PERSPECTIVE OKLAHOMA FARM BUREAU
®
April 23, 2010
Governor signs HB 3202 By Lori Kromer Peterson, OFB Vice President of Public Policy On April 16, Gov. Brad Henry signed HB 3202 into law. The bill clarifies that acts of animal husbandry are not prohibited by the Veterinary Practice Act. It also requires that of the five veterinarian members of the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (Board), one must be an equine practitioner and one must be a large animal practitioner. HB 3202 also sets up a certification process for equine teeth floaters under the Board. The bill had been amended in the Senate at the request of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. The amendment further clarified that no controlled dangerous drugs could be obtained without a prescription from a veterinarian. This amendment required that HB 3202 be heard again by the full House of Representatives. It passed the House and was then sent to the governor’s desk. The governor’s office received many phone calls, emails and letters. The governor and his policy advisors reviewed and considered the information and input provided them; ultimately, the governor signed HB 3202. HB 3202 protects traditional animal husbandry practices for livestock owners across the State of Oklahoma. Thank you, Farm Bureau members, for your work on this issue!
PROCLAMATION – Taking advantage of a recent Farm Bureau event at the State Capitol, OFB leaders and staff met with Gov. Brad Henry to show appreciation for his Farm Bureau Week proclamation. From left, are Mike Spradling, Lori Peterson, Gov. Henry, Phyllis Holcomb, Clara Wichert, Tom Buchanan and Monica Wilke.
Legislation continues to move as session nears end By Lori Kromer Peterson, OFB Vice President of Public Policy
The 2010 Legislative Session is quickly approaching its final deadline where bills must pass the opposite house to remain alive in the process. Following this deadline, a few more bills will reach the governor, but many more will go to conference committee for further improvement. A bill in conference committee must be signed out by a majority
CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TOUR – Sen. Jim Inhofe discussed new climate change legislation during a meeting with Farm Bureau leaders who were in Washington, D.C. April 11-15 for Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s Congressional Action Tour. See more photos on page 4.
of the conferees and pass before the full House of Representatives and Senate before making it to the governor’s desk. The budget still remains a work in progress and a top priority for the legislature. Below are just a few of the issues OFB continues to monitor. LANDOWNER RIGHTS FOR W IND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT HB 2973 and SB 2132 have passed the Senate and now await hearings on the floor of the House. Both bills, authored by Rep. Mike Sanders and Sen. Bryce Marlatt, seek to address some concerns for landowners wishing to develop wind rights, such as the decommissioning of commercial wind energy facilities while still encouraging wind development in Oklahoma. Both bills will likely go to conference committee for additional work before final passage. SB 1787, by Sen. Mike Schulz and Rep. Fred Jordan, would prohibit the severance of wind rights from the surface. SB 1787 recently passed the House and will now go to conference committee for further discussion. REMOVAL OF W HEAT COMMISSION
FROM THE CENTRAL PURCHASING ACT
HB 3204 has been signed into law (See Legislation, page 2)