Transcript Highlights:

• We can do poultry.
• So, a parallel example for that is the poultry exemption, which...
• <00:39:03.280> laws to the uh p our rabbit and poultry laws to the uh p our rabbit and poultry
• <00:39:21.680> is that is that for rabbits and poultry is that is that for rabbits and poultry
• poultry poultry >> represent<00:39:54.240> Skully.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Environment and Agriculture Committee met in work session on retained House Bill 396, which would exempt meat and meat food products slaughtered and prepared in-state for in-state sale from certain inspections. The discussion centered on the bill’s conflict with federal law and whether any state action could help small farmers process and sell cuts of meat locally. Representative Comtois argued the current federal system unfairly burdens New Hampshire farmers and consumers, while committee members and witnesses repeatedly noted that federal action would likely be required. Mr. Johnson explained that the committee’s prior resolution asked USDA to allow small and very small slaughter plants to use custom-exempt criteria with a third-party inspector, and said discussions had been held with federal offices, but no change had been secured. Members and witnesses described the practical limits facing small producers, including the scarcity of USDA-inspected facilities in New Hampshire, long booking lead times, and the cost of shipping animals out of state. Representative German and others noted that slaughter schedules and seasonal grazing patterns make compliance difficult for smaller farms. Farm Bureau representatives said they were continuing to educate federal officials, but that the USDA secretary’s visit to a local operation had been rejected. They also explained that one local operation can process USDA-inspected meat, but that still involves federal inspection. Several members asked about possible exemptions, workarounds, or whether a state bill would be needed if federal relief were granted; the response was that a federal exemption or rule change would be sufficient and no state action would then be required. The committee also heard broader policy views. Senator Dan Innis said there was strong Senate support for helping small farms and that the issue is mainly federal overreach and economics, not food safety, while acknowledging the risk of federal enforcement against farmers. He compared the issue to other federal-state conflicts and said the current law reflects outdated concerns from the early meatpacking era. Members discussed whether the bill should be amended to include limits on the number of animals processed, similar to poultry rules, to make it more politically viable. No vote was taken during the work session, and the bill remained under discussion for possible amendment before the retained-bill deadline.

Transcript Highlights:

• have struggled with high path even influenza, and this bill establishes a program to award grants to poultry
• As you guys all know, last week was Poultry Day at the Capitol. with that just to move things along with
• Workers or poultry and livestock processing<00:15:15.600> employees<00:15:16.560> that
• Commissioner Peterson said the Department of Health has been doing this on poultry all along, but also
• industry so with that I'd to our poultry industry so with that I'd appreciate<00:22:58.120> a

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there a prohibition with cattle on feeding them parts of poultry or poultry manure?
• poultry on feeding them parts of poultry poultry on feeding them parts of poultry or<00:19:29.440
• > poultry or poultry or poultry manure<00:19:31.640> Dr<00:19:32.000> haes<00:19
• pathogenic AV influenza in in poultry pathogenic AV influenza in in poultry that's<00:35:17.720>
• those 12 28 were livestock and poultry those 12 28 were livestock and poultry calaf<01:29:26.719

Bills: HF601, HF271, HF1101, HF979

Keywords: agriculture, depredation compensation, livestock, crop damage, elk, wolves, wildlife management, skills path program, career and technical education, CTE, dual credit, postsecondary options enrollment, apprenticeship, apprenticeship readiness, dual training, work-based learning, career pathways, skilled trades, workforce development, high school to career

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:07:35.800> flock Regarding a small backyard poultry flock Regarding a small backyard poultry
• All of the towns in my district allow small backyard poultry flocks.
• All of the towns in my district allow small backyard poultry flocks.
• All of the towns in my district allow small backyard poultry flocks.
• district allow small backyard poultry district allow small backyard poultry flocks.<01:13:57.760

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Particularly, a great example is our poultry industry, our largest egg industry in the state.
• Particularly, a great example is our poultry industry, our largest egg industry in the state.
• Particularly, a great example is our poultry industry, our largest egg industry in the state.
• Particularly, a great example is our poultry industry, our largest egg industry in the state.
• Particularly, a great example is our poultry industry, our largest egg industry in the state.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:02 Attendance Roll Call 00:24 SB 73 Discussion 02:40 SB 73 Roll Call Vote 05:05 SB 155 Discussion 06:48 SB 155 Roll Call Vote 14:00, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Workplaces for Meat and Poultry Workplaces for Meat and Poultry Processing<01:02:43.640> Workers
• the Safe Workplaces for Meat and Poultry the Safe Workplaces for Meat and Poultry Processing<01:
• Poultry Processing Workers Act. Poultry Processing Workers Act.
• for safe workplaces for meat and poultry for safe workplaces for meat and poultry processing<01:
• Safe Workplaces for Meat and Poultry Safe Workplaces for Meat and Poultry Processing<01:21:49.560

