House Agriculture Committee
January 29, 2025
Representative Roger Lynch [00:00:00] Representative Cooper, introduce yourself.
Representative Cameron Cooper [00:00:02] Representative Cameron Cooper, District 57. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:00:06] You're recognized to present your bill.
Representative Cameron Cooper [00:00:08] I have an amendment that was handed out to the committee. Did everybody get a copy of that? Okay, the amendment just add some co-sponsors. Also, I was contacted by the Department of Health. They understood my intent of the bill, but they just asked if I would clarify that intent. If you look at the original bill, I was striking out eight words which required that raw milk be sold on the farm.
Striking those eight words would have done what I wanted to do. But they just asked that I clarify what I wanted to do. So that's also what's included in the amendment. It just clarifies that I want to be able to sell unpasteurized milk at the farm where the milk is produced, at a farmer's market, or via delivery from the farm where the milk is produced. I'll be glad to answer any questions on this amendment.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:01:06] Motion to approve. All in favor, say aye. All opposed. Congratulations on your amendment.
Representative Cameron Cooper [00:01:14] Thank you, committee. I will now present the bill as amended. I'd like to start with a little bit of history on unpasteurized milk in Arkansas. Unpasteurized milk has been legal for sale in Arkansas since 1995, but those sales were limited to goat milk. And each producer could only sell no more than 100 gallons per month. In 2013, this law was amended to include sheep milk and cows milk in addition to goat milk, and the maximum number of gallons that could be sold was raised to 500 a month.
The law also required that signage be displayed at the point of sale and that a warning label be placed on each container of milk. Both the sign and the warning label must state the name and address of the farm and contain the following statement: 'This product sold for personal use and not for resale is fresh whole milk that has not been pasteurized. Neither this farm nor the milk sold by this farm has been inspected by the state of Arkansas. The consumer assumes all liability for health issues that may result from the consumption of this product.'
In addition to these requirements, the law stated that unpasteurized milk can only be sold directly on the farm. It cannot be sold at any other location except the farm where it's produced. In 2021, my daughters became interested in dairy goats. Many of you see my daughters up here with me there. They're here with me on a fairly regular basis. We homeschool our daughters. They're very involved in 4H. We live on a cattle ranch. They've been raised feeding cattle, vaccinating cattle, fed chickens. We have pigs. So in 21, they wanted to get some dairy goats.
So we added a small goatherd to the inventory on our farm. Over the years, that herd has grown and the milk that we produce has primarily been for our own personal use and for my daughters who produce and sell goat's milk. I Identified this issue with the milk being required to be sold on the farm when an acquaintance of ours began asking about getting some milk from us. We did some research on how to do that within the boundaries of the law, and we discovered that she would have to come all the way out to our farm to buy it.
Our daughters also compete in dairy goat shows at the county fair and the state fair. And through these channels we've met many other producers and consumers who have mentioned how the on farm sale requirement limits access and limits the ability of producers and consumers to do business together. I actually filed this bill two years ago in the 2023 session, but it was near the end of the session and we ran out of time before we could get to the bill. I put the bill in interim study, and I presented it to this committee last summer. We discussed the issue and I think it was well received by the members of the committee.
This bill will simply allow farmers to sell their unpasteurized milk at farmers markets or via delivery to the customer. In addition to continuing to offer it for sale directly on the farm, this change will make it easier for farmers and their customers to connect and do business together. This bill is about food freedom and food security, and it promotes the concept of buying and shopping locally, supporting your neighbors, and supporting the local agricultural economy with locally sourced products.
I mentioned the Health Department had called to ask that I clarify the bill. And I appreciate them reaching out to me and having an honest conversation on this issue. And I think it's important to note that the department is neutral on this bill. I would also like to mention that Arkansas Farm Bureau, their small ruminant committee and dairy committees, recently met about two weeks ago and they updated their policy on unpasteurized milk. The new policy states, 'We do not oppose the sale of raw milk with the producer having the option for on farm sales as well as delivery directly to their consumer as long as they are inspected and regulated by the Arkansas Department of Health.'
I welcome this new policy statement by Farm Bureau. I think it's a great step in the right direction. I do want to make clear that Arkansas Farm Bureau is neutral on this specific bill. That's all I have for the moment. I'll be glad to answer any questions you may have.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:05:41] Committee members, questions? Representative Garner.
