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Below records the status of House File (H.F.) 253 and Senate File (S.F.) 7 — during the 2009-2010 legislative session.

 

CURRENT BILL STATUS (as of May, 2010): Bill did not pass. New bill to be introduced in 2011 Legislative Session.

 

COMMITTEE STATUS: On Tuesday, March 9, 2010, the Minnesota Dog and Cat Breeder Bill Senate File 7 (also known as the Minnesota Puppy and Kitten Mill Bill) was heard in the Senate Agriculture Committee; it did not pass.

Senate File 7 and House File 253 were laid on the table ("put on hold") in their respective Agriculture Committees during the 2009 session. In order to move each bill along (in the 2010 session), a majority vote was needed in each Agriculture Committee — to take the bill off the table and continue discussion.

The bill also needed to meet committee deadlines. (The first policy committee deadline in the Minnesota Legislature was Friday, March 12. All bills needed to pass through all policy committees in either the House or Senate by that date.) Because S.F. 7 did not pass the Senate Agriculture Committee, the committee deadlines were not met.

 

Timing was running out

The lobbying team met with Agriculture Committee members in both the House and Senate trying to get hearings and secure the votes. Thousands of constituents from all over Minnesota called, emailed and wrote legislators and signed petitions of support.

The Chair of the House Agriculture Committee (Representative Otremba) would not grant H. F. 253 a hearing until there was movement in the Senate. But the Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee (Senator Vickerman) would not grant S.F. 7 a hearing.

So the lobbying team took different action, bypassing the normal way a bill is scheduled and given a hearing. Senator Sharon Erickson Ropes, who sits on the Senate Agriculture Committee and was supportive of the bill, was approached and she agreed to make a motion (on March 9) to move S.F. 7 off the table for a hearing. This motion passed, which then allowed the bill to be debated in Committee.

 

The Senate Agriculture Hearing

At the hearing, Senator Don Betzold, the author of S.F. 7, gave an overview of the bill. Keith Streff (humane agent for the Animal Humane Society) also responded to questions from Committee members. The Chair did not allow for any public testimony.

One legislator was very supportive and expressed his reasons. Another legislator was in strong opposition and insisted "the system works as is." One legislator committed to voting yes prior to the meeting but then changed her vote. The Chair was not supportive.

When there were no more questions on the bill, a motion was made to vote yes or no on the bill. The Committee vote was 7 to 5 — opposed. The bill failed.

Following the vote, two legislators (who voted yes) expressed a clear desire that something needs to be done to address inhumane dog/cat breeding practices.

NOTE: For video coverage of the meeting, go to: Senate Agriculture Committee, March 9

(Senate File 7 is the last item discussed.)

 

Senate Agriculture Committee

There are 15 members on the Senate Agriculture Committee. Below are the member names and how each voted.

Senator Jim Vickerman (Chair, District 22) 651-296-5650  - NO

Senator Sharon Erickson Ropes (District 31)  651-296-5649  - YES

Senator Steve Dille (District 18)  651-296-4131  - NO

Senator Satveer S. Chaudhary (District 50)  651-296-4334  - NO

Senator Lisa A. Fobbe (District 16)  651-296-8075  - NO

Senator Joe Gimse (District 13)  651-296-3826  - NO

Senator David W. Hann (District 42)  651-296-1749  - PASS (didn't vote)

Senator Bill E. Ingebrigtsen (District 11)  651-297-8063  - NO

Senator Paul E. Koering (District 12)  651-296-4875  - NOT PRESENT

Senator Gary W. Kubly (District 20)  651-296-5094  - YES

Senator Keith Langseth (District 9)  651-296-3205  - YES

Senator Tony Lourey (District 8)  651-296-0293  - YES

Senator Steve Murphy (District 28)  651-296-4264  - YES

Senator Rod Skoe (District 2)  651-296-4196  - NOT PRESENT

Senator Dan Skogen* (District 10)  651-296-5655 - NO

         * Sen. Skogen represents Kathy Bauck's district (dog breeder)

 

Every legislator who sits on the Senate Agriculture Committee was lobbied — multiple times. Each member was fully aware of the details of the bill and has seen or heard about animal cruelty, consumer fraud, tax evasion, and other issues defining the problem.

As for the opposition, lobbyists for agricultural interests and for the larger breeders also showed up at the committee meeting, as did the NRA lobbyists. They worked hard lobbying committee members. Some small breeders, too, many of whom were apparently ignorant of the details of the bill, worked hard against it.

 

 

BILL HISTORY DURING 2009 SESSION:

Before every Senator or Representative has the opportunity to vote on a bill, all legislation must first be heard and passed in the appropriate policy and/or finance committees. There are different committees in the MN Senate and in the MN House of Representatives. 

