Wednesday Legislative Update

Posted by Brent B on Jan 25, 2012 in State Affairs | 0 comments

We are only on day 14 and things are already getting quite busy. Last week the CFB board of directors took positions on many bills. This week many of those bills are scheduled in committee so Garin, Nick and I will be keeping busy.

Monday, HB-1010 was heard in the House Ag committee. HB-1010, which Farm Bureau supports, eliminates the requirement that a ditch company wait 3 years before reissuing a share certificate.

Also up this week in the House Transportation committee today, are a couple bills Farm Bureau supports. The first is HB-1014 which reduces the late fee on a vehicle who’s registration has expired from $25 per month to a flat fee of $20. We have also worked with the sponsor to amend the bill to keep language that allows the county clerk and recorder to reduce or waive the late fee. This bill will help cut costs to our members if the registration to a vehicle has expired while they left it sit idle, such as a truck or semi between harvests.

HB-1019 is also scheduled for this week’s Transportation committee. HB-1019 abolishes the Motor Carriers Safety Division and transfers the functions relating to the port of entry to the Colorado State Patrol.

Last but not least is the cottage foods bill, SB-48 sponsored by Senator Schwartz. This bill establishes a cottage foods law that allows for the small scale production of food in a home kitchen. It places restrictions on the types of foods that can be produced, limited to nonpotentially hazardous foods such as jams, jellies, spices and some baked goods and requires proper labeling that is to include the name and contact information of the producer, ingredients and a warning that the food was produced in a home kitchen. Farm Bureau supports this bill as it strikes the proper balance between food and consumer safety and not requiring burdensome regulation.