Department of Agriculture and Rural
Development (DARD) Director Jamie Clover Adams told the Senate Appropriations
Committee that the approval of three bills related to regulatory fees, for DARD,
was in the best interest of public health. Among the bills being discussed House
Bill 4470 was the most divisive. This bill would increase the fee for a
Free Sale Letter by more than doubling, raising the price to $60 from its
current $25. The bill would increase many food establishment license fees.
Ms. Clover Adams detailed the issues
currently being faced by her department, stating that they have come to a point
where the fee revenue is not great enough to conduct food inspections and
assist businesses in complying with the laws surrounding the handling of food. House
Bill 4470 eventually passed the committee by an 11-2 margin, with Senator
Hansen (R-Hart), Senator Young II (D-Detroit), Senator Gregory (D-Southfield),
and Senator Hopgood (D-Taylor) abstaining from the vote.
The committee reported House
Bill 4391, a bill to modify fees related to pesticide regulation,
fertilizer regulation, and groundwater and freshwater protection, on a 12-0
vote with all Democratic members of the committee abstaining, and House
Bill 4451 was also reported on a 12-0 vote with all Democrats abstaining.
This bill would amend the Michigan Commercial Feed Law and increase the license
fee for manufacturers and distributers of commercial feed by four times,
raising the cost of the fee to $100.