On Tuesday, March 2nd, the Senate Agriculture Committee adopted a substitute amendment to HB1210, which would amend the composition of the Arkansas State Plant Board. The substitute amendment proposes to make several modifications to the current composition of the State Plant Board and reform the nomination and appointment processes for individuals to serve on the board (summary and bill/amendment information below). The bill in its new form is cosponsored by all members of the Senate and House Agriculture Committees.
More below:
Short summary:
- Total number of voting members increased to 17 (Plant Board maintains powers and duties regarding rulemaking and enforcement)
- Row crop farmer representation increased with addition of 2 new row crop producer seats
- Bill includes the combining of 2 exiting seats into 1 - Horticulture (horticulture society) and green industry (nurserymen) seats were combined
- Organizations and associations retain seats and their role in recommending persons to serve
More specifics:
- Horticulture and Green Industry (nursery) seats were combined with appointment authority vested in Gov and a confirmation process by Senate (these two associations still able to nominate)
- Every organization making nominations will be required to submit at least 2 nominees, Governor would appoint, and Senate would confirm
- 2 new row crop farmer seats to be appointed by the Gov & confirmed by the Senate (no explicit tie in with trade organization/producer interest group)
- One of the former farmer at-large seats was converted to a soybean grower;
- and the other was a "feed grain" grower
- Other industry orgs with seats: Plant Food Association (fertilizer); Ark Aerial Applicators Association; Forestry Association; Oil Marketers Association; Crop Protection Association; Arkansas Pest Management Association;
- There remains 2 seats for livestock and forage respectively
- There remains a seat for cotton farmer and for rice farmer
https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/FTPDocument?path=%2FAMEND%2F2021R%2FPublic%2FHB1210-S1.pdf
https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=HB1210&ddBienniumSession=2021%2F2021R&Search=