Legislature(2025 - 2026)BARNES 124
03/26/2025 01:00 PM House RESOURCES
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB140 | |
| HB93 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 140 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 93 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 140-CREATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
1:03:31 PM
CO-CHAIR BURKE announced that the first order of business would
be HOUSE BILL NO. 140 "An Act establishing the Department of
Agriculture; relating to the establishment of the Department of
Agriculture; transferring functions of the Department of Natural
Resources related to agriculture to the Department of
Agriculture; and providing for an effective date."
1:04:02 PM
REPRESENTATIVE ZACK FIELDS, Alaska State Legislature, introduced
HB 140 and summarized why he supported the formation of a
Department of Agriculture using the legislative process rather
than an executive order. He explained that there was a lot of
support among legislators for creating a Department of
Agriculture through legislation.
1:04:51 PM
AMY SEITZ, Policy Director, Alaska Farm Bureau, explained that
she was speaking from the position of the Alaska Farm Bureau,
and represented their support of HB 140. She began her
presentation, titled "Alaska Department of Agriculture,
Prioritizing a strong industry" [hard copy included in the
committee packet]. She moved to slide 2, titled "Mission and
Vision," which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Support, promote and encourage development of an
agriculture and mariculture industry in Alaska that is
viable, profitable and sustainable.
Promote an economically stable agriculture and
mariculture industry for Alaska that can enhance the
quality of life for its people, create sustainability
of its communities and environment, and encourages new
business development opportunities for all Alaskans.
She emphasized the importance of building the agricultural
industries for the betterment of Alaska.
1:06:19 PM
MS. SEITZ moved to slide 3, titled "Goals," which read as
follows [original punctuation provided]:
Increase production
Market development - promote buying local at all
market levels
Increase economic viability in all types and sizes of
farm & food businesses
Improve transportation system
Improve food security
Assist with expanding infrastructure
Increase access to capital
Expand support programs statewide
Improve access to and protect lands and waters
suitable for farming
She explained that these goals were in place with the existing
division as well as for the mariculture industry. She
referenced the work of the food security task force, the
legislative food strategy task force, the mariculture task
force, and the 2009 Division of Agriculture strategic plan. She
pointed out that a basic framework was in place for building a
strong agriculture industry.
1:07:44 PM
MS. SEITZ moved to slide 4, titled "Strategic Plan for Moving
Forward," which showed a photo of some incredibly adorable goats
looking through a barn window. She advanced to slide 5, titled
"Department Focus, Focus on in-state production," which read as
follows [original punctuation provided]:
Department of Agriculture ?
Department of Agriculture and Fish ?
Department of Food Security ?
She pointed out that the name of the new department is not as
important as what it accomplishes, but a name would provide
focus. She discussed the merits of three possible names,
emphasizing the need to focus on the cultivation aspect of the
food industry. If the department was named the Department of
Agriculture and Fish, the greater emphasis might be on fish
rather than agriculture. If the name became the Department of
Food Security, it would leave out non-food farms such as peony
farms which have a world market.
1:11:17 PM
MS. SEITZ proceeded to slide 6, titled "Alaska Department of
Agriculture Organization Chart," which showed one possible
framework for the new department based on a white paper created
ty the Alaska Food Strategy Task Force. She explained that the
organizational chart was theoretical at the time, but it
provided a basis for discussion. She reiterated the importance
of having a commissioner who would be focused on the needs of
Alaska agriculture.
1:13:12 PM
MS. SEITZ moved to slide 7, titled "Program Expansion," which
read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Market Development
Grants and Loans
Lands and Waters
Inspection Services
Alaska FFA
Mariculture
Increased staff capacity & program funding = increased
reach, resources and ability to build industry
Details in Department of Agriculture White Paper
She discussed the proposed program expansion and described the
potential positive results. For example, outside funding would
become available; education and outreach could be expanded;
there would be a broader reach around the state specifically in
rural communities; and the focus on land would be increased to
include water for mariculture.
