Legislative Update 3-19

Posted by Nick Colglazier on Mar 19, 2012 in Legislative, State Affairs | 1 comment

After a very successful Farm Bureau Legislative Steak Fry this week is off to a quick start. Today there are two bills up that Farm Bureau is working on, a county commissioner election bill and the telecommunication act, and later on in the week is the bill mandating employers use the e-verify system.

HB-1159, a bill allowing the election of commisioners by district, is being heard again in the Senate State Affairs committee. Farm Bureau supports this bill and is working hard to pass this bill so our rural, nay, all counties have the option to choose how they elect their commissioners; much like the 11 largest counties now have.

The other bill Farm Bureau is testifying on today is the telecommunications modernization act. Doesn’t sound like something Farm Bureau should have an interest in? Well, the reason CFB is engaged in this bill is because of a broadband fund that would help build infrastructure in rural Colorado to help provide broadband internet access to these areas. Farm Bureau realizes the the importance of affordable access to broadband in rural area to keep rural communities on a level playing field in many area as their city cousins.

Lastly, a bill that will mandate Colorado employers use the E-Verify system when hiring new employees. CFB is strongly opposed to this bill as this bill will not help our farmers find the labor they need, burdens them with adopting an mandated system and does not correct the overarching labor problem agriculture faces. The E-Verify bill will be heard in the House Business committee on Thursday.

It looks like it could be a fun week! Remember, you can stay up to date by checking out the bill-tracking list and follow the latest happenings on the CFB Facebook page or tweets from @agrilobby. Have a great week!