HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
REP. JULIE ALEXANDER
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
10:30 AM
Room 326, House Office Building
The House Standing Committee on Agriculture was called to order by Chair Alexander.
The Clerk read a letter from House Speaker Lee Chatfield removing Representative Luke
Meerman from the Agriculture Committee, appointing Representative Michele Hoitenga to the
Agriculture Committee, and appointing Representative Mike Mueller as Vice Chair of the
Agriculture Committee.
The Chair requested attendance be called:
Present: Reps. Alexander, Mueller, LaFave, Hoitenga, Eisen, Wendzel, Elder, Coleman,
Garza, Cynthia Johnson, Witwer.
Absent/Excused: None.
Representative Mueller moved to adopt the meeting minutes from November 6, 2019. There
being no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The Chair laid HB 4860 before the committee:
HB 4860
(Rep. Albert)
A bill to amend 2000 PA 274, entitled
"Large carnivore act," by amending section 22 (MCL
287.1122), as amended by 2018 PA 610.
The following people submitted a card in opposition to HB 4860, but due to the time constraints
were unable to speak:
Bee Friedlander, Attorneys for Animals
The following people submitted a card with a neutral position on HB 4860, but did not wish to
speak:
Nathan Kark, representing the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The following people submitted a card in opposition to HB 4860, but did not wish to speak:
Ron Kagan, representing the Detroit Zoological Society.
Representative Wendzel moved to refer House Bill No. 4860 to the committee on Ways and
Means. The motion prevailed 6-5-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Alexander, Mueller, LaFave, Hoitenga, Eisen, Wendzel.
Nays: Reps. Elder, Coleman, Garza, Cynthia Johnson, Witwer.
Pass: None.
The Chair laid HB 5085 before the committee:
HB 5085
(Rep. Markkanen)
A bill to amend 1978 PA 368,
entitled "Public health code," (MCL 333.1101 to 333.25211)
by adding section 18817.
Representative Markkanen, joined by Dr. Kellie Holmstrom, testified in support of HB 5085.
Dr. Jeff Powers and John Tramontana, representing the Michigan Veterinary Medical
Association, testified in support of HB 5085. Questions and discussion followed.
Dr. Holmstrom joined Dr. Powers and John Tramontana to answer questions from committee
members.
The Chair laid HB 5239 before the committee:
HB 5239
(Rep. Vaupel)
A bill to create the Michigan equine
commission; to impose certain assessments and provide for
the collection of those assessments; to provide for certain
remedies and penalties; and to prescribe the powers and
duties of the commission and certain state agencies and
officials.
Representative Vaupel testified in support of HB 5239.
Dr. John Shelle and Jean Ligon, both representing the Equine Commission Development
Committee, testified in support of HB 5239. Questions and discussion followed.
John Tramontana and Dr Jeff Bunn, both representing the Michigan Veterinary Medical
Association, testified in opposition of HB 5239. Questions and discussion followed.
Chuck Lippstreu, representing the Michigan Agri-Business Association, testified in opposition of
HB 5239.
Nathan Kark, representing the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development,
testified with a neutral position on HB 5239.
The following people submitted a card with a support of HB 5239, but did not wish to speak:
Mary McNabb, representing herself.
Rebecca Park, representing the Michigan Farm Bureau.
There being no further business before the committee, Rep. Julie Alexander adjourned the
meeting at 11:56 AM.
Representative Julie Alexander, Chair
Dakota Soda
Committee Clerk
dsoda@house.mi.gov