Here is an potentially intriguing bill that is making its way through the Indiana General Assembly: HB 1142. Introduced by Rep. Sandy Blanton (D-District 62), this bill establishes a "study committee on agriculture safety and production." One of the responsibilities of this committee is to "study ways of enhancing the purchase by state agencies of agricultural products grown, produced, or processed in Indiana." As AgriNews Online comments, "that could include just about anything." Another of the committee's responsibilities listed is to "administer state programs and laws promoting agricultural trade."
In addition, the bill allows governmental institutions to "give up to a ten percent (10%) price preference for agricultural products grown, produced, or processed in Indiana." Originally, this bill required that the government buy at least 20% of its food from within the state by the year 2015, but amendments removed that proposition.
HB 1142 has already passed a few legislative hurdles and appears to have some potential to create incentives that expand and improve the efficiency of the local food economy. Several questions quickly arise, however:
How will this study committee be organized?
Who will be chosen to participate in it?
Will there be an opportunity for public input (e.g. hearings, surveys)?
Is the working definition of "local farm and food products" too inclusive? (Perhaps we could amend it from "agricultural products grown, produced, or processed in Indiana" to "agricultural products grown, produced AND processed in Indiana.")
How will the priorities of the study committee be determined as it "administer[s] state programs and laws promoting agricultural trade"?
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