The Minnesota Legislature convened on January 24, 2012, and adjourned on May 10, 2012, ending the 2011-2012 legislative session.
Minnesota Voters for Animal Protection tracks all legislation at the state capitol that affects animals. We’ve highlighted the most relevant below. To see a legislative wrap up detailing wins and losses for animal welfare legislation in our state for the biennium, please see: Legislative Wrap Up 2011-2012.
The Minnesota Legislature operates on a two-year cycle, called a biennium. Bills introduced in either year may be heard and voted into law any time the Legislature is in session during the biennium. This means bills introduced in 2011 may be taken up and considered for passage in 2012.
When a legislator introduces, or ‘authors’ a bill, each bill is assigned a number. If it says ‘HF’ before the number, this means ‘House File’, and means the bill was introduced in the Minnesota House of Representatives by a state representative. If it says ‘SF’ before the number, this means ‘Senate File’, and means the bill was introduced in the Minnesota Senate by a state senator. Here’s how a bill becomes a law.
At any time, you may click on the highlighted bill in the section below and you’ll be brought to the Legislature’s Web site, where you can see detailed information on that bill, including its language, its authors, and its status in both the House and Senate. Bills are listed below more or less chronologically, based on when they were introduced. Bills introduced in early 2011 are listed first; bills introduced in 2012 are listed towards bottom of page.
Thank you for staying informed, and for holding your elected officials accountable for their votes on bills that affect animals.
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Bills Affecting Animals 2011-2012
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Bill: A bill removing requirements for animal control/law enforcement to seize, impound, or restrain stray animals and to enforce dangerous dog provisions Note: Above language is only present in HF 1st Engrossment, not in HF as introduced or in SF.
MVAP Position: Oppose- more information here.
Bill Authors in Senate: Parry ; DeKruif ; Hoffman ; Gazelka
Bill Authors in House: Drazkowski ; Crawford ; Banaian ; Daudt ; Nornes ; Woodard ; Quam ; Barrett ; McDonald ; Scott ; Anderson, B. ; Gruenhagen ; Hancock ; Murdock ; Downey ; Kelly ; Wardlow
Bill Status: SF referred to the Local Government and Elections on 1/31/11; HF passed Government Operations and Elections, referred to Judiciary Policy and Finance Committee on 4/28/11
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Bill: A bill increasing penalties for injuring public safety dogs
MVAP Position: Support
Bill Authors in Senate: Hall ; Harrington ; Gazelka ; Marty ; Ingebrigtsen
Bill Authors in House: Cornish ; Kieffer ; Scalze ; Atkins ; Gauthier ; Paymar ; Greiling ; Lillie ; Tillberry
Bill Status: PASSED- Signed into law by governor on 3/22/11
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Bill: A Resolution urging Congress to delist the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act
MVAP Position: Oppose- here is more information on state bills affecting wolves
Bill Authors in Senate: Ingebrigtsen ; Carlson ; Pederson ; Hoffman ; Gazelka
Bill Authors in House: Cornish ; Rukavina ; Dill ; Anzelc ; Fabian ; Anderson, B.
Bill Status: SF passed the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee 4/14/11, referred to Rules and Administration; HF referred to the House Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee 1/20/11
Note: The above resolution is no longer necessary, because wolves were delisted by FWS in Dec 2011.
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Bill: A bill to authorize coyote conflict management options to counties (coyote bounty authorization)
MVAP Position: Oppose- more information here.
Bill Authors in Senate: Kubly ; Higgins ; Kelash ; Gimse ; Newman
Bill Authors in House: Falk ; Koenen ;Persell ; Anzelc ; Howes
Bill Status: 7/21/11 PASSED in special session Environment bill
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Bill: A bill to create dog and cat breeder standards of care provided, fees established, rulemaking authorized, criminal penalties provided, and money appropriated
Bill Authors in House: Benson, J. ; Davnie ; Slocum ; Tillberry ; Greene ; Greiling ; Mariani
Bill Authors in Senate: Kubly ; Higgins ; Marty ; Sieben
Bill Status: HF Referred to the House Agriculture and Rural Development Policy and Finance Committee, 2/7/2011; SF referred to the Senate Agriculture and Rural Economies Committee 2/21/2011
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Bill: A bill to establish beaver control provided by road authorities (includes option for bounty on beavers)
MVAP Position: Oppose- more information here.
