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by Susie Taylor

Year two of the 124^th Ohio General Assembly will be a full one with numerous issues to be addressed. Concealed-carry proposals and school funding (again) are sure to be among the headline topics, but from an agricultural perspective, there are several key legislative proposals that will draw Ohio Farm Bureau Federation’s (OFBF) close attention. Here is some information about a few:

Legislation introduced into the Ohio House at the end of January would mandate the use of scientifically sound data when Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) and other agencies address water quality regulations. The intent of House Bill 479 is to prevent agencies from using subjective opinions instead of scientific fact as they assess water quality and require remediation. OFBF has worked with Rep. Tony Core (R-Rushsylvania) on the bill that defines what credible data is and what it can be used for.

A second part of the bill would allow OEPA to use data collected by nonagency sources, if the data is subject to the same high level of validity that OEPA’s data is held to.

Deering Dyer, OFBF’s director of local affairs, emphasized HB 479 is not in response to concerns about past OEPA action. "As a matter of fact, they’ve been pretty good at sticking to science," said Dyer of OEPA’s track record. "However, there’s no guarantee that a future EPA administration would operate under the same policies. We simply want to codify the idea that handling of water quality issues should be based on scientific fact."

In addition to holding government to objective standards, the law will help farmers in their own self-assessment activities. "If farmers are able to just know what the rules are, then they’re able to take the necessary steps to protect water quality."

Three bills have been introduced that would raise the penalties for people convicted of cruel and inhumane treatment of animals. These bills would make animal cruelty a felony, and would apply to domestic pets as well as livestock.

A fourth bill that excludes livestock is being drafted, but at press time had not yet been introduced. The draft, sponsored by Rep. Dave Goodman (R-Bexley), besides excluding livestock, would also provide for training for local Humane Society agents. These employees would be educated in proper criminal investigative techniques. Additionally Humane Society employees would be taught about modern animal husbandry practices.

A final part of the draft bill is a provision that stipulates that any fines collected against animal abusers be used to fund the training program and not added to the state’s general fund.