Representative Denise Garner [00:05:49] Thank you, Mr. Chair. Cameron, I know we've talked about this before. I'm a proponent of raw milk, and I love the goat cheese and local produce. That's why I'm here. I do have some questions. First of all, the incidental sales, what does that mean in this particular industry? How do we know what incidental sales are?
Representative Cameron Cooper [00:06:10] Well, you're limited to 500 gallons a month, a producer is. An incidental sale, it basically means that this is not their primary business. They're not making their living selling raw milk. It may just be a component of their overall farm inventory.
Representative Denise Garner [00:06:25] But there's not a limit, an amount or percentage defined. Who defines that?
Representative Cameron Cooper [00:06:34] The limit is set in law. 500 gallons a month is the maximum amount that can be sold. Am I answering your question?
Representative Denise Garner [00:06:44] I think that helps. That helps. And then the other thing is how are we going to-- who, who manages that? Who makes certain that it's only 500 gallons and that it's not being sold in grocery stores?
Representative Cameron Cooper [00:07:03] Well, I mean, it's certainly not legal to sell in grocery stores. It's only legal to be sold by the producer of the milk. It can't be sold by a third party. That's already spelled out in current law.
Representative Denise Garner [00:07:13] None of that has changed?
Representative Cameron Cooper [00:07:15] Right. This bill is not changing any of that. The producer has to be the person selling the milk. It can't be sold by a third party.
Representative Denise Garner [00:07:22] So the labels, everything is still the same.
Representative Cameron Cooper [00:07:24] The labels remain intact. The safety warnings and all that, we're not changing any of that. And delivery.
Representative Denise Garner [00:07:31] And delivery. Perfect. Perfect. Great. Thank you.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:07:36] All right. Any other questions? Do I hear a motion? All right. Motion do pass.
Representative Cameron Cooper [00:07:46] We do have people signed up to speak for.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:07:50] You're right.
Representative Cameron Cooper [00:07:51] They've taken time out of their day to be here. Let's be sure and let them speak.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:07:54] Okay. Ryan Norris. Come up. I almost got you through, man. Mr. Norris, introduce yourself.
Ryan Norris [00:08:07] Yes. Ryan Norris, state director for Americans for Prosperity. Thank you, Mr. Chair, for allowing me to speak. I'm going to keep it brief because I think I'm feeling like we're all going to be on the same page. The reason that we're also very interested in Americans for Prosperity in this bill is that the theme of the bill is very important. That is talking about small farm potential, small farm growth, the need for new farmers and also economic freedom that Americans for Prosperity is very keen to support.
We have a need in our country for more farmers. Only 1.3% of the population are farmers. And in Arkansas, 74% of our farmers are made up by small family farms. They have difficulty trying to make the ends meet, as this body knows very well. So any way they can create new forms of revenue, we believe that's good for the state and that's good for them as well. There's mutual benefit there. So one of the issues has been market access limitations that this bill is trying to resolve. So we appreciate that Representative Cooper is moving this bill forward. Additional to that there's an urgent need for, again, new farmers.
Our average farmer age is 60 years old. Many are heading towards retirement and we need new people to step up. And they need to have the ability to start with small farms, make some revenue to sustain that and grow themselves into larger operations should they be qualified and good enough and produce a product that the consumer wants. Again, one of the barriers is limit to market access that this bill is taking care of. And then just this would expand small scale dairy operations. And we appreciate that.
And again, by expanding it's just allowing them to sell it more. It's not changing the quantities per month, etc. On top of that, just the free market aspect of this enabling farmers to maximize product value is very important. You've got to make all the dollars and cents that you can in the production that you have because it is tough with all of the inputs, energy costs, feed cost, etc., to make a dime. And if you have a little bit of operation going to where you can make a few extra dollars for your family, that's a positive thing in our estimation.
So we ask that this committee please support this and have a very good vote on this bill because, again, small farm growth is implicated in this entry for new farmers. It could entice more farmers into this field and then economic freedom in agriculture. So I ask for a very good vote on this and I will entertain any questions if you have them for me.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:10:40] Members, any questions?
Ryan Norris [00:10:42] All right, That's a wrap. Thank you.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:10:44] Thank you. All right. Luke Wilson. Mr. Wilson, would you introduce yourself for the record?
