Mo. Lawmakers Could Affirm Right to Farm

A proposal to amend the state constitution could affirm Missourians the right to farm, fish and hunt.

The 97th legislative session got underway Wednesday in Jefferson City and in his opening speach, House Speaker Tim Jones called on lawmakers to protect farming, fishing and hunting in Missouri from Washington DC special interest and federal bureaucrats.

The measure was pre-filled as a house bill by Rep. Jason Smith. Lawmakers alone cannot make the constitutional amemndment. Rather, lawmakers would decide whether or not to put the proposal on a statewide ballot. Voters must approve the proposal.

Other agriculture releated bills prefilled by lawmakers include:

SB 51 - On July 6, 2012, Moving Ahead For Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) was enacted into law. MAP-21 includes provisions that exempt commercial motor vehicles operating as "covered farm vehicles" from certain Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). The covered farm vehicle and the person operating the CFV are exempt by MAP-21 from several federal motor carrier safety laws and regulations applicable to for-hire motor carriers, including, but not limited to, possession of a valid commercial drivers' license, submitting to drug tests, possession of valid medical certification and others.

SB 16 - This act exempts farm work performed by children under the age of 16 from certain child labor requirements including: the obtaining of a work certificate; hours/days of performance; and certain prohibited hazardous jobs such as operating and maintaining power-driven machinery, climbing ladders, operating vehicles, and working with certain chemicals. This exemption only applies to children working on their own family farms and, when with the knowledge and consent of their parents, the family farms of others.

SB 24 - Under current law, first and second class counties may adopt building codes if given the authority by the voters. This act allows all counties to adopt building codes when authorized by voters. This act also provides that county building codes do not apply to structures used solely for agricultural purposes.

SB 56 - Current law gives both the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Senior Services certain authority to conduct inspections for purposes of food safety. Under the act, when a meat processing facility is already subject to inspection by the Missouri Department of Agriculture or the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health and Senior Services or its authorized agent is prohibited from conducting inspections at meat processing facilities for the same criteria.

HB 45 Authorizes the county commission in any county to adopt specified building codes and establish a building commission and exempts a structure used solely for specified agricultural purposes from builiding code regulations.

HB 81 Establishes the Missouri International Agricultural Exchange website to allow Missouri agricultural producers to market Missouri-produced goods to international buyers.

The 97th Missouri General Assembly 2013 session closes May 17th.