Nebraska Farm Bureau Urges Lawmakers to Advance LB 1187 as Originally Introduced
Nebraska Farm Bureau voiced opposition to a proposed amendment to LB 1187 during a second public hearing before the Legislature’s Agriculture Committee, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the bill in its original form.
The additional hearing was scheduled after law makers introduced AM 2503, an amendment that would significantly alter the structure and scope of LB 1187. While the underlying bill focuses on updates to livestockbrand inspection fees, the amendment proposes broader changes to the composition of the Nebraska Brand Committee.
In testimony delivered by Elisabeth Hurst, director of State Legislative Affairs for Nebraska Farm Bureau, the organization reiterated its support for LB 1187 as introduced by Sen. Barry DeKay, while expressing concerns about the direction of the amendment.
“LB 1187, as originally introduced, represents the clearest path forward and the most viable option at this time,” Hurst told the committee, urging lawmakers to reject the amendment and advance the bill in its original form.
As introduced, LB 1187 proposes targeted updates to the Livestock Brand Act, including:
- Increasing the statutory per-head inspection fee from $1.10 to $1.50
- Eliminating the mileage-based inspection charge
- Reinstating a uniform travel surcharge of up to $30 per stop
Farm Bureau supports these changes as a practical approach to ensuring the long-term sustainability and efficiency of brand inspection services.
The proposed amendment, AM 2503, would retain the fee adjustments but expand the Nebraska Brand Committee from five to seven members and redefine its composition.
While acknowledging the extensive collaboration that has taken place throughout the process, Farm Bureau cautioned against makings weeping structural changes without sufficient time for member input and stakeholder alignment.
“We believe it is essential that policy be developed with adequate time to gather member input and to ensure thoughtful outcomes, freefrom the pressures of compressed timelines and complex revisions,” Hurst said.
LB 1187 is one of two competing proposals addressing brand inspection in Nebraska. A separate bill, LB 1258, introduced by Ben Hansen would make brand inspection voluntary statewide and eliminate the Brand Committee entirely.
Nebraska Farm Bureau has made clear it does not support Hansen’s proposal, instead backing LB 1187 as a balanced, workable solution.