Legislature(2021 - 2022)BARNES 124
04/06/2021 08:00 AM House COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HJR14 | |
| HB22 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HJR 14 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 22 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 22-SHARED ANIMAL AND RAW MILK/PRODUCTS
8:07:43 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE announced that the final order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 22, "An Act relating to shared animal
ownership; and relating to the sharing and sale of raw milk and
raw milk products."
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE noted this was the second hearing of HB 22,
public testimony had been closed previously, and there were no
amendments to be offered.
8:08:15 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE shared he had just visited a [herd share]
goat farm outside of Big Lake, Alaska, and after witnessing the
sanitized process of milking the goats, he was "favorably
impressed." He said if this farm is a representation of others,
then "the milk share folks are doing what they're supposed to be
doing" in terms of [protecting] the health of their customers.
8:09:36 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY asked whether passage of HB 22 might
result in increased food security in the state.
8:10:32 AM
REPRESENTATIVE GERAN TARR, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor of HB 22, answered yes. She said HB 22 would allow
farmers additional opportunities "to build their herd share
programs," give Alaskans the access to fresh, Alaska-grown
products, and grow the state's economy through support of small
businesses. In response to a follow-up question, said there are
people already engaged in producing food for animals, and there
is an opportunity for growth there. She noted that currently
the Alaska Food Policy Council and the Alaska Farmers Market
Association are working together to consider all factors,
including the food supply chain.
REPRESENTATIVE MCCARTY expressed his concern for Alaska's food
security. He said he has heard there are fields that have not
been sowed for years, and he encouraged getting "all these crops
going" to store food for animals.
8:13:23 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE proffered that the farm he had visited had
about 40 head and 16 milking goats, and it goes through 1,300
bales a year; Alaska Mill and Feed gets "an inordinate amount of
business from these folks." He pointed out one advantage of
turning milk into cheese, for example, is that then the product
can be stored longer. He predicted that HB 22 would support
that. He indicated that 1,300 bales for 40 head would have "a
trickle-down economic effect to other farmers."
8:15:24 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PRAX related that his neighbor's goats help out
by eating an invasive weed that grows on his property.
8:15:58 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN opined a shorter supply chain would benefit
Alaska. She noted that when the legislature is not in session,
the sponsor's staff, Thatcher Brouwer, makes a living as a
fisherman, selling his product to consumers. She stated, "The
consumer side of the market is just as labor intensive as the
production side of the market, whether you're a fisherman or a
farmer." She said over the last 50 years, the supply chain has
become more of an industrial model. She suggested that because
Alaska is decentralized, shortening the supply chain is easier
to do. She said she looks forward to the day she can be part of
a herd share in Southeast Alaska and gave examples of the
locally produced products she does buy in other parts of the
state. She advised when buying local products, a person knows
the source, which makes it possible to trace back any problems.
8:19:06 AM
REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE added to Co-Chair Hannan's comments by
offered his understanding that the reason for pasteurization and
homogenization had to do with the lengthening of the supply
chain, in about 1910. He concurred that shortening the supply
chain is beneficial.
8:20:15 AM
CO-CHAIR SCHRAGE thanked the bill sponsor for her work to "free
the cheese."
8:20:27 AM
CO-CHAIR HANNAN moved to report HB 22 out of committee with
individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes.
There being no objection, HB 22 was reported out of the House
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.