Luke Wilson [00:11:00] Thank you, Mr. Chairman and distinguished committee. I'm Luke Wilson, representing Wilson Ranch Dairy in support of the bill. I'll try to make this very brief. I had quite a bit, but I'll try to keep it quick. First off, I would like to thank you for your time in allowing me to give a brief testimony on behalf of my family's farm and really on behalf of raw milk in a broader sense. I'd like to start off by giving a little background just to my family and the impacts that raw milk has had on my own personal life.
As the fourth child of six on a 400 acre farm, it was only natural that at the age of five I would join my siblings at 6 a.m. every morning to milk the Jersey cows that we had. And that's what I did every morning until I went to college with the intent of saving up money, which I used to pay for most of my undergrad tuition, thanks to the opportunity that selling milk and raising livestock gave me. As great as that is and the opportunities that it afforded me, the simple fact of the matter is that if my dad hadn't worked as a dentist, there would have been no way that our dairy located between the middle of nothing and nowhere or any other rural located raw milk dairy would have been able to sustain itself.
And the main reason for that is access. And this bill's attempt to eliminate the disparity between rural area raw milk dairies and those vendors closer to metropolitan areas. Raw milk is an integral part of the agriculture all across the United States, and specifically here in Arkansas. Arkansas for many years has had a booming dairy industry. As you all know, way back in the early and mid 1900s but we saw something unique occur in that the corporate dairies began to buy out or put out of business all of the smaller micro dairies.
We saw the consolidation of milk market in such a way that it favored the larger corporate dairies and they began to monopolize. When that happened, the dairy industry in Arkansas drastically declined. In 1995, Arkansas passed a law called the Incidental Sales Act, as it was discussed earlier, which allowed for the sale of raw milk. But the point of sale was confined to the farm in 2013 that expanded to allow for raw cow milk to be sold. What that did was it allowed for small rural dairies like my family's dairy to actually be able to start making small income off the dairy that we had already run for years.
As I said, I started when I was five years old. And in 2013, when it expanded, we were then able to market our dairy products. Before then, it was only on donation basis whether the clients, if you want to call them that, would give us any money. And of course, there's no way to make a business off of that. So in 2013, when the law expanded, we were allowed to now sell our milk. But again, the point of sale had to be confined to the farm.
The issue was that we lived so far out from any metropolis that it became and remains a major disadvantage for us and for all those raw milk dairies that are in rural settings. Anyone who has ever owned a business or ran a business could tell you that in addition to all the laws in supply and demand, there's also the factor of availability to the customer or consumer. People inherently go towards what is most easily accessible. What this law does is it expands the access to where dairies like my family's dairy would now be able to tap into those metropolitan areas and give them the choice in which product they want to choose. Really it's as much for the raw milk consumers in the state as is for raw milk dairies.
And I'm going to tell you that the raw milk industry is only going to grow. Most of our customer base are people below the age of 40, mainly millennials and Gen Z. And that's kind of the trend where things are going. So if you want to expand agriculture in Arkansas, at least in my opinion, one of the hot markets are raw milk products, including raw milk or raw products including raw milk. So by expanding access, you will expand the raw milk industry and the agricultural industry in Arkansas, which will benefit. People will no longer have to choose between driving an hour and 30 minutes or a 15 minute drive.
The market would expand to allow people access to these products I mentioned earlier. That's the intent of my testimony, is to highlight the issue of accessibility to raw milk and raw milk products in hopes that the legislature can have a path towards a healthier Arkansas and an expanded free market. Thank you again, Mr. Chairman and distinguished committee, for your time in allowing me to testify. If there are any questions.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:14:59] Questions? You're recognized.
Representative Bruce Cozart [00:15:02] Mr. Wilson, what is the average cost of a gallon of raw milk?
Luke Wilson [00:15:07] The average cost of raw milk, we're selling ours for $10, which is actually cheaper than what it is around the U.S. It generally tends to run between $15 and $20 a gallon right now.
Representative Bruce Cozart [00:15:19] Do you have goat milk also?
Luke Wilson [00:15:21] We do not sell goat milk. No, sir.
Representative Bruce Cozart [00:15:24] I would be interested in what that cost. And I'm not sure if they sold by the quart or the gallon. And I'm sure Cameron knows that, but I can't ask him that right now. Thank you.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:15:34] All right. Any other questions, committee? All right. Thank you. Thank you. All right, Steve?