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:56.560> industry which threatens our poultry industry which threatens our poultry industry
• Uh and the way poultry science faculty.
• Kentucky mushroom and poultry leading the way is the goal and desire.
• Currently we finished the phase one of the poultry facility.
• Um, poultry is our number one industry agriculture industry in Mississippi.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 20 January, 2026; 2:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: Mississippi State University officials testified in support of the university’s separately funded agricultural, forestry, and veterinary units, emphasizing their economic impact, research output, and need for continued state support. Keith Cobalt, vice president for the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, said the division generates a $1.7 billion impact on Mississippi, but warned that state and local funding has not kept pace with federal dollars or inflation. He argued that global competition, especially from China and Brazil, is hurting row crop and forestry producers, and highlighted a Vision 2030 study finding about $10 billion in agricultural and forestry value leaves the state through value-added processing. He also raised concerns about rural depopulation and proposed rural innovation hubs to help retain population and jobs. Nick Frank, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, said state appropriations make up about 25% of the college’s operating budget and are needed to support salaries, staffing, and service capacity. He described the college’s education, diagnostic, and clinical missions, including disease surveillance and responses to threats such as avian influenza, screwworm, and equine herpes virus. Frank said the college is expanding facilities with $18 million in 2024 state funding for a new farm animal hospital and cattle handling facility, but still needs additional support for equine and small animal renovations. He also requested support for rural veterinary scholarships and said inflation and salary competition from other schools and private practice are making retention difficult. In response to committee questions, Frank said the college enrolls about 118 to 119 students per class, with roughly 54 to 55 in-state students and tuition of about $29,900 for in-state and $53,000 for out-of-state students. He clarified that the “vet assistants” program is a four-year bachelor’s degree in veterinary medical technology, not a certificate. He also explained that staffing growth has largely been in the hospitals to address clinical shortages and improve care. Dr. Westberger, dean of the College of Forest Resources and director of the Forest and Wildlife Research Center, said Mississippi’s forests support a $19 billion economic impact, 84,000 jobs, and a $4.5 billion payroll, while also providing environmental benefits. He said the college and research center are nationally recognized, including an NSF ranking placing Mississippi State 10th in natural resource conservation research expenditures for a small university. Westberger highlighted research on forest management, pest detection, mass timber, wildlife disease surveillance, and value-added bioproducts, including efforts to attract mills and manufacturing. He said Mississippi has added 10 mills or mill expansions in five years with more than $1.5 billion in investment and over 1,000 high-paying jobs, and noted the college is planning a new mass-timber annex to address capacity and showcase the material. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• waterfowl, but is highly infectious and also, uh, causes high death 438 rates in other birds like poultry
• That's a risk that certainly, from the, for our poultry industry, which we've got the fifth-largest poultry
• How many did you have the, um, to our poultry industry, which we've got the fifth-largest poultry industry
• So, one of the activities that certainly is carried out by the poultry industry is a Large amount of
• Again, the poultry, the large poultry companies have taken on a lot of this themselves in terms of doing

