Other State's Equine Legislative Issues

ARIZONA SCM 1001 - URGES CONGRESS TO OPPOSE FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT INTERFERES WITH A STATES ABILITY TO DIRECT THE TRANSPORT OR PROCESSING OF HORSES
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Status: The Missouri Equine Council Inc, SUPPORTS this bill.
Comments: Introduced 1//29/2009. This memorial is similar to legislation being presented in several other states.

ARKANSAS HCR 1004 - REQUESTING THE ARKANSAS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO SUPPORT HORSE PROCESSING FACILITIES
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Status: Missouri Equine Council, Inc. SUPPORTS this resolution.
Comments: Introduced 1/22/2009. Referred to Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development on 1/29/2009.

IDAHO HJM 5 - URGES THE U.S. CONGRESS TO OPPOSE FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT INTERFERES WITH A STATES ABILITY TO DIRECT THE TRANSPORT OF OR PROCESSING OF HORSES
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Status: Missouri Equine Council, Inc. SUPPORTS this memorial.
Comments: Introduced on 3/10/2009. Idaho HJM 5 is similar to legislation being presented in several other states.

ILLINOIS HB 583 - AMENDMENT TO THE ILLINOIS HORSE MEAT ACT
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Status: The Missouri Equine Council Inc. SUPPORTS this bill.
Comments: Restores language that exempted certain types of horse meat from regulation. Repeals a provision that prohibits the slaughter of horses for human consumption. Creates an exemption from the general prohibition against selling, offering to sell, leading, riding, transporting, or driving on any public way any equidae that, because of debility, disease, lameness or any other cause, could not be worked in this State. Deletes a provision that prohibited injured equidae from being sent directly to a slaughter facility. Introduced 2/6/2009. Has been placed on the calendar for the second reading. 4/9/2009. This legislation to reinstate the horse slaughter industry failed the Illinois House of Representatives on Wednesday because the measure did not earn the 60 votes necessary for passage. Because the vote was stopped, the option remains to call for another vote during the current legislative session.

KANSAS HCR 5004 - URGES THE U.S. CONGRESS TO OPPOSE FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT INTERFERES WITH A STATES ABILITY TO DIRECT THE TRANSPORT OF OR PROCESSING OF HORSES
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Status: The Missouri Equine Council Inc, SUPPORTS this bill.
Comments: Introduced 1/22/2009. Similar to legislation being presented in several other states.

MINNESOTA SF 133 - URGES CONGRESS TO OPPOSE FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT INTERFERES WITH A STATE'S ABILITY TO DIRECT THE TRANSPORT OR PROCESSING OF HORSES
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Status: Missouri Equine Council, Inc, SUPPORTS this resolution.
Comments: Introduced 1/22/2009. Referred to Agriculture and Veterans Committee. This meeting scheduled for 2/26/2009 was cancelled.

MONTANA HB 418 - AUTHORIZE INVESTOR OWNED LIVESTOCK SLAUGHTER AND PROCESSING PLANTS
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Status: The Missouri Equine Council Inc, SUPPORTS this bill.
Comments: Introduced 2/22/2009. This is a lengthy document with many legal stipulations. In it's most basic form, Montana HB 418 does the following: * States that no Montana court may stop or delay the construction of an equine processing facility based on a challenge or appeal of a permit, license, certificate under certain specified provisions. * Before acceptance of challenge of a license, permit, certificate or other approval for an equine slaughter facility, the court will require a surety bond of the person filing the action. (This prevents the closing of a plant without some financial compensation first being secured) * Requires sound environmental planning of an equine processing facility in compliance with state regulations. * Requires inspection of hides before disposal. * Requires carcasses to be identified with an ink stamp. * Allows for establishments to be inspected and for seizure of meat found in violation of codes. * Requires facility to have a license. * Requires assigned inspector to be present whenever slaughtering or processing is taking place. * Requires pre-slaughter and post slaughter inspection of each animal. Transmitted to Montana Senate on 2/25/2009. On 4/9/2009 the Montana House of Representatives rejected this bills amendments. The bill passed both houses of Montana's legislature and was presented to Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who on April 3 vetoed the measure, removed provisions concerning licensing and court challenges, and sent his amended version back to the House for review. Lawmakers rejected the governor's amendments 59-41 and returned the bill to its original form. The bill now returns to the state's senate for review. Montana HB 418 automatically became law Friday May 1, 2009 after Gov. Brian Schweitzer neither signed nor vetoed the measure.