Steve Grant [00:15:55] Good morning, Chairman and members of the committee.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:15:58] Sir, please introduce yourself.
Steve Grant [00:16:00] My name is Steve Grant, and we're Stand Up Arkansas. You know, walking up to day, it was a beautiful day for a change. I got up this morning and my purple pea plants had sprouted in my greenhouse. Of course, it's still a little cold, but that tells me spring is coming and that's good for us farmers. I'm here today representing Stand Up Arkansas, an organization dedicated to raising the voices of Arkansas citizens, listening to the needs of our communities, and leading grassroots efforts to influence governance.
We're actively organizing in 63 of the 75 counties and will soon have a presence in all 75 counties. A core part of our mission is empowering Arkansans to use the ballot initiative and referendum process to ensure that the actual wants and needs of our communities, not corporate interests, are reflected in law. I'm also here before you as a homestead farmer. I have a farm called Forevermost Farms in Rosebud, Arkansas, which happens to be in Representative Cooper's district. We raise goats, chickens, turkeys, pigs and a whole lot of other stuff. Kind of like Ronald McDonald. But those are our production animals.
If you've eaten at restaurants like The Pantry, Brave New Restaurant, or bought From Me and McGhee Market or the Front Porch Market, you probably or you could have eaten our food from our farm. But it's become increasingly difficult for family farms to even exist. The Arkansas legislature has a pretty evil history when it comes to family farms and in siding with big ag and putting regulations in effect for some of the big corporate interests. That actually limits what we can do as family farmers. I had a whole speech going through the history and how it impacts the farm. I'm just going to let that go. We don't need to repeat that. But I would like to just talk from my heart for a second.
The pandemic was hard enough on family farmers. We do what's called regenerative farming, which we are caretakers of the land. And we're trying to do it right. We don't do chicken houses. We free range all of our animals. We care for our animals and land and we don't have 400 acres. But I wish I did. We're a 15 acre farm and there are regulations that are so stringent and tough that it's hard to even sell what you have that you want to sell. We have to go through a USDA process as a family farm to sell our meat, and they charge us the cost to process what they're selling meat for in the stores. If you wonder how it's tough for a family farm just to survive it is because the big ag controls the processing and the prices of the processing. They are intentionally putting us out. Raw milk is wanted.
There is a gigantic demand. We don't produce raw milk for consumption, but we get called all the time. Where can I get it? Where can I get it? Where can I get it? And like you said, you have to send somebody 30 miles outside the closest 500 person town to even find it. And it's not fair, not just to the farmers, but to the people of Arkansas. We're halted in production right now because of these cost problems. Because what a lot of people don't realize is a farmer has to pay everything up front and hope that we can recoup it on the backside.
And if things like the pandemic come in and raise prices, you know, I had to pay another $500 in transportation fuel just to get my feed from Missouri to Arkansas because we can't get non-GMO feed here in Arkansas because they don't want to be here because they can't get past our regulations. Y'all, I'm pleading with you. Cameron is doing something right. He's listening to what the needs of his constituents are and he's going and finding a way to solve those problems. Y'all ask how much a gallon of gas costs and heat or a gallon of milk cost and they're selling it for $10. Think. If you can only sell 500 a month, the most he's making is $5,000. Think about how much it costs to feed and produce that milk. They're losing money.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:20:55] Hey, Steve.
Steve Grant [00:20:58] Please, from a farmer, support this bill.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:21:02] Thank you. Dan?
Dan Quadros [00:21:19] Good morning. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. My name is Dan Quadros. I'm Assistant Professor Small Ruminant specialist, Department of Animal Science, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. Before I begin, I want to make it clear that I'm testifying as a private citizen and reflect my opinion alone. The statements I make have not been reviewed by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
We could discuss raw milk potential risk for human health, but it is not the case because raw milk sales is allowed in a state of Arkansas period. But only on farms. Small ruminants are the highest growing commodity. In Arkansas, sheep inventories increased 44% in five years, the latest two agricultural census, according to the USDA, 44%, roughly 10% per year. We still have more goats in Arkansas than sheep. That is different from the United States that has the double of sheep than goat. In the same period of time goat inventory increased 11%. However, dairy goats 42%, roughly 10% per year.