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present to hear Article VI Natural Resources agency budget recommendations, beginning with the Railroad Commission. LBB staff summarized the commission’s 2026-27 base recommendation at $458.7 million, down from the prior biennium, with an increased FTE cap. The presentation highlighted reduced federal IIJA funding, volatility in oil and gas regulation account 5155, continued support for IT modernization, and rider changes. The commission’s major exceptional items were then presented, including requests for produced water and injection data reporting, an authorized pit registration system, regulatory filing/permitting upgrades, an underground injection well investigation team, site remediation support, and especially $100 million for orphan well plugging. Members asked about biennium-to-biennium comparisons, salary biennialization, the scale of orphan well risks, federal funding delays, bonding, and whether the state should rely more on industry or general revenue for plugging costs. Commission leadership explained that orphan wells can threaten water and public safety, that plugging costs have risen sharply, and that current funding is insufficient to keep up with emergency wells and the backlog; they also said the agency is moving to cloud-based systems with cybersecurity protections and that the proposed performance measure may need adjustment if funding does not increase. The Railroad Commission testimony was followed by LBB and agency testimony for the Texas Animal Health Commission. LBB described a $42 million recommendation for 2026-27, an increase overall, but with a reduced FTE cap due to turnover and salary reallocation. The recommendation maintained funding for cattle fever tick work, chronic wasting disease, lab testing through an MOU with Texas A&M’s veterinary diagnostic lab, and a new $5 million spay-and-neuter pilot program, while deleting a capital budget rider and adjusting riders tied to entry point inspection stations and clinical trials. Agency leadership then outlined the commission’s mission to protect livestock health and the state’s $22 billion animal industry, and described major disease threats including highly pathogenic avian influenza, cattle fever ticks, New World screwworm, and chronic wasting disease. Their exceptional items focused on recruiting and retaining veterinarians, replacing fleet vehicles, creating an ectoparasite identification lab, adding field staff and IT support, improving records and epidemiology reporting, strengthening central administration, supporting secure food supply planning, expanding chronic wasting disease work, and staffing the new spay-and-neuter program. Members asked about field identification of ticks, the use of disinfectants and PPE, fleet management, the scale of cattle fever tick risk, and chronic wasting disease; the agency explained its current inspection and lab-confirmation process, its reliance on field disinfecting and biosecurity, and the need for more staff and better data systems to keep pace with growing workloads and disease threats.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the issue that's been dealt with by poultry and egg association, the cattleman's association, you
• might say just interested parties that we've got to make this workable for cattle producers, poultry
• and egg association, the poultry and egg association, the cattleman's<00:06:08.319> association,<
• this workable for uh<00:06:17.840> cattle<00:06:18.160> producers,<00:06:18.800> poultry
• <00:06:19.280> producers, uh cattle producers, poultry producers, uh cattle producers, poultry

Bills: SB85, SB85

Keywords: vaccination exemption, religious exemption, medical exemption, vaccine mandate, testing requirement, public schools, K-12, students, parents, guardians, higher education, college enrollment, university attendance, public institutions of higher education, immunization, religious tenets, sincerely held belief, school health policy, Alabama, AHSAA physical form

Transcript Highlights:

• She is the president of Adair County Junior Fair Board and Rabbit and Poultry Club.
• She wants to attend the University of Arkansas to study poultry science.

Bills: HB2975, HB3405, HB3406, HB3728, HB3902, HB3977, SB397, HB1161, HB2938, HB2939, HB3306, HB3722, HB4113, HB4123, HB2293, HB3176, HB3545, HB3546

Keywords: poultry waste, nutrient management, environmental regulations, agriculture, water quality, pollution prevention, best management practices, noxious weeds, poison hemlock, kudzu, landowner responsibilities, environmental control, public nuisance, eradication, burn bans, fire danger, drought conditions, emergency declaration, scrap metal, regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm currently the vice president of the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association. producers association
• So we raise pasture poultry laying hens, we provide a large outdoor access year-round with mobile housing
• S. with the Texas Poultry Federation and we are against 1684. 1864, you've heard a lot today on that
• It's a kind of green. moldy-looking egg, if you have your backyard poultry these smaller operations they

Bills: SB500, SB719, SB912, SB1232, SB1467, SB1777, SB1864, SB2023, SB2119, SB2458

Keywords: SB 500, Texas adoption law, Family Code, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child-placing agency, prospective adoptive parents, adoption records, confidential information, nondisclosure agreement, child history report, health history, social history, educational history, genetic history, termination of parental rights, permanency plan, single source continuum contractor, privacy, redaction

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm currently the vice president of the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association, which has over
• So we raise pasture poultry, laying hens. So we raise pasture poultry, laying hens.
• Esler with the Texas Poultry Federation, and we are against SB 1864.
• If you have your backyard poultry or these smaller operations, they may have roosters with them.
• If they're kind of green, you're... ...poultry or the smaller operations, they may have roosters with

Bills: SB500, SB719, SB912, SB1232, SB1467, SB1777, SB1864, SB2023, SB2119, SB2458

Keywords: SB 500, Texas adoption law, Family Code, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child-placing agency, prospective adoptive parents, adoption records, confidential information, nondisclosure agreement, child history report, health history, social history, educational history, genetic history, termination of parental rights, permanency plan, single source continuum contractor, privacy, redaction

