Ag News

Ag-related state laws take effect; Ag Issues Summit set for Aug. 21

On July 1, a number of bills passed by the Georgia General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp went into effect, including legislation dealing with truck weights, pesticide labeling, the veterinary loan repayment program, water metering and others.

With the General Assembly out of session until January 2026, House and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Rep. Robert Dickey (R-Musella) and Sen. Russ Goodman (R-Homerville) will host the annual Joint Chairmen’s Ag Issues Summit at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter on Aug. 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will include discussions on issues relevant to agriculture and will provide insight from various leaders in the industry. Doors open at 9 a.m. for networking.

Aug. 8 is the deadline to RSVP for the free meal included with the program. To RSVP, please send the full name, organization and telephone number for each attendee to Rachel Whitted at Rachel.Whitted@senate.ga.gov. Georgia Farm Bureau is proud to help sponsor this event along with other Georgia ag organizations.

A run-down of ag bills that took effect on July 1.

House Bill 164 (truck weights) removes the sunset provision on truck weights legislation passed in 2023, making permanent the provision allowing up to 88,000 pounds to be transported. Prior to 2023, the limit was set at 84,000 pounds. Goodman said this put Georgia at the same weight limit as bordering states and saves money by reducing the number of trips for farmers who ship their products across state lines.

Senate Bill 144 (pesticide labeling) clarifies that a chemical manufacturer has fulfilled their duty to warn consumers of risk associated with the product if the product meets Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) standards set forth by the EPA, shielding the manufacturer from failure-to-warn lawsuits as long as the product meets the labeling requirements.

HB 172 (vet loan repayment) increases the total amount a recent veterinary school graduate can receive, from $80,000 over four years to $90,000 over three years.

HB 143 (water metering) relieves farmers of the responsibility of installing sufficient infrastructure for state-funded meters to be installed by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) if the EPD attempts to put in a meter and determines there is insufficient infrastructure to complete the installation. The bill will authorize EPD staff to undertake maintenance and new meter installation in specific cases.

HB 358 (military installations) defines what constitutes military installation for the purposes of Georgia law prohibiting ownership of agricultural land close to military installations. From the bill: ‘Military installation’ means a facility owned and operated by the United States Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Space Force, or Coast Guard that shelters military equipment and personnel and facilitates training and operations for such organizations.

HB 614 (fireworks near equines) allows local governments to limit the use or ignition of consumer fireworks in proximity to certain facilities housing equines.

SB 105 (veterinary telemedicine) authorizes licensed veterinarians and veterinary technicians to practice veterinary teleadvice, veterinary teletriage and telemedicine under certain circumstances. The bill also provides for the regulation of veterinary telemedicine.

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