Below gives a brief summation of what happened during the 2009 session.

 

MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: H.F. 253

House Agriculture, Rural Economics and Veterans Affairs Committee

H.F. 253 was heard by the House Agriculture Committee, chaired by Mary Ellen Otremba, on Friday, March 27. After testimony and debate, the bill was "laid on the table," which means the bill did not receive a vote.

Since all bills must pass through all policy committees in one body (Minnesota House or Minnesota Senate) by the first committee deadline of March 27, this means H.F. 253/ S.F. 7 did not move ahead in the legislative process in 2009.

The testifiers at the House Agriculture Committee hearing who spoke in opposition to the bill were the NRA, sportsmen/hunting groups, small breeders who don't fall under the definition of a "commercial breeder," and one veterinarian who is also a breeder who doesn't fall under the bill's definition. To listen to the hearing (and comments made by legislators in opposition), go to: AUDIO House Agriculture (Friday, March 27, 2009)

NOTE: "Laid on the table" is a process to temporarily set aside a bill for possible further discussion and vote at a later time. Once a bill is "laid on the table," it requires a majority vote to get it off the table. It was apparent H.F. 253 did not have enough votes for it to pass out of the House Agriculture Committee so having it laid on the table kept it alive — even though it needs a majority vote to call it back. The good news was, as indicated above, the bill was still alive. In 2010 it could pick up where it left off in the process in 2009.

 

Committee members for the MN House Agriculture Committee are listed below:

Chair:  Representative Mary Ellen Otremba – 651-296-3201
Vice Chair:  Representative Al Doty - 651-296-4247
Representative Steve Drazkowski – 651-296-2273
Representative Kent Eken - 651-296-9918
Representative Tim Faust – 651-296-0518
Representative Rod Hamilton – 651-296-5373
Representative Kory Kath – 651-296-5368
Representative Terry Morrow - 651-296-8634
Representative Dave Olin – 651-296-9635
Representative Ron Shimanski – 651-296-1534
Representative Dean Urdahl – 651-296-4344

 

House Civil Justice Committee -- Approved; no further action needed

H.F. 253 passed out of the House Civil Justice Committee on Monday, March 23. This Committee is chaired by Rep. Joe Mullery. A "group" voice vote was taken. The majority voted "yes;" a few "no" voices were heard.

Committee members are listed below.

Chair: Representative Joe Mullery  651-296-4262

Vice Chair: Representative Gail Kulick Jackson  651-296-6746

Representative Bobby Joe Champion   651-296-8659

Representative Steve Drazkowski    651-296-2273

Representative Debra Hilstrom    651-296-3709

Representative Mary Liz Holberg    651-296-6926

Representative Melissa Hortman    651-296-4280

Representative Sheldon Johnson    651-296-4201

Representative Tim Kelly    651-296-8635

Representative Tim Mahoney    651-296-4277

Representative Dave Olin    651-296-9635

Representative Michael Paymar    651-296-4199 (co-author)

Representative Peggy Scott    651-296-4231

Representative Torrey Westrom    651-296-4929

To view committee member photos and other contact information, click here.

 

House Public Safety Committee - Approved; no further action required

H.F. 253 was heard on Tuesday, March 17, in the Minnesota House Public Safety Policy and Oversight Committee. This Committee is chaired by Representative Debra Hilstrom. With a wide margin of 13 (yes) to 4 (no) vote, the committee approved H.F. 253 with an amendment offered by Representative Tillberry.

This amendment had been worked out with several interested parties to assure continuing progress. Certain language from Rep. Juhnke's bill (H.F. 573) was amended into H.F. 253 and supporters of Rep. Juhnke's bill now support H.F. 253.

The biggest change to the bill's language (per the amendment) is the definitions of "commercial breeder" and "hobby breeder." Instead of having the count for commercial breeders include 6 intact "females", the number was changed to "20 or more adult intact animals" and includes breeders who produce five or more litters per year. To keep the bill moving forward, the coalition supported this compromise. Committee members acknowledged these collaborative efforts by voting Yes.

To view the amendment (revised, approved language for H.F. 253), click here.

