Good News From Utah!

The list of states standing up against NAIS is now up to five! Utah has passed a bill requiring that NAIS be voluntary in that state, joining Arizona, Kentucky, Missouri and Nebraska. The bill was unanimously passed by the Utah House and Senate, and Governor Huntsman signed it into law Tuesday, March 24th.

We all owe a big thanks to the bill’s sponsors, Representative Melvin R. Brown and Senator Kevin T. Van Tassell! H.B. 183 forbids the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food ("UDAF") from requiring anyone to participate in NAIS. Neither the UDAF or a political subdivision in Utah may use coercive means such as denying, revoking, or limiting services, licenses, permits, grants, or other benefits to force someone to participate in NAIS. The bill also provides that someone who participates in NAIS may withdraw from participation at any time. There are some limits to these provisions, for example if someone is "part of an ongoing disease investigation, monitoring, or control program for which" UDAF "has responsibility," then UDAF isn't obligated to remove a person's information from the database. The bill also allows UDAF to establish NAIS if it is required by federal law, but UDAF rules may not be more stringent than the federal law.

The adoption of this new law in Utah is an important step in our struggle to keep our farms free. As more states reject NAIS, it sends a message to Congress that people across the country are opposed to this program! But the fight in Congress will be difficult, as the craze for traceability as the supposed answer to food safety problems continues. Now is a good time to call your U.S. Representative and Senator, and talk to them about why NAIS is not a food safety program!

Efforts to pass anti-NAIS bills and resolutions
continue in other states:

ARKANSAS: HB 1046 - to limit NAIS to a voluntary program only, has stalled in the Senate, and ARAPA is trying to get a second hearing on the bill. Please contact your state Senator to express your opposition to NAIS and your continued support for HB 1046! The Senate is also hearing a resolution, HCR1014, opposing a mandatory NAIS.

ILLINOIS: SR 127 - A resolution has been introduced by Senator Luechtefeld and co-sponsored by Senator Sullivan. SR 127 notes the problems that a mandatory NAIS would cause, and calls for animal identification to “remain at the State level and not be initiated at the national level.” Click here for more information on this resolution.

MONTANA: HB 592 - which would have limited NAIS to a voluntary program only, unanimously passed the House, but has been tabled in the Senate Committee. A resolution is being considered in its place.

NORTH DAKOTA: Concurrent Resolution No. 4019 - The Legislature has adopted a concurrent resolution urging Congress to examine carefully the known and potential impacts of implementing a national animal identification system, Concurrent Resolution No. 4019. You can read the resolution here.

TEXAS: SB 682/ HB 3322 - would limit NAIS to a voluntary, non-coercive program in Texas, removing the agency’s current authority to mandate NAIS. The bill includes protections against coercion and the abuse of existing disease control programs. Like the Utah law, it allows the agency to implement NAIS if required by federal law. The Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing on March 23, and is expected to vote on the bill next week. Click here for more information, or follow it through the Texas legislative site here.

For more information about the status of NAIS, or to get help with preparing a bill against NAIS for your state, feel free to email the Liberty Ark Coalition.