Bill Authors in Senate: Ingebrigtsen ; Kubly ; Pederson ; Gazelka ; Saxhaug
Bill Authors in House: Falk ; Anzelc ; Hancock ; Howes ; Hackbarth
Bill Status: 7/21/11 PASSED in special session Environment bill
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Bill: A bill to classify horses as livestock.
Bill Authors in House: Anderson, B. ; Drazkowski ; Hamilton ; McDonald ; Eken ; Quam ; Franson ; Torkelson ; Shimanski
Bill Authors in Senate: Koch
Bill Status: Passed – signed by Governor 4/23/2012.
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Bill: A bill to establish a coyote and beaver conflict management option (coyote and beaver bounty authorization)
MVAP Position: Oppose- more information here.
Bill Authors in Senate: Saxhaug
Bill Authors in House: Dill ; Hackbarth
Bill Status: 7/21/11 PASSED in special session Environment bill
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Bill: A bill to allow drum use while baiting bear
Bill Authors in Senate: Saxhaug
Bill Authors in House: Dill ; Hackbarth
Bill Status: 7/21/11 PASSED in special session Environment bill
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Bill: A bill establishing standards of care for dog and cat breeders
MVAP Position: Support- Take action here!
Bill Authors in Senate: Goodwin ; Dibble ; Metzen ; Bonoff ; Marty
Bill Authors in House: Lesch ; Murphy, E. ; Tillberry ; Paymar ; Davnie ; Nelson ; Greiling ; Champion ; Greene ; Loeffler ; Liebling ; Slocum ; Johnson ; Knuth ; Gauthier ; Hornstein; Slawik
Bill Status: The Dog and Cat Breeder Regulation Bill, S.F. 462/H.F. 702, was introduced in 2011. It is still alive and has a chance to be heard during the 2012 Minnesota legislative session. SF referred to the Senate Agriculture and Rural Economies Committee, 2/24/2011. HF referred to the House Agriculture and Rural Development Policy and Finance Committee 2/24/2011
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Bill: A bill to exempt pet sales from sales taxes
Bill Authors in House: Garofalo
Bill Authors in Senate: Dahms ; Carlson ; Kubly ; Brown
Bill Status: HF hearing on 1/25/11- laid over for possible inclusion in 2011 omnibus tax bill; SF referred to the Senate Taxes Committee 2/9/2012
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Bill: A bill removing requirements for animal control/law enforcement to seize, impound, or restrain stray animals; to enforce dangerous dog provisions of current law; and removes requirement for local animal control authority to report what regulated animals (wild cats, bears, primates) are registered in their jurisdiction
MVAP Position: Oppose- more information here.
Bill Number: HF 516
Bill Authors in House: Vogel ; Leidiger ; Gunther ; Drazkowski ; Benson, M.
Bill Status: HF referred to House Agriculture committee; public hearing on 4/26/11 at which the bill was laid over for more deliberation.
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Bill: A bill removing many state government mandates, including requirements for animal control/law enforcement to seize, impound, or restrain stray animals; to enforce dangerous dog provisions of current law; and for local animal control authority to report what regulated animals (wild cats, bears, primates) are registered in their jurisdiction
MVAP Position: Oppose- more information here.
Bill Number: HF 519
Bill Authors in House: Drazkowski
Bill Status: HF referred to Government Operations and Elections committee 2/14/11.
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Bill: Trust for animal care provided
Bill Number: HF 748
Bill Authors in House: Mazorol ; Banaian ; Wardlow
Bill Status: Referred to Civil Law 2/28/11.
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Bill: Feedlots national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) permitting requirements modification (eases environmental regulations on large factory farms)
MVAP Position: Oppose- more information here.
Bill Number: SF 776
Bill Authors in Senate: Rosen ; Skoe ; Dahms ; Nienow ; Sparks
Bill Status: PASSED 7/21/11 in special session Environment bill
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Bill: Seized animals disposition requirements modifications and gross misdemeanor penalty (repeals pound seizure)
MVAP Position: Support- Take action here!
Bill Authors in Senate: Marty ; Dibble ; Pappas ; Cohen; Nelson
Bill Authors in House: Mullery ; Beard ; Hornstein ; Smith; Fritz ; Slawik
Bill Status: The Pound Seizure bill was introduced in 2011. It is still alive and has a chance to continue to advance during the 2012 Minnesota legislative session. In 2011 the Pound Seizure bill passed the Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously and was laid over in the House Agriculture Committee for possible inclusion in an omnibus agriculture bill
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Bill: Nonresident trapping restrictions removal (allows nonresidents of the state to trap furbearers in Minnesota).
