

On the final legislative day there was a great deal of work done as lawmakers sought to wrap up legislative priorities and pass the FY23 budget, 这是宪法规定他们必须完成的任务. On Legislative Day 40, 乔治亚州农场局(GFB)看到了焦点问题的通过, the Freedom to Farm Act, and another priority issue, the Georgia Raw Dairy Act. 在今年的会议上提出的1170项法案中, 只有一些法案得到了参众两院的通过, 现在有40个日历日的时间由州长签署成为法律. 州长签署新法案使之成为法律的最后期限是5月14日. 

GFB staff have been at the Capitol each day of the legislative session to ensure our members were well represented and to push our priority issues forward. 我们很荣幸能在亚特兰大的金色穹顶下为你们发声, 努力保护乔治亚州的头号产业. 要查看本次会议通过的法案的最终摘要，请继续阅读下面的内容. 

4月4日星期一是2022年全国人大第40天. (图片来源:Georgia House Photo)

 

Gfb的第一优先事项获得最终通过

乔治亚州农场局的焦点问题, the Freedom to Farm Act, 本周，在2022年立法会议的最后一天，众议院对该法案进行了同意投票, also called Sine Die. With this vote of Y:106 to N:60, HB 1150已获得最终通过，正在送往州长办公桌，现在必须签署成为法律. 尽管有很多来自环保组织和其他组织的反对, GFB and allied agricultural organizations were able to dispel much of the false information being pushed about the motivation for this bill. 众议院和参议院农业委员会共听取了该法案五次, with each committee making changes to balance the rights of farmers and neighbors while still ensuring strong protections for agriculture against nuisance lawsuits. The Freedom to Farm Act has been many years in the making and will pay off for many years to come as the ever-changing landscape of Georgia presents additional challenges to our state’s farm families.  

HB 1150 will provide agricultural operations with protection after two years of operating so long as they are complying with all laws, rules, regulations, and local zoning ordinances. Nothing in this bill negates any environmental law or the ability of local governments to determine where farms can be located and operate. The bill even resets the 2-year window of opportunity for someone to bring a nuisance suit if a farm starts a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO). GFB要感谢每个农业委员会的主席，Rep. 罗伯特·迪基(R-Musella)和参议员. Larry Walker (R-Perry), 感谢他们的辛勤工作和奉献精神，让这项法案通过了终点线. This undertaking took the collective efforts of many other agricultural organizations including the Georgia Agribusiness Council, Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, Georgia Forestry Association, 佐治亚州水果和蔬菜种植者协会, 乔治亚州绿色产业协会, Georgia Milk Producers, Georgia Poultry Federation, and the Georgia Urban Ag Council, 以及其他州的商业伙伴，包括全国独立企业联合会和乔治亚商会.  

We would also like to thank all the GFB members who actively engaged alongside us by getting in touch with their legislators to advocate for this issue. 没有我们亚洲体育博彩平台强大的基层支持, 像这样的重大立法努力是不可能的.  

Freedom to Farm in Georgia

Rep. 罗伯特·迪基(R-Musella)支持众议院第1150号法案, the Freedom to Farm Act, 为这次立法会议的最终通过干杯.

 

生乳制品法案获得最终通过

Along with HB 1150, another GFB priority issue, the Georgia Raw Dairy Act, 周一，该法案在众议院以110票对55票获得通过, 把它送到州长桌上让他签字. GFB与格鲁吉亚农业综合企业理事会密切合作, Georgia Milk Producers, and the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association for multiple years to determine the best path forward on this issue and ultimately towards the passage of this legislation. Under existing law, raw milk can only be purchased under a pet milk label that is administered by the Georgia Department of Agriculture with no safety testing or regulations in place. 《正规博彩网站评级》确保出售和消费的生奶尽可能安全. Under the current pet milk label, 人们患病的风险很高，给整个乳制品行业带来了污点. 这项立法不仅保护了乳制品行业的长期声誉, 但它为小型乳制品生产商销售生奶提供了合法途径. For some dairies, 这可能是一条生命线，因为近年来原料奶需求飙升，可能会带来溢价. With the passage of this bill, raw milk will be legal to sell for human consumption under a set of safety protocols and a regulatory framework that promotes consumer confidence.  

We want to thank Rep. Clay Pirkle for sponsoring this legislation and for the great deal of time and effort he put in to making the necessary changes that ultimately led to the bill’s final passage. Without the efforts of Rep. Pirkle, our allied organizations, 以及最近几天和几周内与他们的立法者联系的所有GFB成员, this would not have been possible.  