NORTH DAKOTA HB 1496 - EQUINE PROCESSING FACILITY FEASIBILITY STUDY
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Status: The Missouri Equine Council Inc. SUPPORTS this bill.
Comments: This bill has passed the ND House in an amended form allocating $75,000 for the study.

South Dakota SCR 2 - URGES REINSTATEMENT AND FUNDING OF FEDERAL INSPECTION PROGRAM FOR HORSE SLAUGHTER
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Status: The Missouri Equine Council Inc, SUPPORTS this Concurrent Resolution.
Comments: Introduced 2/2/2009. South Dakota Legislature urges the Congress and the United States Department of Agriculture to reinstate and fully fund USDA's inspection program for horse euthanasia and horse slaughter facilities and to enact legislation to authorize the establishment of horse slaughter facilities in the United States.

South Dakota SB 114 - PROVIDES FOR A STUDY OF THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING AN EQUINE PROCESSING PLANT
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Status: The Missouri Equine Council Inc, SUPPORTS this bill.
Comments: Introduced 1/28/2009. Requesting $100,00 for such a study that shall address the socioeconomic impacts related to the design, financing, construction, completion, equipping, operating, and maintaining of an equine processing facility, including an equine slaughter facility, to be located on state, tribal, or private lands in South Dakota.

South Dakota HB 1065 - PROVIDES FOR VOLUNTARY INSPECTIONS OF HORSES & MULES AND AUTHORIZES A FEE FOR INSPECTIONS
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Status: The Missouri Equine Council Inc, is MONITORING this bill.
Comments: Introduced on 1/13/2009. HB1065 gives the South Dakota State Brand Board the power to describe prohibited brand symbols for branding various types of livestock and identify locations on animals where a brand is permitted. They will provide for the registration, transfer, and renewal of livestock brands; establish a brand registration fee not to exceed twenty-five dollars; establish a brand renewal fee not to exceed ten dollars per year or a brand renewal fee not to exceed fifty dollars for each five-year ownership period and a brand transfer fee not to exceed twenty-five dollars. The Brand Board will establish an ownership inspection fee not to exceed one dollar for each head of livestock; establish recordable livestock brands; establish law enforcement, ownership inspection, and transportation requirements, establish a duplicate certificate fee not to exceed five dollars; establish a mileage fee for inspectors not to exceed the rate set by the State Board of Finance; and establish procedures for the voluntary ownership inspection of horses and mules, including an inspection fee not to exceed ten dollars for each horse and mule inspected. Because South Dakota and Missouri are so vastly different geographically, the Missouri Equine Council, Inc. Directors believes that we are not well enough informed to support or oppose this bill.

TENNESSEE HB 1361 - DELETES PACKAGING AND LABELING REQUIREMENTS FOR HORSEMEAT

Comments: Introduced 2/12/2009. No other information about this bill is currently available on the Tennessee government website.

Utah HJR 7 - EQUINE RESOURCES JOINT RESOLUTION
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Status: The Missouri Equine Council Inc, SUPPORTS this Joint Resolution.
Comments: Introduced 1/15/2009. Utah House Joint Resolution 7 urges Congress to oppose federal legislation that would interfere with a states authority to direct the transport or processing of horses. HJR 7 has passed the Utah Senate and House and was sent to the Governor on 2/17/2009.

Wyoming HJR 8 - URGES CONGRESS TO OPPOSE FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT INTERFERES WITH A STATES ABILITY TO DIRECT THE TRANSPORT OR PROCESSING OF HORSES
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Status: The Missouri Equine Council Inc, SUPPORTS this Joint Resolution.
Comments: Introduced 1/15/2009. Wyoming Horse Joint Resolution urging Congress to oppose federal legislation that would interfere with a states authority to direct the transport or processing of horses. Passed the Wyoming House and was referred to the Senate on 2/10/2009.