Kansas Working on Feral Swine Bills
USAgNet - 05/03/2012
The Kansas Legislature begins the second week of the wrap-up session with a number of issues to be resolved. Legislators are trying to reach agreement on a 2013 fiscal year budget, pass an income tax reform bill, consider increased funding for education and negotiate new House, Senate and congressional
district maps.
A House-Senate Agriculture conference committee reached compromise on HB 2596 last week. The bill would make several technical changes to animal health statutes. It also would tighten the restrictions on feral swine and clarify animal activists who misrepresent their identity cannot avail themselves to the
defense that they were given permission to work on or enter a livestock facility if charged with illegally taking photographs or videos or damaging the property.
The House and Senate now will consider a final vote on the HB 2596 conference committee report. KLA supports HB 2596.
The Senate, by a vote of 35-4, passed a conference committee report on a KLA-supported bill that would allow county commissioners to approve the establishment of corporate swine facilities. Current law requires voters in the county to authorize such facilities. If the House approves the report, HB 2502 will be
sent to the governor for his consideration.