Summary: The committee first took up several pending bills and reported them favorably: SB 968, SB 636 as substituted, SB 1137, and SB 1138 as substituted. Each was advanced by roll call vote, and the committee also recommended the approved bills for the local and uncontested calendar. The chair then moved to the posted agenda and heard SB 719, a mental health bed-capacity study bill by Senator Eckhart, with a committee substitute that refined the data collection to distinguish state and non-state beds, child and adult beds, include two point-in-time counts, and capture jail diversion data. Testimony on SB 719 was largely supportive from Integral Care, NAMI Texas, and the Children’s Hospital Association of Texas, all of whom said Texas needs better data on inpatient psychiatric capacity, workforce needs, and future demand. Several witnesses described long waits for beds, especially for forensic restoration, and argued the study would help target future investments. Senator Perry and others noted the state has already made major investments in new beds and urged the bill to account for beds already coming online; the committee ultimately withdrew the substitute and left SB 719 pending after public testimony closed. The committee then heard SB 1864, which would allow small egg producers to sell ungraded eggs more broadly, including to restaurants and retailers, with the substitute increasing the weekly sales threshold and addressing sanitation and labeling. Supporters said grading is about size, not safety, and that the bill would help small farms reach new markets; opponents from the Texas Poultry Federation argued grading and candling help identify cracks and defects that can affect safety and quality. The committee adopted the substitute and left the bill pending. It also heard SB 1467, requiring DSHS to share death record information with hospitals for record accuracy and quality review, and SB 912, which would modernize continuing education tracking for health licensing agencies; both bills drew supportive testimony and were left pending. Finally, the committee heard SB 2023, which would create an HHSC grant program to help counties pay for indigent burial costs, with county representatives testifying in support.

Transcript Highlights:

• The legislation does not target commercial poultry operations, poultry hobbyists, schools, animal agencies
• So again, it does not target commercial poultry operations, poultry hobbyists, schools, animal agencies
• Poultry shows will be severely impacted and could even disappear.
• Stacey Lane, on behalf of the Humboldt Poultry Fanciers Association and the American Poultry Association
• I'm the founder of the Mexican American Heritage Poultry Show.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with AB 2, which would create enhanced civil penalties for large social media companies when negligence proven in court causes harm to children and teens. The author and supporters argued the bill is needed to address addictive algorithms and harmful content, while opponents warned it was vague, could chill speech, and might be preempted by federal law. Members largely focused on whether the bill changed the standard of care or burden of proof; the bill passed out of committee on a roll call vote, with some members noting concerns but supporting it to continue the discussion. AB 282, dealing with housing vouchers and source-of-income discrimination, would clarify that housing providers may prioritize applicants who qualify for rental assistance without violating fair housing law. Supporters from housing authorities, local governments, and advocacy groups said it would help voucher holders find units and improve use of housing funds. There was no opposition, and the bill passed to Appropriations on a roll call vote, with two no votes. The committee also considered AB 882 on court reporter availability and electronic recording in certain cases when a court reporter is unavailable. Supporters said the bill is a temporary, narrowly tailored response to a shortage of reporters and would preserve access to accurate records, while opponents argued it was too narrow, raised access-to-justice concerns, and should be broadened. Members from both sides emphasized the importance of court reporters and electronic recording as a backup; the bill passed with an urgency clause and was sent to Appropriations. The committee then heard AB 325 on algorithmic price fixing, AB 935 on civil rights data clarity, AB 1414 on tenant choice of internet service provider, and AB 67 on Attorney General enforcement of the Reproductive Privacy Act; each drew support from sponsors and advocacy groups, opposition centered on overbreadth or policy concerns, and each advanced on committee votes, with several members requesting further amendments or clarification.

Transcript Highlights:

• F is for meat and poultry inspection services.
• Clause 4 is for meat, poultry, egg, and milk processing.
• F is for meat and poultry inspection services.
• F is for meat and poultry inspection services.
• F is for meat and poultry inspection services.

