Niobrara State Sen. Barry DeKay’sLegislative Bill 1187, which originally focused on increasing certain brand inspection fees to fund the existing Brand Committee, now would increase the number of Nebraska Brand Committee members from five to seven.
There would be one member from each of five Brand Committee districts, plus one new owner or operator of a cattle feeding operation and one new livestock auction market owner. Both new seats would be appointed by the governor and approved by the Legislature, as are the others. The bill still increases certain brand inspection fees and updates inspection rules.
The Brand Committee investigates cattle theft and verifies ownership through brand inspection when cattle are bought, sold or moved within or beyond the branding zone or area set in state law. Nebraska’s brand law applies mandatory inspections to cattle owners in the western two-thirds of the state.
Ranchers and the Legislature’s Agriculture Committee have heard for years about disagreements between feeders and some feedlot owners inside and beyond the brand zone. This proposal from DeKay has been viewed by some as a “compromise,” as rural lawmakers have fought over bills about how and whether to modernize the Brand Committee and its services.
The Legislature adoptedan amendment from State Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte on Wednesday that would make dairy heifer regulations the same as those for other cattle 30-2.
State Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln questioned how the “compromise” came about. Conrad said she wonders if future legislative sessions will see additional efforts to tweak the Brand Committee.
Jacobson said the changes advanced this week represent an agreement everyone “can live with.”
The short debate was a history lesson on numerous attempts by rural lawmakers to do something on the state Brand Committee during past sessions. The fuller brand bill advanced by voice vote.
