To Repeal The Law Concerning Natural Organic Fertilizers.
Summary
SB224 repeals Arkansas Code Title 2, Chapter 19, Subchapter 5, which is the state law specifically governing “one hundred percent (100%) natural organic fertilizer.” The repealed provisions define that product category, set minimum guaranteed nutrient analysis standards, and require that such fertilizers be made only from specified organic animal or plant-derived materials without synthetic additives. The bill also removes the associated framework for State Plant Board oversight of manufacture and sale of these products.
Under the repealed law, the State Plant Board had authority to regulate and supervise the manufacture and sale of 100% natural organic fertilizer, including registering manufacturers, collecting sampling and analysis fees, and imposing penalties consistent with other fertilizer laws. SB224 eliminates that separate regulatory subchapter, while preserving the exemption for private sale of unprocessed animal litter that is not marketed as 100% natural organic fertilizer. In practical terms, the bill narrows or removes a specialized statutory category and its related compliance requirements for affected fertilizer producers and sellers.
Impact
SB224 amends state law by deleting Arkansas Code §§ 2-19-501 through 2-19-503, thereby removing the statutory definition, labeling/guarantee standards, and Plant Board regulatory authority specific to 100% natural organic fertilizer. The bill leaves general fertilizer regulation in place, but it eliminates this distinct subcategory and the associated registration, fee, and enforcement provisions for manufacturers and sellers of products marketed under that label. The exemption for private sales of unprocessed animal litter remains intact.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong, unanimous support for the bill, with 29-0 passage in the Senate and 99-0 passage in the House on third reading. No committee transcript is available, but the recorded votes indicate the measure was noncontroversial and broadly accepted by both chambers. The lack of recorded opposition suggests the repeal was viewed as a straightforward cleanup or deregulation measure rather than a contested policy change.
Contention
No specific points of contention are reflected in the provided materials, and no committee debate transcript is available. The only identifiable policy issue is whether Arkansas should continue to maintain a separate legal and regulatory category for 100% natural organic fertilizer, including Plant Board oversight and product standards. Any potential concern would likely come from fertilizer manufacturers, organic input sellers, or agricultural regulators affected by the removal of those specialized requirements, but no opposition is documented in the vote record.