Bills: HF2446

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation exempts legitimate poultry operations and hobbyists, schools This legislation exempts
• I urge you to support AB 928 to protect animals, our community, and the poultry industry from clearly
• These are lawful activities. ...and care of the poultry.
• For many Latinos, Southeast Asian families, poultry husbandry is a longstanding cultural tradition.
• Catherine Plummer, exhibition poultry breeder. I'm opposed. Thank you. Good morning.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What this bill does is it protects Kentucky farmers, in particular Kentucky livestock and poultry farmers
• It protects Kentucky farmers, in particular Kentucky livestock and poultry farmers.
• we're going to resort and follow the lead of the farmers and the people that own that livestock or poultry
• not the same as modern-day<00:07:52.720> livestock<00:07:53.120> and<00:07:53.360> poultry
• modern-day livestock and poultry modern-day livestock and poultry operations. operations. operations

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:01.120> Lab days later with the Wilmer Poultry Lab days later with the Wilmer Poultry
• Land purchases, farm improvements, equipment, meat and poultry processing, etc., etc.
• Land purchases, farm improvements, equipment, meat and poultry processing, etc., etc.
• Land purchases, farm improvements, equipment, meat and poultry processing, etc., etc.
• Land purchases, farm improvements, equipment, meat and poultry processing, etc., etc.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture presented an overview of its budget, staffing, and major program areas, including protection services, marketing, and administration. Commissioners also highlighted concerns about federal funding uncertainty after a January letter suspending active and future USDA awards to the department. They said the issue affected about 13% of the agency’s budget, created confusion for farmers, and briefly disrupted poultry lab testing and HPAI-related work, though they later received assurances from USDA leadership that existing programs would continue processing. The department also described its anti-fraud efforts, including internal controls, a compliance coordinator, a grants administrator, review committees, site visits, and participation in the state’s Inspector General Coordinating Council. The committee then discussed several agriculture support programs. For dairy margin coverage, the department said Minnesota’s sign-up is open and supported a bill to extend assistance to farmers who began operations in 2023-2025 and were not covered under the earlier production-based formula. The renamed Farm to Food Security program, formerly LFPA, was described as a state-created local food purchasing effort funded at $700,000 per year. The down payment assistance grant for first-time farm buyers was also reviewed; the department said it has supported 112 farmers so far, with additional awards pending, but noted timing problems when purchase agreements fall through. Members asked whether priority should be given to applicants with signed purchase agreements, and the department said that was under consideration. The grain indemnity account update focused on the Hansen-Mueller facility failure and related claims. The department said the account holds about $10.7 million, has received 19 claims totaling $1.1 million, and that $842,000 of those claims were tied specifically to Minnesota transactions. It explained the difference by noting that some claims involved Minnesota farmers selling in North Dakota and Wisconsin, and that the indemnity account covers grains sold in Minnesota. The committee also heard updates on elk and wolf depredation payments, with the department projecting shortfalls in both funds and noting that payments are being delayed into later months. The agriculture response fund balance was said to be about $2.5 million. Finally, the Rural Finance Authority and the East Grand Forks potato facility were discussed. The RFA reported strong demand for low-interest loans, about $26 million remaining from the prior $50 million authorization, and a new $50 million bonding request in the governor’s proposal to avoid a funding gap. The department said the program has issued 3,951 loans totaling about $390.3 million with very low defaults. It also requested $1.38 million in bonding for building improvements at the East Grand Forks potato facility, which it said is the department’s only owned building and supports a significant potato industry. In response to a question from Rep. Bang, the commissioner said recent ICE activity had affected farms, processing plants, immigrant workers, and some rural food businesses, and that the department had relayed those concerns to the governor’s office and congressional delegation.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:36.320> Lab days later with the Wilmer Poultry Lab days later with the Wilmer Poultry
• production of of our poultry species. production of of our poultry species.
• Um we had uh most of back to poultry.
• <00:53:52.319> actually our cases in 2024 in in poultry actually our cases in 2024 in in poultry
• virus that's affecting our poultry virus that's affecting our poultry industry.<00:57:06.640>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• manure and poultry litter on farm fields, Oklahoma State, along with other agencies, worked to try to
• Real quickly, just to show you poultry litter, I'd just like to throw this out.
• Um, and I'll throw this out just to be throwing it out: you know, I'm an ag guy and I've got poultry,
• Um, when, with poultry, if you're going to put a poultry house in and you're going to drill a well, we're
• So I see a lot of this is the poultry industry has good defined regulations in the application of poultry

