Indiana State Senator Beverly Gard, chair of the Energy and Environmental Affairs Committee, has focused much of her time and leadership in recent Indiana General Assembly sessions on livestock and confined animal feeding operation legislation.  Senator Gard has authored Senate Bill 221 this session.  It overwhelmingly passed the Senate and is moving to the House.  The bill establishes "good character" provisions and allows for a livestock operator's past management record to be considered when applying for a new or expanded livestock permit.  Most agriculture and livestock groups in the state consider SB 221 a "consensus piece of legislation."

The recent passage of Proposition #2 in California along with other states' actions to restrict and modify traditional livestock production practices has intensified efforts to make similar changes in other states.  The Humane Society, for example, is actively pursuing moratorium and strong animal welfare bills in Ohio and Illinois.  In Indiana, aside from SB 221, other bills surfaced this session that included distance set-backs and even production moratoriums.

Ice Miller closely monitors these proposals and their industry and political dynamics for clients.  Last week, Mark Shublak, a partner in the firm's Public Affairs Practice Group, provided an overview of Statehouse activities.  This week, Ice Miller talked with Senator Gard and asked for her personal and political perspectives on SB 221 and other pending livestock related bills.  Hear more of Senator Gard's first-hand commentary from the Indiana Statehouse.