Committee members and votes are listed below:

Chair: Representative Debra Hilstrom (District 46B) 651-296-3709 -- voted yes
Vice Chair: Rep. Karla Bigham (District 57A) 651-296-4342 (co-author) -- voted yes
Representative Bruce Anderson (District 19A) 651-296-5063  -- voted no
Representative Tony Cornish (District 24B) 651-296-4240 -- voted yes
Representative Steve Drazkowski (District 28B) 651-296-2273 -- voted no
Representative Gail Kulick Jackson (District 16A) 651-296-6746 -- voted yes
Representative Sheldon Johnson (District 67B) 651-296-4201 -- voted yes
Representative Kory Kath (District 26B) 651-296-5368 -- voted yes
Representative Tim Kelly (District 28A) 651-296-8635 -- voted yes
Representative Paul Kohls (District 34A) 651-296-4282 -- voted no
Representative John Lesch (District 66A) 651-296-4224 -- voted yes
Representative Sandra Masin (District 38A) 651-296-3533 -- voted yes
Representative Joe Mullery (District 58A) 651-296-4262 -- voted yes
Representative Dave Olin (District 1A) 651-296-4199 -- voted yes
Representative Michael Paymar (District 64B co-author) 651-296-4199 -- voted yes
Representative Paul Rosenthal (District 41B co-author) 651-296-7803 -- voted yes
Representative Ron Shimanski (District 18A) 651-296-1534  -- voted no

To view committee member photos and other contact information, please click here.

To obtain House committee reports, please click here. (Reports may take 24-48 hours to be written following a committee hearing/meeting.)

 

MINNESOTA SENATE: S.F. 7

Senate Agriculture Committee -- 2nd hearing; tabled

Unfortunately, S.F. 7 did not receive a hearing on Tuesday, March 24, 2009, in the Senate Agriculture Committee. As you may recall, the bill was laid on the table at the last hearing in this Committee, which means members wanted more time for discussion and were not ready to take a vote. On Tuesday, the Committee Chair asked that the bill be "called off the table" to allow for continued debate. The committee chose, by a majority voice vote, to keep the bill tabled, which means it can brought back again in 2010.

Committee members are listed below: Senate Agriculture Committee

Chair: Senator Jim Vickerman (District 22) 651-296-5650
Vice Chair: Sharon L. Erickson Ropes (District 31) 651-296-5649
Senator Satveer S. Chaudhary (District 50) 651-296-4334
Senator Steve Dille (District 18) 651-296-4131
Senator Lisa A. Fobbe (District 16) 651-296-8075
Senator Joe Gimse (District 13) 651-296-3826
Senator David W. Hann (District 42) 651-296-1749
Senator Bill G. Ingebrigtsen (District 11) 651-297-8063
Senator Paul E. Koering (District 12) 651-296-4875
Senator Gary W. Kubly (District 20) 651-296-5094
Senator Keith Langseth (District 9) 651-296-3205
Senator Tony Lourey (District 8) 651-296-0293
Senator Steve Murphy (District 28) 651-296-4264
Senator Rod Skoe (District 2) 651-296-4196
Senator Dan Skogen (District 10) 651-296-5655 (Kathy Jo Bauck's district*)

* Kathy Jo Bauck is owner of Pick Of The Litter, a dog breeding facility in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. Bauck was charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty and torture. See News: Bauck.


To view committee member photos and other contact information, click here.

 

Senate Agriculture Committee - 1st hearing; tabled

S.F. 7 was given a hearing in the Senate Agriculture and Veterans Committee on January 27, 2009. Senator Betzold (author of S.F. 7) spoke on behalf of the bill. This hearing lasted two and one-half hours. After committee members heard people testify in support and in opposition to the bill, the Committee voted to table S.F. 7. This means a final vote for or against the bill was not taken at this hearing. Instead, it was laid on the table waiting for further action. Further hearings (see above) are needed in order to finish the discussion and have a vote.

 

OVERVIEW: SENATE AND HOUSE COMMITTEES

Senate and House committees (and hearings) are critical to the law-making process. A committee hearing allows for testimony, questions, and discussion about a particular issue and proposed legislation. Hearings are scheduled at the discretion of the committee chair — without his or her support, the bill does not move forward in the process. For this reason, it's important to pay close attention to what committees get assigned which bills and who runs (chairs) each committee.

For more information about legislative committees, agencies and the law-making process, go to governance.

 

COMMITTEE DEADLINES:

The committee deadlines for the 2009 legislative session were:

  • 1st deadline - Friday, March 27, 2009
  • 2nd deadline - Tuesday, April 7, 2009
  • 3rd deadline - Thursday, April 16, 2009
  • 4th deadline - Wednesday, April 22, 2009
  • 5th deadline - Thursday, May 7, 2009

NOTE: The first and second deadlines do not apply to the House committee on Finance, Ways and Means, Taxes, or Rules and Legislative Administration, or to the Senate committee on Capital Investment, Finance, Taxes, or Rules and Administration.

For explanation of the deadlines, please go to State Legislature: Committee Deadlines.

 

REGISTER TO VOTE

Legislators who support animal issues need your vote on Election Day. But before you can vote, you must register. Below is the link to Minnesota’s voter registration.
http://www.sos.state.mn.us/home/index.asp?page=204

 


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