93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
Bipartisan eminent domain legislation that’s the top priority for the Columbia-based Missouri Cattlemen and Pork Associations will be signed into law Saturday afternoon by Governor Mike Parson (R).
The governor will sign House Bill 2005 during the 19th annual Cattlemen’s steak fry in Sedalia. Bill sponsor State Sen. Jason Bean (R-Peach Orchard), other state lawmakers and commodity group leaders will join the governor for the event. Hundreds of farmers from across rural Missouri travel to Sedalia for the steak fry dinner.
The bill specifically exempts the controversial Grain Belt project in north Missouri, and only impacts future projects.
Bean serves as the Missouri Senate Agriculture Committee’s vice chairman. He says the bill ensures that eminent domain can only be used for necessary public services that truly serve the common good.
Missouri Farm Bureau says the bill prevents private for-profit companies from taking private land for private gain. The bill’s House sponsor, Joint Committee on Agriculture chairman Mike Haffner (R-Pleasant Hill), says the bill says Missouri is open for economic development, but not on the backs of Missouri farmers, ranchers and landowners.