I estimate the number of dairy goats today, about 10,000 dairy goats in the state, most of them in the hands of small farmers and homesteaders that definitely are struggling to put their products in the market. Sheep milk is creamy and very rich and goat milk is recognized by the scientific community for its nutraceutical properties, and [?] properties too. But as I said before, marketing their milk is a constraint for our producers.
So I commend Representative Cooper. And if this bill pass it, it can be beneficial to a thousand small farmers in our state. So at the end of the day, it is a matter of liability that is still in the hands of the customer, as is stated by our current regulation. So at the end of the day it is a matter of choice, convenience, trust in the farmers and freedom. And just to finish it up, that is very little difference that I go to your place to get the milk or you go to my place to deliver the milk or conveniently be in the farmer's market. So thank you for the opportunity. And I take any questions.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:24:40] All right. Questions, Members? No questions. Thank you, sir. Cameron.
Representative Cameron Cooper [00:24:56] Committee, I appreciate your time. I'll just close really quickly. As I mentioned, this is a food freedom and a food security issue. This is about promoting locally grown products and connecting Arkansas farmers with customers who want to support their local economy, customers that want to be connected to the food they consume and know where their food comes from. It's important to note that with this bill, we're leaving that disclaimer, the disclaimer label that's required on the container. We're leaving the required signage at the point of sale. We're not changing that.
We are leaving the prohibition on third party sales. Has to be sold by the farmer. With this bill, we aren't requiring anyone to consume raw milk. We're not telling them they have to consume it. We're not even suggesting they should consume it. We aren't putting it in grocery stores. We're not putting it in your kid's school lunch. We're not recommending that people drink it. If people don't want to consume it, they're totally free to go to the grocery store and buy pasteurized milk. But let's leave the people alone who do want to consume it. Let's remove the barriers so that producers and their customers can more easily do business together. I'm closed for my bill. I would appreciate a good vote.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:26:10] All right. What's the wishes of the committee? I hear a motion All in favor, say aye. Opposed. Thank you. Representative Cooper, your bill passes. All right. Who's up next? Representative Steele. Please introduce yourself for the committee.
HB 1220: Allowing Designee for Land Commissioner on ANCRC
Representative Tracy Steele [00:26:48] Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Representative Tracy Steele, North Little Rock. God's Country. Ladies and gentlemen, I think this may be the shortest and most simplest bill of the session. So I want to tell you, the Arkansas Commission of State Lands and Land Commission asked me to run this bill. Kelly is here, my good friend Kelly. Can I ask him, Mr. Chairman, to come up? We may not need him, but I want everybody to see him. You all know the great job he's doing.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:27:27] Yeah. Join us at the table and introduce yourself.
Kelly Boyd [00:27:34] Thank you, Mr. Chairman, committee. I'm Kelly Boyd, Deputy Commissioner of State Lands.
Representative Tracy Steele [00:27:40] Thank you. Committee, in 1987, Act 729 established the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council. Nine members and two non-voting members. Came back in 2019 with Act 910 and gave other members voting rights. All this bill does is allow the Land Commissioner and all the other members to have an opportunity and the ability to designate somebody in case they cannot attend the meeting. All other members have that privilege except for the land Commissioner.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:28:22] Questions, Committee? Any questions? All right. Anybody in the audience here to speak for or against the bill? Representative Steele, are you ready to close for your bill?
Representative Tracy Steele [00:28:34] Yes, sir. I appreciate a good vote.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:28:36] Okay. Committee. All right. All in favor, say aye. All opposed? Congratulations, Representative Steele.
Representative Tracy Steele [00:28:49] Thank you very much.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:29:03] Kendra, you want to do your bill? Introduce yourself.
Representative Kendra Moore [00:29:22] Thank you, Mr. Chair. Kendra Moore, State Representative, District 23. I'm happy to be helping my friend Representative Vaught present her bill, House Bill 1149, this morning, giving citizens the opportunity to create vegetable gardens on their properties. Many Arkansans desire the opportunity to have the ability to grow their own healthy food at home and not solely rely on commercially procured food sources. So this bill would help do that. With, as many of you know, with many food insecurities and food deserts around our state, this is a great bill to empower citizens to grow their own food. So I will be happy to try to answer some questions on this bill.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:30:10] Any questions? All right. Representative Cozart.
Representative Bruce Cozart [00:30:16] So can I not grow food on my property now?