1:17:27 PM
MS. SEITZ showed slide 8, titled, "Do we really need a
Department?" which showed a photo of peonies and proceeded to
slide 9, titled "Momentum + Support = Greater Success," which
showed census data comparing information on Alaska agriculture
from 1982, 2002, and 2022 regarding the number of farms,
cropland harvested, the value of crops sold, and cut flowers and
floral greens.
1:18:45 PM
MS. SEITZ responded to questions from Representative Coulombe
and Representative Rauscher regarding whether the numbers
included farms which cultivated marijuana or hemp, explaining
that it was not listed as one of the crops in the agricultural
census report.
1:20:16 PM
MS. SEITZ, in response to a question from Representative Elam,
said she would provide a line item of what crops were included
in the agriculture division's census.
1:21:09 PM6
MS. SEITZ proceeded to slide 10 which continued the topic,
titled "Momentum + Support = Greater Success." It showed a
chart comparing the operating budgets for the years 2005, 2010,
2015, 2020, 2024, and the funding proposed for 2025. She
suggested that Alaska agriculture receives insufficient
resources, and it has had a negative effect. She commented that
attempts to build a stronger division have not seemed to work
and that a department will work better.
1:24:39 PM
MS. SEITZ responded to a question from Representative Raucher
who referred to the types of funding outlined on slide 9. She
moved to slide 11 which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
Division of Agriculture
Underfunded = low capacity
Low priority in department
Efforts to start agriculture not build
Department of Agriculture
Brings focus and priority
Cabinet-level voice
Greater opportunity to build industry
Pointed out the comparisons on slide 11, highlighting how a
department of agriculture would be in a better position to
assist with emergencies or disasters. A commissioner of
agriculture would help prioritize Alaska agriculture on a state
and national level.
1:31:45 PM
MS. SEITZ responded to a question from Representative Saddler
regarding whether the farming community supported the Department
of Agriculture being created through an executive order or
through the legislative process. She explained that creating
the department is more important than how it is created.
1:32:59 PM
MS. SEITZ, in response to a question from Representative Elam
regarding fish farming, stated that the farm bureau was not
taking a position on that issue.
1:34:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS addressed the topic of fish farming raised
by Representative Elam. He described the primary differences
between hatchery fish and fish farming, pointing out the
statutory prohibition on fin fish farming. He said that he
supported having mariculture in the new department, but he did
not see a reason to move some of the functions of the Alaska
Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) to the agriculture department.
1:38:23 PM
CO-CHAIR BURKE opened invited testimony on HB 140.
1:38:53 PM
JASON LESSARD, Executive Director, Alaska Mariculture Alliance,
explained that the mission of the Alaska Maricultural Alliance
(AMA) was to develop and support a stable and robust
maricultural industry for the long-term benefit of Alaska's
economy, environment, and communities. He described how the
marine shellfish and aquatic plant industry can diversify the
economy, create opportunities, address food security issues,
help filter seawater, and create habitat for aquatic species
such as shrimp. He also discussed how aquatic plants can be
used as fertilizer, replacing reliance on harsher chemicals. He
explored the history of support for mariculture and commented on
the diverse groups encompassed by AMA. He acknowledged that
mariculture is a nascent industry, and developing guidelines and
regulations would be an ongoing process. He said that the AMA
is interested in a department of agriculture but does not have
an official stance. There was a preference for legislation
rather than an executive order because AMA could be involved in
the process.
1:45:59 PM
MR. LESSARD, in response to several questions from
Representative Mears, explained that AMA has worked with the
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and ADF&G. He described
how mariculture overlaps with those departments.
1:47:57 PM
MR. LESSARD responded to a question from Representative
Rauscher, explaining that it was his understanding that an
executive order was simply an up and down vote which would make
it more difficult for AMA to provide input, whereas the
legislative process allows groups and individuals to be engaged
in the process.
1:49:24 PM
MR. LESSARD addressed several questions from Representative
Coulombe, acknowledging that mariculture was not mentioned in HB
140 at that time, and that AMA also worked with the Alaska
Department of Environmental Conservation.
