Committee clears three additional agriculture bills, including agency creation and livestock-safety training

After votes on earlier items, the committee moved a set of additional agriculture bills.

Senator Murdock presented Senate Bill 21-27, which would create an Oklahoma Department of Food and Forestry and an advisory council on product classification composed of five members appointed by the State Board of Agriculture. The committee waived debate and approved the bill by recorded vote, 11 ayes and 2 nays.

Senator Murdock also explained a committee substitute for Senate Bill 21-17, prompted by an incident in Custer County in which a sewage leak contaminated harvested wheat. The substitute clarifies that contamination response would be the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture rather than the Department of Environmental Quality. Members asked whether a formal definition of "contaminated" should be added; Mr. Crowell said the transcript did not provide the contamination details. The committee passed the bill by roll call, 13–0.

Finally, the committee considered Senate Bill 21-34, intended to allow the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry (ODAF) to promulgate rules and provide training for county emergency-management personnel on safely handling livestock after truck wrecks. Senators supported the proposal as a practical training measure; the bill passed 13–0.

The committee returned the gavel to the chair and adjourned.