Sen. Harris — Week 5 Legislative Update (2-9-2024)

CARIBOU COUNTY – We had a hearing in the Senate Resources and Environment Committee on my Senate Bill 1245 (S1245). This is a bill regarding pesticide labeling that is regulated by state and federal laws under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). It clarifies that existing regulations of pesticide labels are sufficient to satisfy any requirements for a warning. The purpose is to stop frivolous lawsuits and outlandish jury awards that cripple companies that make these products. These are products that our farmers and ranchers depend on to grow crops and control weeds. These are also products that are made in our area of the State, create well-paying jobs, contribute to our economy, and help provide a secure food source for our nation. If we cannot create these products here in the United States, we will be forced to buy them from other nations where we have no regulatory control. Meaning, we will not really know the quality of their products.

S1245 does not prohibit anyone from suing a manufacture over product defects or a company that fraudulently conceals safety information. Instead, it applies specifically to the health and safety warning labels that have been approved through an extensive 8-to-12-year process that warns of on-known potential harm caused by a pesticide product.

S1245 was approved by the Committee and sent to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation.

Another bill that I am sponsoring, Senate Bill 1243 (S1243) which was also approved by the Senate Resources and Environment Committee and sent to the Senate floor this week. S1243 protects those that possess  a federal grazing permit, in the event of a federal and state land exchange. Federal grazing permits are what is called a preference right or a property right. During a land exchange, that property right is lost, and the permittee is subject to a bidding process to lease the grazing rights. S1243 lets the grazing leaseholder apply to the Idaho Department of Lands to convert a grazing lease into a grazing permit, and if they remain good stewards, they can keep the permit. This is a process that will only happen very rarely. The last time a land swap happened was in 2020 and before that I cannot find anyone that remembers when the last time this happened. In 2020, a land exchange happened in Owyhee County and some of the ranchers there lost their grazing permits and were never compensated.  

House Bill 406 (H406) has passed the House, went to the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee, and is now on the Senate floor. H406 deals with mandatory minimum sentencing for illegal possession of fentanyl. We have been hearing a lot about fentanyl lately as it is a very dangerous drug that is killing many of our citizens. Much of it is being brought in across the Mexican border and being mixed with other illicit drugs. It is a problem and H406 will add fentanyl possession to the list of other drugs being trafficked in Idaho that requires mandatory sentencing. I am a co-sponsor of this legislation.  

It has been another busy week in the Legislature. As always, I like to hear from you. Please feel free to contact me at:  [email protected]. I will do my best to get you answers!!