Rep. 克莱·皮尔克尔(R-Ashburn)支持众议院第1175号法案, the Georgia Raw Dairy Act, 为这次立法会议的最终通过干杯.

Rep. 克莱·皮尔克尔(R-Ashburn)支持众议院第1175号法案, the Georgia Raw Dairy Act, 为这次立法会议的最终通过干杯.

 

FY23 BUDGET COMPLETE

On the final legislative day, 众议院和参议院都同意了一份关于HB 911的会议委员会报告, 将23财年预算送到州长的办公桌上. GFB要感谢肯普州长和拨款委员会主席. Terry England (R-Auburn), and Sen. Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia), 感谢他们在今年预算上的辛勤工作，感谢他们对格鲁吉亚农业的持续支持. 以下是今年预算的亮点，以及支持格鲁吉亚头号经济驱动力的内容.  

  • 所有全职政府雇员一次性加薪5000美元.  
  • 为乔治亚州农业部拨款9,089,383美元.  
  • $324,2011年恢复资金，以抵消雅典/蒂夫顿兽医实验室的紧缩削减.  
  • 为佐治亚种植农场到食品银行项目提供100万美元的初始资金和配套资金.  
  • 一次性拨款55000美元用于修复乔治亚州阿什本的国家花生纪念碑.  
  • $1,884,774 in Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption fees to be dedicated to the Georgia’s Agricultural Trust Fund for marketing and promotion of our states Farmers Markets.  
  • $225,为增加家禽兽医诊断实验室的维护费用而增加的资金.  
  • $80,增加每个自然保护区的基础资金，以支持当地的环境保护, 国家水土保持委员会的自由裁量保护项目.  
  • $692,300万元，为国家水土保持委员会提供方案评审经费和技术支持岗位. 
  • 14.4万美元用于资助一名城市/郊区农业教育专家. 
  • $100,为佛洛伊德县的青年农民项目提供了1万美元的资金, 并为班克斯县的青年农民项目提供额外资金, Barrow County, and Pelham City. 
  • $140,为格鲁吉亚农协增加一名工作人员和两名农业教育支助工作人员提供经费. 
  • 9万美元用于卡尔霍恩县的温室项目.  
  • 格鲁吉亚自然资源部的业务经费增加50万美元.  
  • 经费1 901 440美元，以抵消农业实验站的紧缩减少. 
  • $2,180,000 to provide 11 new faculty positions for agricultural initiatives at the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at the University of Georgia. 
  • 增加1 768 217美元的资金，以抵消合作推广服务处的紧缩减少. 
  • 增加42,748美元的资金，以抵消林业合作社推广的紧缩减少. 

 

BILLS HEADED TO GOVERNOR'S DESK

要了解具体法案的更多信息，请访问 Georgia General Assembly website 并使用右上方的“搜索法规”工具.

 

HB 997:
Reps. 华生，英格兰，伯恩斯，巴克纳，哈切特等等
This proposal would provide for a statewide constitutional referendum and question on the 2022 ballot to allow for an ad-valorem tax exemption on timber equipment and products. 根据该法案，将被豁免的设备包括伐木设备，如伐木机, loaders, bulldozers, skid steers, etc. 豁免还包括木材产品，如树木和其他木纤维产品.
众议院于2022年3月15日以替代方式通过/通过. 参议院于2022年3月30日通过/通过.

 

HB 1041:
Reps. Pirkle, Jasperse, Watson, England, Corbett等等
这项立法将农村医院的税收抵免额从每年6500万美元提高到7500万美元.
众议院于2022年3月11日以替代方式通过/通过. 参议院于2022年3月30日通过/通过.

 

HB 1055:
Reps. 雷德利，科比特，巴顿和安德森
该法案将修改“全地形车”的定义，将最大重量从2500磅增加到3500磅.
House Passed/Adopted on 2/07/2022. Senate Passed/Adopted on 4/1/2022.

 

HB 1147:
Reps. 罗德，科比特，拉胡德，雷德利和史密斯
该法案将授权全年狩猎和诱捕浣熊和负鼠. 
House Passed/Adopted on 2/15/2022. 参议院于2022年3月17日通过/以替代方式通过. 众议院于2022年3月30日同意参议院的替代方案.

