Legislative updates for August 2023

State Issues

Budget

Gov. Whitmer signed the $15.2 billion general fund budget for 2023-24 into law on July 31. Earlier in the month, the Legislature finalized the 1,000-plus page appropriations bill on party-line votes: 61-47 in the House and 26-10 in the Senate. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will receive $92.7 million of the general funds available, and MSU Extension and AgBioResearch will receive an impressive 5% boost.  

Read details on funding for food & farm programs, education, and transportation infrastructure.  

Read Gov. Whitmer's official budget press release.

State Rules More Stringent Than Federal 

Introduced by Sen. Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo), Senate Bill 14 removed the statutory requirement that state rules not be more stringent than those established by the federal government. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Whitmer on July 26. Farm Bureau opposed Senate Bill 14. MFB policy #83 Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy opposes regulations and standards more restrictive than federal.

Federal Issues

Checkoff Programs 

The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act (S. 557 & H.R. 1249) would prohibit checkoff boards from contracting for checkoff program activities with entities that lobby on issues related to agriculture, among other things. Passage of the OFF Act could significantly disrupt the promotion and research dollars provided through checkoff programs. Farm Bureau opposes the legislation and is supporting H. Res. 588, a resolution expressing Congressional support of checkoff programs. 

Foreign Ownership 

The Senate recently adopted an amendment on foreign farmland ownership by a vote of 91-7. The amendment would require the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to bar investors “subject to the jurisdiction or direction of” the governments of China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran from purchasing land and agricultural companies. The bill would also add USDA as an ex-officio member of CFIUS and require CFIUS to review purchases exceeding 320 acres or $5 million by investors from any foreign country. The measure provides the President with authority to make exceptions to the ban where national security may be affected and does not apply to foreign-owned companies already operating within the United States.  

It’s likely the amendment will be included in the National Defense Authorization Act which is expected to pass later this year. AFBF Issue Advisory Committees recently met and made recommendations for states to consider for policy development on the topic of foreign ownership and have created a webpage. Current AFBF policy does not list countries of concern.