Bill Number: SF 940 and SF 1585/HF 1966
Bill Authors in Senate: Saxhaug
Bill Authors in House: Shimanski; Drazkowski
Bill Status: SF 940 referred to Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee on 3/21/11; SF referred to Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee on 1/26/12; HF referred to Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee on 1/26/12
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Bill: 2011 Omnibus environment, natural resources, commerce, energy, utilities, and telecommunications finance
Note: Sec. 37 in SF 1029 Allows for beaver bounties to be issued by counties; final Conference Committee report does not include language allowing for beaver bounties to be issued by counties. Special session Environment bill includes beaver and coyote bounties PASSED 7/21/11
MVAP Position: Oppose beaver and coyote bounty provisions- more information here.
Bill Authors in Senate: Ingebrigtsen
Bill Authors in House: McNamara
Conference Committee: Representatives McNamara; Hackbarth; Torkelson; Hoppe; Dill; Senators Ingebrigtsen, Rosen, Pederson, Gerlach, Dahms
Bill Status: Special session Environment bill includes beaver and coyote bounties PASSED 7/21/11
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Bill: Feedlot pasture exemption requirement modified (changes the definition of “pasture” to make fewer feedlots subject to pollution controls)
MVAP Position: Oppose- more information here.
Bill Number: HF 1300 and HF 1572
Bill Authors in House: Anderson, P. ; Schomacker ; Shimanski; Torkelson
Bill Status: PASSED 7/21/11 in special session Environment bill
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Bill: Research bear notification to hunters required
Bill Number: HF 1330
Bill Authors in House: Kahn ; Dill ; Hilty ; Hansen ; Murphy, M. ; Huntley ; Knuth ; Davids
Bill Status: Introduction and first reading 3/29/11, referred to Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee
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Bill: Racino and Minnesota future fund (authorizes slot machines at tracks to subsidize horse racing industry)
Bill Authors in Senate: Senjem ; Robling ; Sparks ; Parry ; Metzen
Bill Authors in House: Gunther ; Buesgens ; Beard ; Hackbarth ; Hoppe ; McNamara ; Hamilton ; Garofalo ; Leidiger ; Bills ; McFarlane ; Anderson, P. ; Torkelson ; Erickson ; Holberg ; Cornish ; Kriesel; Woodard
Bill Status: SF referred to State Government Innovation and Veterans Committee, withdrawn and re-referred to State Government Innovation and Veterans 4/28/11; HF introduction 4/4/11, referred to Jobs and Economic Development Finance Committee
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Bill: 2011 Game and fish bill
Note: Please note: section numbers used here are from the Conference Committee Report passed by both the Minnesota House and Senate. Sec. 1 provides financial compensation for land or fences destroyed by elk; Sec. 17 includes sandhill cranes on list of Minnesota game birds; Sec. 18 includes the gray wolf in definition of small game; Sec. 20 includes Eurasian collared dove on list of Minnesota unprotected birds; Sec. 22 financial assistance towards emergency deterrence materials to those whose crops have been destroyed by elk; Sec. 52 allows for licensed hunters to take nuisance or problem elk; Sec 53 removes the five year waiting period before wolves may be hunted once they are removed from the Endangered Species List Sec 54 allows for beaver bounty programs; Sec. 67 allows for coyote bounty
Bill Authors in Senate: Ingebrigtsen
Bill Authors in House: Hackbarth
Conference Committee: Senators Ingebrigtsen; Carlson; Gazelka; Skoe; Hall; Representatives Hackbarth, Buesgens, Drazkowski, McNamara, Dill
Bill Status: All above provisions included in special session Environment bill PASSED on 7/21/11; in regular session the game and fish bill was VETOED by governor 5/23/11.
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Bill: Bans undercover humane investigations
MVAP Position: Oppose- Take action here!
Bill Authors in Senate: Magnus ; Skoe ; Ingebrigtsen ; Sparks
Bill Authors in House:Hamilton ; Cornish ; Davids ; Urdahl ; Anderson, P. ; Drazkowski ; Doepke
Bill Status: HF referred to the House Agriculture and Rural Development Policy and Finance Committee 4/4/2011. SF referred to the Senate Agriculture and Rural Economies Committee 4/7/2011. This bill was introduced in 2011 but did not receive hearings before the first 2011 committee deadlines. It is still able to advance in 2012. The bill may advance as written, be amended, or other bills with similar intent may be introduced.