 

HB 1150:
Reps. 迪基，华生，英格兰，贾斯珀斯和皮尔克尔
也被称为农业自由法案, HB 1150, addresses ambiguity in Georgia’s current Right to Farm statute and seeks to protect farmers from frivolous nuisance claims brought by those who do not like the inherent aspects of agriculture. 格鲁吉亚的头号经济驱动力是农业, 保护为我们提供食物和纤维的家庭和企业符合既得利益. There has been an increase in the number of nuisance claims brought against Georgia farms due to recent federal court precedent that turns current Right to Farm law on its head. 该法案将允许农场在一段时间后获得确定性, 只要他们在法律范围内按照所有的规章制度运作, 他们将免受不必要的妨害诉讼.
众议院于2022年3月3日以替代方式通过/通过. 参议院于2022年4月1日通过/以替代方式通过. 众议院于2022年4月4日同意参议院的替代方案.

 

HB 1175:
Reps. 皮尔克尔，坎普，坎贝尔和詹金斯
该提案是由众议院农业委员会成员组成的夏季研究委员会提出的. Chaired by Rep. Clay Pirkle, 委员会调查了销售供人食用的生奶合法化的问题. 随着乳制品行业的技术进步，提供了一种非常安全的产品, 许多人认为，有一种方法可以生产出未经巴氏消毒的生牛奶，让人类可以安全食用. Many in the dairy industry, especially smaller producers, have been seeking a way to increase their already slim margins with a product like raw milk that brings a premium price due and has an increasing consumer demand. This bill would allow for the legal sale of raw milk for human consumption under a set of specific rules and regulations that seek to ensure a safe product.
众议院于2022年3月3日以替代方式通过/通过. 参议院于2022年4月1日通过/以替代方式通过. 众议院于2022年4月4日同意参议院的替代方案.

 

HB 1292:
Reps. Jasperse, Mathis, Erwin, England和Pirkle
This bill would prohibit any student who is participating in a 4-H sponsored activity or program from being counted as absent at school.
House Passed/Adopted on 3/1/2022. 参议院于2022年3月28日通过/通过.

 

HB 1303:
Reps. Dickey, England, Pirkle, Erwin, Bentley等
This bill would transition a pilot program that has been in place for elementary agricultural education to an ongoing and permanent program. 它还要求学校聘请一名初级农业教育教师来管理该项目.
House Passed/Adopted on 3/1/2022. 参议院于2022年3月22日通过/以替代方式通过. 众议院于2022年4月1日同意参议院的替代方案.

 

HB 1384:
Reps. 詹金斯，坎普，格林，贾斯珀斯和奈特
This proposal would allow for the use of ungraded lumber in the construction or repair of any uninhabited structure on property zoned for residential or agricultural use.
House Passed/Adopted on 3/11/2022. 参议院于2022年4月4日通过/以替代方式通过.

 

HB 1443:
Reps. Gaines, Wiedower, Gambill, Hagan, Cameron等等
This bill would require that a mobile food service establishment permit be recognized in all counties while still being subject to local ordinances and the county’s board of health.
众议院于2022年3月15日以替代方式通过/通过. 参议院于2022年3月30日通过/通过.

 

SB 396:
Sens. 古德曼，琼斯二世，沃克三世，哈珀，西姆斯和其他人
This bill seeks to create the Georgia Farm to Foodbank (F2FB) Program by changing the Georgia Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 这项倡议是州长的优先事项，在他的预算提案中包括了800美元,000 to fund the program. The funds will be used for grants to provide Georgia Grown products straight from producers to regional foodbanks that will be able to use that food to feed those who need food assistance. The program will be administered by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and they will submit an annual report that contains information on where the food came from and where it went.
参议院于2022年2月11日通过/通过. House Passed/Adopted on 3/23/2022.

 

SB 486:
Sens. 哈珀，沃克三世，安德森，西姆斯，古德曼
Last year GFB worked with Sen. 李·安德森(R-Grovetown)将通过SB 247, 使商品委员会送达通知的程序现代化, hold public hearings, 并投票更好地利用佣金资金，更有效地接触生产者. 该法案将为丙烷商品委员会提供同样的现代化和更新.
参议院于2022年3月4日通过/通过. 众议院于2022年3月29日通过/通过.

 

Public Policy Department Staff

Alex Bradford, Director
Raynor Churchwell, Agricultural Programs Manager
Katie Duvall，宣传和政策发展协调员
Renee Jones, Operations Coordinator
Jake Matthews, Governmental Affairs Specialist
Jeremy Taylor农业项目专家