Committee votes 5–0 to move multi-subject agriculture draft (including hemp, current-use language) out of committee

During the Jan. 28 session a committee member moved — and the committee seconded — a procedural motion to vote the multi-subject agriculture draft out of committee so it could be considered and worked on in subsequent committee sessions.

The draft was described in-session as covering roughly 14 subjects, with two additional items likely to be attached, bringing the total to about 16 distinct agriculture-related topics. Committee members discussed that the draft includes language about hemp and changes to "current use" administration that would affect how farmers interact with property/listing rules. The chair emphasized this was a procedural action to get the bill onto the committee’s calendar for more detailed review; the committee would "tear it apart from the studs to the roof" during future work.

A voice roll-call was recorded with the following responses: Senator Collinmore — yes; Senator Heffernan — yes; Senator Major — yes; Senator Plunkett — yes; Senator English — yes. The clerk reported the result as 5–0 in favor. The committee did not present a final bill number at the time of this session; the motion referenced a draft identifier (spoken in-session as "26-0553").

Committee members said the vote was procedural and intended to permit detailed amendment, review and negotiation in staff and committee sessions prior to any final floor action. No substantive amendments or statutory language were adopted on the floor during this procedural vote; the committee intends to continue work on the draft in a subsequent meeting.