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Bill: A bill that amends the current “Pet Lemon Law” by including nonprofit humane societies and rescue groups under this law and defining them as “pet dealers”.
MVAP Position: Oppose- more information here.
Bill Number: HF 1635
Bill Authors in House: Hamilton
Bill Status: Referred to the House Agriculture and Rural Development Policy and Finance Committee 5/2/11
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Bill: A bill to designate the black bear as the official state mammal
Bill Authors in Senate: Benson; Goodwin
Bill Authors in House: Laine
Bill Status: SF referred to the Senate State Government Innovation and Veterans Committee, 5/4/11. HF referred to the House Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee, 5/4/11
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Bill: Minnesota Companion Animal Protection Act
MVAP Position: Oppose
Bill Number: HF 1735
Bill Authors in House: Benson, J.
Bill Status: HF referred to Health and Human Services Reform on 5/19/11
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Bill: 2011 Omnibus technical tax bill
Note: Sec 8 for property tax purposes expands the definition of “agricultural products” to include the production for sale of game birds and waterfowl by game farm, provided that at least 500 birds were raised or used for breeding in a year.
Bill Authors in Senate: Ortman
Bill Authors in House: Davids
Bill Status: HF 1219 substituted for SF; PASSED by both the Minnesota House and Senate, signed into law by governor on 5/31/11
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Bill: A bill to establish licensing and season for taking of wolves by hunting or trapping.
Bill Author in House: Dill
Bill Authors in Senate: Saxhaug ; Bakk ; Stumpf ; Tomassoni
Bill Status: HF referred to the House Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee, 1/13/2012; SF referred to Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee 1/30/12.
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Bill: 2012 Game and Fish Bill; includes provisions for wolf hunting and trapping seasons including allowances for licensed trappers to take wolves by snare.
Bill Authors in Senate: Ingebrigtsen ; Robling ; Gazelka ; Pederson
Bill Author in House: Hackbarth
Bill Status: Passed 4/28/2012, presented to Governor 4/30/2012.
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Bill: A bill to prohibit persons from using or possessing lead shot when taking wolves.
MVAP Position: Support
Bill Author: Higgins
Bill Authors in House: Slocum ; Greiling ; Paymar ; Wagenius
Bill Status: SF referred to the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee, 2/13/2012; HF referred to Environment, Energy and Natural Resources on 2/15/12.
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Bill: A bill to modify the frequency of tending to body gripping snares, so that snares (like body-gripping traps) need not be tended more than once every three days.
MVAP Position: Oppose
Bill Author in Senate: Tomassoni ; Bakk ; Saxhaug
Bill Author in House: Anzelc ; Rukavina
Bill Status: SF referred to the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee, 2/13/2012; HF referred to Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources on 2/22/12.
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Bill: A bill to designate the black bear as the state mammal.
Bill Author in House: Scott
Bill Author in Senate: Benson
Bill Status: HF referred to the House Government Operations and Elections Committee 2/8/2012. SF passed the Senate State Government Innovation and Veterans 3/13/2012.
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Bill: A bill to establish restrictions on certain traps for furbearers, such that traps must be placed 5 feet above the ground to protect domestic dogs.
Bill Author in House: Ward ; Greiling
Bill Authors in Senate: Wiger ; Sparks ; McGuire
Bill Status: HF referred to the House Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee, 2/13/2012; SF referred to Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee 2/8/12
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Bill: A bill to allow night vision equipment when hunting coyotes.
Bill Number: HF 2247
Bill Author: Daudt ; Garofalo ; Drazkowski
Bill Status: Referred to the House Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance 2/15/2012.
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Bill: A bill to regulate dog and cat commercial breeders.
Bill Number: SF 1899
Bill Author: Hayden
Bill Status: Referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee 2/16/2012.
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Bill: A bill to establish racino and allocate revenue.
Bill Authors in Senate: DeKruif ; Senjem ; Robling ; Sparks ; Wiger
Bill Authors in House: Garofalo ; Gunther ; Dittrich ; Hosch ; Kath ; Woodard ; Benson, J. ; Cornish ; Beard ; Buesgens ; Lanning ; Anderson, S. ; McFarlane ; Hamilton ; Anderson, P. ; Drazkowski ; Erickson ; Kieffer ; McDonald ; Torkelson ; Bills ; Kriesel ; Hoppe ; Runbeck ; Shimanski ; Murray ; Leidiger ; Barrett ; Franson ; Kiel ; Petersen, B.
