“PFUSA Grange announces an upcoming conference focusing on eminent domain abuse and conservation easements. Titled "My Land, My Home, My Business!" the conference will feature Timothy Sandefur from Pacific Legal Foundation, Fred Kelly Grant from Stewards of the Range, and Russell Walker from Freedomworks. The conference will be held both Saturday, April 29th in Phoenix, Oregon and again Sunday, April 30th in Terrebonne, Oregon. For reservations, contact Kathy Bergeron at (530) 842-4400. For further information, contact Kathy Lehman at (541) 482-4096.”

“There are several bills that we have been monitoring at this legislative session and there are more that have been introduced that will bear watching. Several Grangers have called asking about certain bills that they and their Granges are concerned about.”

These are of concern because they address private property. A recent issue has been the “super slab” bill of last year that would have allowed a private contractor to condemn privately held land for a privately owned toll road from Ft. Collins to Colorado Springs that could have taken a stretch of land up to 25 miles wide the entire length of the toll road. That bill was killed but the issue continues to come up. Colorado has eminent domain protection for private property owners but some of the above bills would strengthen that statute and some would clarify the law. The Grange has policy asking for strengthening of the state eminent domain laws. Such a road would take some of the congestion off highway I25 from Ft. Collins to Pueblo and needs to be considered but the land owners in the line of the road need assurance that they will be adequately compensated for any land condemned or sold for this project.

Colorado is updating the air quality standards that has been our statutes for several years. In HB 1309 the agriculture community asked for an amendment that excluded agriculture and horticulture as the language was detrimental to feed lots, dairies and other agriculture and horticulture operations and could have resulted in the closing of these operations because of wording that was not practical.

Agriculture organizations met with the oil industry representative over the summer but were not able to negotiate a bill satisfying both industries regarding surface damage. HB 1185 was introduced by Rep. Curry, Montrose that we are monitoring concerning surface damage. The bill has passed the House and has been introduced in the Senate after some amendments. It would repeal the requirement of reasonable security for surface owners who are not party to a lease with the oil and gas operator-requires instead as a condition to drill a signed surface use agreement – or bond – in the amount of $25,000 per permit and a signed offer of settlement that provides compensation to surface owner for a decrease in fair market value expected to result from oil and gas operations.

The immigration bills are varied and are being monitored for the impact to our communities and present laws. Agriculture uses immigrants and it behooves us to watch the laws being posed concerning immigration. There will be a continued interest in this issues and the above bills speak to illegal immigrants and government practices, law enforcement in regards to immigration and immigrant sanctuaries.

“Senate Bill 34 and House Bill 5038 would both limit a town’s right to take property by eminent domain for economic development. Many legislators and lobbyists testified at the public hearing that these bills are good but do not go far enough to protect people’s rights to their homes. The Connecticut State Grange is concerned that, even with the protection in these bills, a town could take away by eminent domain any conservation, open space or farmland preservation easement held by a land trust or similar organization so the property owner could develop the property however he or she wanted to so long as the new construction would result in more taxes for the town. The National Grange is supporting the federal “Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2005" which would prohibit any state or town from taking private property by eminent domain for economic development if they received any federal money for the project.”

“ Senate Bill 6508 and its companion, House Bill 2738, if passed, would develop minimum renewable fuel content requirements and fuel quality standards in an alternative fuels market.  Both bills have passed their respective houses and awaiting public hearings in the opposite house.  These bills would provide grants and low-interest loans for research and development of new and renewable energy and biofuel.  Both bills have separate amendments that they feel can be compromised and sent to the Governor for signature.  The Washington State Grange’s concerns are mandates in general.  We have never supported mandates and this bill requires them.  The state will require 2 percent of the state’s diesel sales be biodiesel. This would go into effect by November 30, 2008.  They would also require gasoline to have at least 2 percent ethanol by December 1, 2008.”