LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE - BRITT KISSOCK-ROBINSON, CHAIR

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LEGISLATIVE: They should stay abreast of new and pending bills at both the state and national levels that pertain to property rights, livestock and horses. Also stay informed on any rule changesor disaster benefits that come from the USDA.

MQHA, MSGA, MPRA ALLIANCE

UPDATE: I have reached out to Stan, but at this point there is no update.

AQHA RULE CHANGES

SHW400. PERFORMANCE CLASSES. In open division competition, an exhibitor may enter one or more horses in a class, but each horse may have only one rider per class. In individual open division working events (ranch riding, ranch trail, reining, working cow horse, boxing, western riding, barrel racing, pole bending, jumping, working hunter, trail, tie-down roping, dally team roping – heading, dally team roping – heeling, team penning, ranch sorting and cutting) a rider may:

· SHW400.1 Exhibit four horses in a junior class. (NOTICE CHANGE for 2023)

· SHW400.2 Exhibit four horses in a senior class. (NOTICE CHANGE for 2023)

· SHW400.3 Exhibit a maximum (total) of four horses in an all-age class. There is no stipulation on the combination of the junior horses and/or senior horses in an all age class. If a junior class and a senior class are combined due to a lack of entries (may only be combined if there are two or less entries in one or both of the junior and senior classes), that class will become an all-age class.

· SHW400.4 In a leveled class that is run concurrent [Level 2 and Level 3], an exhibitor may show a maximum of four horses. If less than three entries in Level 2 or Level 3, entries will be combined with Level 3.

· SHW400.8 No horse may be shown in more than two youth or amateur subdivisions of any type of event. (Example: A horse ridden in a reining class by a youth in the 13-year-old and under group can also be ridden in a reining class by a youth in the 14-year-old through 18-year-old group). However, the same horse may be shown in a Level 1 class then shown by another exhibitor or same exhibitor in Level 2 or Level 3 youth or amateur division. (NOTICE CHANGE for 2023. This would apply to an Amateur and a Select showing the same horse. )

 AQHA Convention – Agenda Items re Rules
There are over 70 show proposals to review on the agendas of the various committees that will be discussed at the AQHA Convention later this month (full lists available at https://www.aqha.com/pt/-/aqha-convention-committee-agendas-3). A few that are most relevant to the MQHA affiliate include the following:

Amateurs (Youth):

· SHW225.2 to add additional amateur subdivisions for exhibitors aged 19-34 and 35-49 or 19-34, 35-54, and may show in Select amateur classes upon turn 55 years of age. 

· SHW466.2 Trot-overs and lope-overs cannot beelevated in Rookie/Level 1 classes 

· Review proposal to eliminate Off Patterns (OPs) from Western Horsemanship, Hunt Seat Equitation, and Showmanship.

· Review proposal to develop a bonus point system to reward Level 2 entries that beat the Level 3 entries.

· Review proposal to add SHW112.2.1 "Level 3 points will be allocated to the top placing Level 3 entries, without consideration of Level 2 entries."

Open Trail

· In Level 1 (Horse) Trail classes held after July 1, 50% of the trot-overs and lope-overs may be elevated (one end only - 6-inch maximum block height) at discretion of show management and/or course designer.”
 

Hunter Under Saddle/Hunt Seat Equitation

· SHW601 Hunter Under Saddle to update the name to SHW601 English Pleasure, remove parts of the existing rule, and retain SHW605 Working Hunter Under Saddle as a separate class.

· SHW601 Hunter Under Saddle and remove SHW605 Working Hunter Under saddle as a class from the Rulebook

· Review proposal to prohibit transitions from the canter to trot asking for the same diagonal as the lead on which the horse is cantering for Hunt Seat Equitation patterns.
 

VRH

· Allow the offering of performance halter without age-division halter classes when held with a full VRH show or a special event offering Ranch Riding, Ranch Trail, or
Working Western Rail. 

· For an exhibitor to be eligible in the amateur or youth rookie division, the exhibitor must have earned no more than ten (10) lifetime points in any breed association.... in any western performance discipline western pleasure, working cow horse and boxing, western riding, reining, cutting, roping, trail, ranch riding, ranch trail, responsibility of the exhibitor.