Summary: The meeting focused on the use of biosolids on farm and ranch land, with testimony from Oklahoma State University experts, a conservation official, and an engineering representative about the benefits, risks, and regulatory implications. Dr. Lusk described OSU’s long history of soil fertility research and said biosolids can provide nutrients and organic matter, but also may carry contaminants such as PFAS, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and pathogens. He emphasized that many questions remain unanswered, especially about contaminant uptake into soil, crops, livestock, and humans, and said existing EPA and Oklahoma DEQ regulations address some treatment and application standards but may not fully cover PFAS. Dr. Arnell expanded on nutrient management, explaining that biosolids can function similarly to manure as a fertilizer source, especially for nitrogen and phosphorus, but should be tested, incorporated into soil, and applied under permit conditions to reduce runoff and other losses. He said PFAS testing methods are not yet standardized and that more research is needed to determine sampling protocols, movement in soil, and long-term effects. Committee members asked whether farmers and ranchers should be notified of risks, whether PFAS is currently tested, how many counties use biosolids, and what research would be needed for a dissertation-level study. The witnesses generally agreed that landowners should be informed of known risks and uncertainties, but said the science is still developing. Dr. Arnell said a unified testing method is needed before reliable PFAS monitoring can be done, and suggested that a multi-year study would be required to understand soil movement, crop uptake, and livestock impacts. Greg Scott of the Oklahoma Conservation Commission framed the issue as a waste-management problem, noting that human waste streams contain contaminants and that soil type affects how pollutants move; he said sandy soils pose greater movement risks than clay soils and that current best practice is incorporation, careful timing, and avoiding steep or sensitive sites. He also said PFAS are widespread and not naturally occurring in the way some other compounds are, and that liability and cleanup costs are major concerns. Mary Elizabeth Mock of Garver Engineering focused on the practical and financial consequences of a possible moratorium on land application, saying most of Oklahoma’s biosolids are currently land applied and would otherwise have to go to landfills. She warned that many landfills are nearing capacity, tipping fees could rise sharply, and cities such as Tulsa and Norman could face large increases in disposal costs, which would ultimately be borne by ratepayers and taxpayers. She also said septic system maintenance costs could rise if land application options shrink, potentially leading to deferred maintenance and system failures. Mock urged a tiered, data-driven approach to PFAS regulation and said advanced treatment technologies may help in the future, but they are still emerging and expensive. No votes were taken; the session consisted of presentations and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• the right to grow vegetables<00:26:13.880> and<00:26:14.040> raise<00:26:14.480> poultry
• <00:26:15.280> on<00:26:15.440> their vegetables and raise poultry on their vegetables
• and raise poultry on their property.
• This section also prevents towns from using bylaws to prohibit everyday citizens from raising poultry
• from raising poultry for their own<00:32:38.840> use<00:32:39.200> or<00:32:39.320>

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House began with a devotional and then took up several Senate bills for first reading and referral: S. 323 on miscellaneous agricultural subjects, S. 325 on regional planning and Act 250 tier jurisdiction, and S. 328 on housing and common interest communities. The chamber then adopted House Resolution 16, reaffirming Vermont’s friendship with Taiwan and supporting stronger bilateral relations and Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. The resolution was adopted by voice vote after its reading, and remarks followed welcoming guests from Hazen Union School and Director General Charles Lao of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston. During the action calendar, the House postponed action on H. 657, relating to services for unaccompanied homeless youth, for one legislative day. It then passed H. 727 on sustainable data center deployment, H. 935 on emergency management, and H. 938 establishing the Vermont homelessness response continuum. The House also committed H.R. 15, another Taiwan friendship resolution, to the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development. The main substantive debate centered on H. 941, relating to municipal regulation of agriculture. The committee explained the bill as a response to a Vermont Supreme Court ruling and described it as restoring limits on municipal regulation of farms while allowing narrow local exceptions and creating a stakeholder group to continue studying the issue. Testimony came from a broad range of agricultural, municipal, and policy stakeholders, and the committee reported a 7-0-1 vote. An amendment offered by Representative Durfee, based on feedback from the House Environment Committee, replaced a Tier 1A concept with parcel-size-based exceptions, clarified state authority over growing fruits, vegetables, and flowers, and adjusted the stakeholder charge; the House adopted the amendment and ordered the bill to third reading. The House also heard announcements about committee appointments, caucus meetings, a public hearing on community safety concerns, and then adjourned until April 1, 2026.