State Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner in Nebraska has introduced a bill, LB 646, that aims to exempt feedlots from branding and inspection fees. The bill has advanced to the second round of legislative debate after a 26-2 vote. Ibach’s bill would cap the fees that the Brand Committee can charge feedlots and seek to exempt them from paying branding-related fees in the state’s brand inspection area, replacing them with a one-time payment of $500 for an exempt status.
However, the bill has faced opposition from State Sen. Tanya Storer of Whitman, who raised concerns about the potential impact on the Nebraska Brand Committee’s funding. The Committee is funded entirely through fees, and if Ibach’s bill passes, it would lose $1.6 million annually, roughly 25% of its operating budget. Despite the opposition, Ibach has expressed openness to additional amendments to address fee structure and technical issues.
The rural-urban divide among lawmakers is evident in the debate, with some suggesting that Nebraska should align its branding laws with other cattle-feeding states like Texas. The Nebraska Farm Bureau and Nebraska Brand Committee have expressed concerns about the bill, arguing that the Committee should have the necessary fee authority to fund its programs.
Ultimately, the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Board of Directors voted to support the amended bill, stating that it’s time for critical brand law reforms in the state. The bill’s fate remains uncertain, with Sen. Barry DeKay of Niobrara warning of a potential “civil war” in Nebraska’s cattle industry regardless of the outcome.
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