Testimony on the Health of Lake Erie
OFBF senior director for environmental policy Dr. Larry Antosch testified before the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee regarding the health of Lake Erie.
Policy & Politics
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Ohio Farm Bureau understands the importance of members and staff working together to accomplish the organization’s legislative and regulatory goals.
Legislation
subscribeOhio Farm Bureau Federation’s team of issue experts, lobbyists, and poiltical education staff work hard to ensure that quality legislation is enacted in the state of Ohio that benefits the agricultural industry and promotes the farmer’s bottom line. As these laws are being debated and enacted, it is equally important for OFBF to educate members about how new legislation will affect their lives and businesses.
Listed below are the major State and Federal Public Policy Initiatives that Ohio Farm Bureau will address in 2011. Click here for a PDF of both the Federal and State Ohio Farm Bureau Legislative Priorities and additional detailed State Budget Priorities.
In addition, legislative district maps for the 112th U.S. Congress and 129th Ohio General Assembly are available in the policy and politics Resources section.
State
Farmers Urge Passage of HCR27
Two central Ohio Farm Bureau members recently testified on legislation introduced by State Representative Bob Peterson (R- Sabina) that calls on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reconsider the FCC order granting the broadband network provider, LightSquared, conditional...
OFBF Testifies as an Interested Party on SB109
OFBF recently weighed in on a new piece of proposed legislation which would effectively immunize trespassers from liability if they enter a property to “beautify” it. Senate Bill 109 attempts to change the current trespassing laws to provide immunization from any criminal trespassing charges...
Ohio Farm Bureau testimony on HB 276
Ohio Farm Bureau staff testimony in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on HB 276, an Ohio Farm Bureau priority bill to clarify the zoning and CAUV status for on-farm energy production that is secondary or incidental to farming.
Staff Testimony in Support of SB 90 to Eliminate the Ohio Estate Tax
OFBF Director of State Policy Beth Vanderkooi testified before the Senate Ways and Means and Economic Development Committee in support of Senate Bill 90 to eliminate the Ohio Estate Tax.
Federal
Bill redirects biofuel spending
The American Farm Bureau Federation is urging members of the Senate to support a bipartisan bill that would continue America’s transition to home-grown biofuels.
Congressional Committees Advance FTAs
Senate and House committees have approved the Korea, Colombia and Panama free trade agreements (FTAs) in mock mark-up sessions, moving them closer to finalization.
Diverse group of farmers gather to offer Sen. Brown input on farm bill
Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) President Steve Hirsch recently hosted Sen. Sherrod Brown on his farm for a roundtable listening session on the upcoming farm bill.
Ohio farmers left behind as other nations complete trade agreements
Pending free trade agreements (FTA) between the United States and Korea, Panama and Colombia would amount to more than $2.5 billion in additional exports, economic development and jobs.
2011 Federal Legislative Priorities
Maintaining a strong safety net for farmers, establishing a new direction for dairy policy, growing agricultural trade opportunities, regulatory oversight and reducing additional regulatory burdens, tax policy, food quality and safety, and energy and transportation issues are our top priorities.
Stay Up-to-date
Public Policy Updates
- Dec. 13, 2011 Supreme Court Orders State to Compensate Landowners After Taking
- Dec. 13, 2011 Farmers Urge Passage of HCR27
- Dec. 13, 2011 OFBF Testifies as an Interested Party on SB109
- Dec. 13, 2011 OFBF Comments on Proposed Ag Labor Standards
- Dec. 13, 2011 PUCO Grants Extension of Hours of Service Exemption
- Nov. 22, 2011 Congressional Deficit Supercommittee Fails
Key Votes
The Ohio Farm Bureau public policy staff members are continually reviewing legislation being debated at the Statehouse and at the U.S. Capitol. Staff determines, based on priorities set by the Ohio Farm Bureau board of trustees and Farm Bureau policy, if a particular bill should be designated as a KeyVote. While the staff works on many bills, those designated as KeyVotes are a select few that are important to agriculture and rural Ohio and have clear support from Farm Bureau policy.
Once a KeyVote has been designated, it becomes a priority for the public policy staff. Before important votes, legislators are informed that the bill is an OFBF KeyVote and their votes will be counted in OFBF's process for determining which legislators earn the Friend of Agriculture and Friend of Farm Bureau awards.
This program is not meant to penalize legislators that do not vote in favor of Farm Bureau policy, but rather it is meant to recognize in a positive manner the legislators that are truly "Friends of Agriculture.”
Once a KeyVote has been designated, it becomes a priority for the public policy staff. Before important votes, legislators are informed that the bill is an OFBF KeyVote and their votes will be counted in OFBF's process for determining which legislators earn the Friend of Agriculture and Friend of Farm Bureau awards.
This program is not meant to penalize legislators that do not vote in favor of Farm Bureau policy, but rather it is meant to recognize in a positive manner the legislators that are truly "Friends of Agriculture.”