1:50:50 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE referenced an apparent shift in the bill
to take powers from the Board of Agriculture and give them to
the commissioner.
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS explained that eliminating the board is
not the intent. He commented that one of the reasons for
putting forth the bill was to provide a means for addressing
different issues. He gave the example of determining whether
mariculture should be included with agriculture.
1:52:16 PM
RENA MILLER, Special Assistant to the Commissioner, Department
of Natural Resources, explained that HB 140 was not DNR's bill,
so she could not address questions of intent. However, she
explained that the bill would redirect the communications flow.
The bill would direct communications through the commissioner
because the commissioner would become the executive director of
the Board Of Agriculture & Conservation.
1:53:53 PM
MS. MILLER responded to a question from Representative Elam
regarding the structure of the proposed department, explaining
that neither the executive order (EO) nor HB 140 created a
specific structure beyond creating the position of commissioner.
The structure would be determined through the fiscal note.
1:55:04 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS addressed several questions posed by
Representative Saddler regarding why he supported legislation
rather than supporting EO 136. He explained that he supported
the creation of a department of agriculture, but he posited that
a more robust structure would result from the legislative
process because of the opportunity to propose changes. He
pointed out the suggested department structure starting on page
13 of the Food Strategy Task Force report.
1:57:54 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS responded to several questions from
Representative Coulombe regarding how the department would be
paid for. He suggested that the permanent fund dividend (PFD)
would be zero dollars within several years, and he would support
the permanent fund as a funding source for a department of
agriculture. However, he wanted to honor the will of the
committee in this matter.
1:59:45 PM
MS. MILLER reviewed the fiscal notes, noting that there were
three because the current division of agriculture would be moved
completely to the new department. One fiscal note was from the
agriculture development allocation which would take their budget
and their staff and move them to the new department. The second
note is from the plant materials center allocation that would
also move budget and staff to the new department. The new note
would move those budgets into the new department. That fiscal
note was indeterminate because it would depend on how the
committee and the legislature would staff and resource the new
department.
2:01:06 PM
MS. MILLER responded to a question from Representative Saddler
regarding whether a department created by HB 140 would operate
differently than a department created by executive order. She
stated her understanding that regardless of how a department was
created, once it is in statute, the legislature could amend the
statute as it sees fit.
2:01:57 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MEARS agreed with Representative Coulombe's
concern regarding funding for a new department. She pointed out
that the fiscal issues might mean providing additional support
within the current division rather than support for a new
department.
2:03:09 PM
REPRESENTATIVE COULOMBE explained that her previous support for
the EO was because the fiscal note was zero. She reiterated her
concern regarding using the permanent fund for the agriculture
department because using the dividend as a funding source has
been presented as a solution for a number of other cases, also.
She posited that the size of the fiscal note might cause the
bill to fail. She would like to see a smaller fiscal note and
potentially a smaller department.
2:04:27 PM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS stated his belief that there would be more
oil revenue within a few years and said he agreed with
Representative Coulombe's suggestion for a phased approach.
2:04:45 PM
CO-CHAIR BURKE announced HB 140 would be held over.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Letter of Support for HB 140 AK Department of Ag 3.25.pdf |
HRES 3/26/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 140 |
| HB 93 H RES amendment 1.pdf |
HRES 3/26/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 93 |
| HB 140 Alaska Food Policy Council, Policy Brief, Department of Agriculture 2025.pdf |
HRES 3/26/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 140 |
| HB 140 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HRES 3/26/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 140 |
| HB 140 Department of Agriculture Presentation.pdf |
HRES 3/26/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 140 |
| HB 140 Department of Agriculture White Paper 2024.pdf |
HRES 3/26/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 140 |
| HB 140 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HRES 3/26/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 140 |
| HB 140 fiscal note 3.pdf |
HRES 3/26/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 140 |
| HB 140 fiscal note 1.pdf |
HRES 3/26/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 140 |
| HB 140 fiscal note 2.pdf |
HRES 3/26/2025 1:00:00 PM |
HB 140 |