· Reduce the number of logs used in succession in Ranch Trail: SHW421.6 & SHW261.7

· SHW562.1 to allow horses to be cross entered in Reining and VRH Ranch Reining.

· SHW406.1, SHW416.2, and SHW560.1 to allow horses to be cross entered in Ranch Riding or VRH Ranch Riding and Western Pleasure.

· SHW805 to allow VRH individual class points to count towards Register of Merit and Superiors.
 

General Rules

· Review proposal to amend "praise" penalties or faults to either delete “praise” or insert word “excessive” before praise to read “excessive praise.”

General AQHA

· Review proposal to bring back and revitalize an Incentive Fund type program or some type of payback plan to monetize AQHA points.

Legislative News from MT State Legislature

Agriculture/Livestock Bills: There are 18 introduced bills and 108 unintroduced bills that apply to Agriculture.

· HB 203:  “An act revising the law for the transfer of critical infrastructure and agricultural land, prohibiting the sale, lease or rental of critical infrastructure or land used for agricultural production to foreign adversaries or corporations domiciled in foreign adversary nations, and providing definitions.”

· HB 350: Country of Origin Placarding Act of 2023 – requires retailers to label beef or pork with placard/identifying mark stating “Born, raised, and processed in the USA,” or “Imported/Origin Unlabeled.”

Livestock Bills: There are 16 introduced bills and 51 unintroduced bills that apply to Livestock

Taxation – Agriculture/Livestock: There is 1 introduced bill and 2 unintroduced bills that apply to Taxation-Agriculture/Livestock.

AMERICAN PRAIRIE RESERVE

January 27, 2023:  U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Representatives Matt Rosendale and Ryan Zinke sent a letter to Tracy Stone-Manning (Director of BLM) to hold its appeals hearing concerning the American Prairie Reserve Grazing Proposal in Malta, Montana, instead of Billings, which is over 200 miles away from Phillips County. This would allow Montanans most affected by the proposal to easily attend the hearing.  (Letter: https://www.daines.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BLM-APR-Hearing-Location-FINAL-2023.1.27.pdf) 

THE AMERICAN BEEF LABELING ACT

On December 9, 2021, more than 400 businesses urge Congress to enact the American Beef Labeling Act. (Letter: https://www.r-calfusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/211209-Joint-MCOOL-Letter-to-U.S.-Senate-Organizational-Signers.pdf) 

On January 10, 2023, 51 cattle, farm, rural and consumer groups sent a joint letter to U.S. Senate and House members who, during the last session of Congress, cosponsored the American Beef Labeling Act that restores mandatory country of origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef. The letter expressed the groups’ gratitude and urged them to reintroduce the measure in the new Congress.  In their letter, the groups pledged their support to assist Congress in the swift enactment of the bill. (Letter: https://www.r-calfusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/MCOOL-Thank-You-Letter-Jan-2023.pdf) 

The American Beef Labeling Act was reintroduced in the Senate January 14, 2023. The “American Beef Labeling Act” (S.52) requires all beef, including imported beef, to be labeled as to where it was born, raised and harvested.

THE 50/14 SPOT MARKET PROTECTION BILL

This bill requires beef packers with more than 1 plant to purchase at least 50% of their cattle in the competitive cash market each week for each plant and requires those cattle to be harvested within 14 days of purchase. This bill will help stop our industry’s downward trajectory by restoring our industry’s lost competitive markets for cattle. (Bill: https://www.r-calfusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/210324-New-Spot-Market-Bill.pdf; Studies supporting the bill: https://www.r-calfusa.com/studies-supporting-the-50-14-spot-market-protection-bill/) 

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Scores & The Agriculture Industry

On January 18, 2023, Montana has joined several other states in prohibiting non-financial considerations, including considerations related to ESG, in the state’s investments. (Statement: https://news.mt.gov/Governors-Office/Governor_Gianforte_Board_of_Investments_Block_ESG_Investing_of_State_Funds) 

ANTITRUST SUIT AGAINST BEEF PACKERS

No updates. 

30 BY 30 INITIATIVE
No updates.