Bill Status: SF referred to the Senate Education Committee 2/16/2012. HF referred to the House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee 2/16/2012.
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Bill: A bill to enact the Freedom to Hunt and Fish Act of 2012 (ensures availability of hunting and fishing licenses if a budget impasse occurs).
Bill Author in Senate: Gazelka
Bill Authors in House: Howes ; Hackbarth ; Dill ; McNamara ; Smith ; LeMieur ; McElfatrick
Bill Status: SF passed the full Senate 41-24 3/27/2012 and received in the House; HF passed Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy 2/23/2012 and Finance 3/19/2012.
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Bill: A bill to enact wolf hunting and trapping authorization
Bill Authors in Senate: Gazelka ; Brown ; Carlson ; Saxhaug
Bill Authors in House: Fabian ; Dill ; Drazkowski ; LeMieur ; Hancock
Bill Status: SF passed the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee on 3/8/2012, and the Senate State Government and Innovations and Veterans Committee on 3/15/2012. It was re-referred to the Senate Finance Committee on 3/15/12; HF referred to Environment, Energy and Natural Resources on 2/23/12.
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Bill: A bill to allow scopes on muzzleloaders
Bill Authors in Senate: Ingebrigtsen ; Carlson ; Pederson ; Stumpf ; Saxhaug
Bill Authors in House: Fabian ; Gunther
Bill Status: SF passed the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee on 3/8/12; HF referred to Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance on 2/20/12
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Bill:A bill to prohibit nontherapeutic use of antibiotics in animal feed
MVAP Position: Support- more information is here.
Bill Number: SF 1951
Bill Authors in Senate: Marty ; Eaton ; Torres Ray
Bill Status: SF referred to Agriculture and Rural Economies on 2/20/12
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Bill: A bill to allow coyote hunting from aircraft and snowmobiles.
Bill Number: HF 2461
Bill Status: Referred to House Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee 2/22/2012.
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Bill: A bill to require an aversive agent in antifreeze (to prevent accidental poisoning to children and pets)
MVAP Position: Support- more information here
Bill Authors in Senate: Sieben ; Marty ; Latz ; McGuire ; Parry
Bill Authors in House: Kriesel
Bill Status: SF referred to Commerce and Consumer Protection 3/5/12; HF referred to Commerce and Regulatory Reform 2/29/12.
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Bill: A bill to establish restrictions on certain body-gripping traps for furbearers
Bill Number: SF 2265
Bill Authors in Senate: Carlson
Bill Status: SF referred to Environment and Natural Resources 3/5/12.
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Bill: A bill to allow the Racing Commission to set by rule how much nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug may be used with racing horses.
Bill Authors in Senate: Robling ; Metzen ; Parry
Bill Authors in House: Hoppe
Bill Status: Passed 4/30/2012 and presented to Governor
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Bill: A bill relating to natural resources, including to modify provisions for taking wild animals and establishing provisions for taking wolves.
Bill Authors in Senate: Higgins ; Saxhaug
Bill Authors in House: McNamara ; Wagenius
Bill Status: SF referred to the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee 3/22/2012; HF referred to the House Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee 3/20/12.
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Bill: A bill to allow electric fish barriers to address Asian carp threat.
Bill Number: HF 2968
Bill Authors in House: Hackbarth ; McNamara ; Dill ; Howes
Bill Status: Referred to the House Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee 3/27/2012.
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Bill: Omnibus agriculture policy bill.
Bill Authors in Senate: Magnus ; Skoe ; Brown ; Kubly ; Dahms
Bill Authors in House: Anderson, P. ; Eken ; Schomacker ; Swedzinski ; Hamilton ; Shimanski ; Koenen ; Torkelson ; Vogel ; Kiel ; Urdahl
Bill Status: Passed – signed by Governor 4/28/2012.
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Bill: Legacy and outdoor heritage bill.
Bill Authors in Senate: Ingebrigtsen
Bill Authors in House: Urdahl ; Marquart ; Beard ; Kahn ; Davids
Bill Status: Passed – presented to Governor 4/27/2012.
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Bill: A bill to prohibit nontherapeutic use of antibiotics in animal feed
MVAP Position: Support- more information is here.
Bill Number: HF 3006
Bill Authors in House: Kahn ; Knuth ; Greiling ; Wagenius ; Huntley ; Hornstein ; Murphy, E. ; Loeffler ; Hausman ; Carlson ; Laine
Bill Status: Referred to the House Agriculture and Rural Development Policy and Finance Committee 4/19/2012.
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