There's much to be admired in Forum News Service's Bill would protect big livestock producers from nuisance lawsuits, but Don Davis misses the mark at a key point in covering today's Minnesota House Civil Law and Data Practices committee hearing on HF582.
On March 2, Bluestem Prairie posted about the bill (and its state senate companion in What's behind Big Ag's move to change Minnesota's nuisance laws--and why it matters.
Via the Morris Sun Tribune, Davis reports:
The bill faces more committee stops before reaching a full House vote. A similar Senate bill, sponsored by three southern Minnesota Republican senators, awaits its first hearing.
In fact, SF482 was heard on February 18 in the Jobs, Agriculture and Rural Development, which laid the bill on the table. Moreover, its chief author, Austin state senator Dan Sparks, is a Democrat who chairs the committee.
The bill was amended today to remove language that would have prevented active lawsuits from going ahead. The amendment also required a facility to be out of compliance with state noise and odor standards.
As Davis reports, the committee voted 6-4 to send the bill to the House Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee, despite additional opposition from city and township officials:
City and township officials said Anderson's bill would limit their ability to bring nuisance claims against large farm operations. Environmentalists also oppose the bill.
Here's the video of Tuesday's hearing, discussion and vote:
Photo: Sows and piglets in the Todd County swine barn that prompted a nuisance lawsuit and Protein Sources to seek a bill against nuisance lawsuits. Learn more in our earlier post, What's behind Big Ag's move to change Minnesota's nuisance laws--and why it matters.
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