Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee 06/28/06

The Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee met on Wednesday, June 28, 2006, and reported the following bills:

As Committed (unanimously):

Senate Bill 1107 (PN 1960)(Corman) This bill amends the Agricultural Area Security Law to provide definitions for "local moneys" and "donated value."

House Bill 2472 (PN 4055)(Hershey) This bill establishes the Farmers' Market Development Act to authorize the Department of Agriculture to establish a program to award grants for the purpose of developing or expanding farmers' markets.

Senate Resolution 325 (PN 1948)(Wenger) This resolution designates the month of August 2006 as Pennsylvania Produce Month.

Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee 06/07/06

The Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee met on Wednesday, June 7, 2006, and reported out the following bills:

As Committed (unanimously):

Senate Bill 1209 (PN 1769)(Waugh) - This bill provides for the Healthy Farms and Healthy Schools Program which will educate kindergartners and their families about the importance of choosing healthy, locally produced foods and increase awareness of Pennsylvania agriculture.


As Amended (unanimously):

Senate Bill 451 (PN 1812)(M. White) - This bill amends the Rural Pennsylvania Revitalization Act to further provide for the addition of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau to the membership of the board of directors, the eligibility of the regional campuses of the University of Pittsburgh to the list of colleges and universites eligible for grants, and an increase in the maximum grant amounts from $50,000 to $60,000.

Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee 03/29/06

The Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee met on Wednesday, March 29, 2006, and reported out the following bill:

As Committed (unanimously):

Senate Resolution 250 (PN 1648)(Wenger) - This resolution designates Tuesday, April 4, 2006, as Farm Bureau Day in Pennsylvania.

As Amended (unanimously):

House Bill 671 (PN 3764)(Reichley) - This bill amends the Agricultural Area Security Law to further provide for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements.

House Bill 1580 (PN 3765)(Phillips) - This bill amends Title 3 (Agriculture) to further provide for the regulation of Cervidae livestock operations.

Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee 10/19/05

The Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee met on Wednesday, October 19, 2005, and reported the following bills:

As Committed (unanimously):

Senate Bill 940 (PN 1230)(Waugh)   This bill amends the Agricultural Area Security Law to provide for the Land Trust Reimbursement Grant Program and the Agricultural Land Conservation Assistance Grant program.

Senate Resolution 190 (PN 1215)(Gordner)   This Resolution urges the Department of Agriculture and the Historical and Museum Commission to take inventory and catalog historic barns.

As Amended (unanimously):

Senate Bill 865 (PN 1242)(Madigan)   This bill amends Title 3 (Agriculture) to establish a domestic animal premises registration program.
 

Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee 07/01/05

The Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee met on Friday, July 1, 2005, and reported the following bill:

Reported as Committed (unanimously):

House Bill 1646 (PN 2433)(Hershey)   This bill amends Title 3 (Agriculture) by adding Chapters 3 (Local Regulation) and 5 (Nutrient Management and Odor Management). The bill prohibits local government units from adopting or enforcing an unauthorized local ordinance which is defined as an ordinance that prohibits or limits a normal agricultural operation.

Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee 06/30/05

The Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee met on Thursday, June 30, 2005, and unanimously reported the following nomination:

Ms. Barbara Grumbine for the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board

Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee 06/08/05

The Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee met on Wednesday, June 8, 2005 and reported the following bills:

As Amended (unanimously):

Senate Bill 723 (PN 879) (Wenger)   This bill amends the Agricultural Area Security Law to encourage financial partnerships between non-profit organizations and local governments, counties and/or the Commonwealth to purchase agricultural conservation easements in the state's Farmland Preservation Program.

House Bill 619 (PN 2134) (Hershey)   This bill amends the Agricultural Area Security Law by defining "commercial equine activity" and providing for the inclusion of such activity in an agricultural security area.