Representative Kendra Moore [00:30:21] Do you live in a city that has restrictions on raised vegetable gardens?
Representative Bruce Cozart [00:30:29] No, I don't want anybody would want to live in a city.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:30:35] All right. Got a little swipe in there. All right. Any other questions? Representative Richmond?
Representative Marcus Richmond [00:30:45] Thank you, Mr. Chair. So we have cities, towns, whatever, that right now are trying to prohibit or have prohibited people from having gardens on their own property?
Representative Kendra Moore [00:30:58] That's my understanding from Representative Vaught.
Representative Marcus Richmond [00:31:02] Okay. Do you happen to know who some of these folks are?
Representative Kendra Moore [00:31:06] I do not. Sorry. I can try to get you.
Representative Marcus Richmond [00:31:09] I'll get that later on from somebody else. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:31:12] All right. Any other questions? Representative, are you ready to close for your bill?
Representative Kendra Moore [00:31:18] Yes, sir, I am.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:31:20] Hang on a minute. Anybody in the audience to speak for or against the bill? If you see him grab my arm, I told him to grab my arm if I get ahead of myself here. All right. No one from the audience. All right. Representative ready to close for your bill?
Representative Kendra Moore [00:31:34] Yes, sir, I am.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:31:35] Okay. What's the desire of the committee? All right. All in favor, say aye. Opposed. Congratulations. All right, Senator Hill. You're up. If you introduce yourself for the committee.
Senator Ricky Hill [00:32:10] Thank you, Mr. Chair. Ricky Hill, Senate District 11.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:32:14] All right. You may present your bill.
Senator Ricky Hill [00:32:17] Are we doing 61 first?
Representative Roger Lynch [00:32:21] Yes.
Senator Ricky Hill [00:32:24] Senate Bill 61 basically is a bill that says that veterinarians can use telemedicine in the state of Arkansas under emergency or an urgent care situation. This bill allows the veterinarians to perform services on the animal, even if they do not have a veterinarian patient relationship, provided they get that relationship within seven days on a small animal and 21 days on a large animal. So it allows a veterinarian, because they will be tied up a lot of times in the clinic, have an emergency situation and it's something they can handle over the telephone with someone. And so this just allows them the opportunity to do that. We're trying to modernize this to where it kind of replicates the medical field side of it. And we have a couple of veterinarians that are here to speak for this. Worked with the Arkansas Veterinary medical association for the last year or so and been involved myself, Representative Painter. And this is what we came up with that we thought would be good for the industry and for the consumers.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:33:25] All right. Committee, any questions? All right. In the audience, speaking for or against the bill? Okay, Senator, you ready to close for your bill?
Senator Ricky Hill [00:33:40] I appreciate a good vote.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:33:41] All right. What's the will of the committee? All right. All in favor, say aye. Opposed. Congratulations.
Senator Ricky Hill [00:33:50] Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:33:54] You're ready to go on your next bill.
Senator Ricky Hill [00:33:58] Senate Bill 68. It allows a veterinarian to send out a vet tech, a vet tech specialist or your veterinary technologist. Allows them indirect supervision to send one of them out to the farm for that emergency case. They can go out when the veterinarian is tied up in the clinic or he can send one of up his employees out and they they can go out to the farm directly. I've got a couple of examples that veterinarians have been tied up in in the clinic where they're doing surgery, whatever they're doing, or they may even have 30 patients lined up out there to see today. In an emergency situation taking place where they can send one of their techs out and take care of the situation, report directly back to the veterinarian. They are still answering to the vet that's responsible for their insurance and everything else. And he is assuming all liability on them and they're just there representing him. They'll make contact back with him and tell him the situation and he'll tell them what they can do and what they can't do.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:34:57] All right. Any questions? Anyone in the audience speaking for or against the bill? No. Senator Hill, are ready to close for your bill?
Senator Ricky Hill [00:35:08] I'm ready to close, and I appreciate a good vote.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:35:10] What's the will of the committee? Do pass. All in favor say aye. Opposed? Congratulations, Senator.
Senator Ricky Hill [00:35:16] Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Representative Roger Lynch [00:35:20] All right. That concludes today's business. I'll ask my co chair if he's got anything he wants to say. I missed him on the front end and he grabbed my arm. All right. Thank you. We're adjourned.
