Wisconsin Senate Bill SB147

Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/3/23
• Refer: 4/3/23
• Report Pass: 5/8/23
• Failed: 4/15/24

Caption

Membership in county land conservation committees.

Impact

The bill's amendments are intended to enhance the representation of local agricultural interests within county land conservation committees. It broadens the definition of who can serve on these committees to include individuals involved in various agricultural activities such as crop production, livestock keeping, and beekeeping. This change is designed to align the committees more closely with those who have direct experience and expertise in agricultural practices, potentially leading to more informed decisions regarding land conservation efforts.

Summary

Senate Bill 147 is a legislative proposal introduced to amend the existing statutes regarding membership in county land conservation committees in Wisconsin. The bill aims to remove the current requirement for the appointment of a member from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) to these committees. Instead, it seeks to replace this with a new requirement stating that counties must appoint individuals who are actively engaged in an agricultural use as defined by the legislation.

Contention

While the bill's intent to involve those engaged in agriculture may appear beneficial, there could be points of contention regarding the exclusion of the FSA member. Critics might argue that this could limit access to federal resources and insights that could be crucial for effective land conservation efforts. Additionally, there may be concerns about the qualifications of the appointed members and whether they would adequately represent broader interests in land conservation, as opposed to strictly agricultural ones.