An ag plane banks above potato field in Southern Idaho.
On Monday, the Idaho State Senate unanimously passed a bill backed by the Idaho Agricultural Aviation Association to expand the definition of “Agricultural Operations” under the state’s Right to Farm Act (RFA) to include the ingress and egress of aircraft to agricultural areas. The Idaho House of Representatives previously passed House Bill 606, also by a unanimous vote, on Feb. 25. The bill now heads to Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s desk to be signed into law, which is expected to happen next week.
The RFA protects agricultural activities conducted on farmland in urbanizing areas from being subjected to nuisance lawsuits. An increase in complaints from urban transplants prompted the Idaho Agricultural Aviation Association to seek to amend the RFA to include the ingress and egress of aircraft in agricultural areas in the right to farm territory. “Agricultural aircraft must be able to travel to and from agricultural lands and treatment areas to perform their vital functions. With a growing agricultural/urban interface in Idaho, it is important to recognize and protect the ability for agricultural aircraft to access agricultural lands,” stated key members of the Idaho legislature.
The RFA amendment is so close to being enacted now that it is within reach of the governor’s pen. When Gov. Little officially codifies the expanded definition of “Agricultural Operations” under the RFA, it will be a tremendous win for the Idaho AAA. It also comes on the heels of another lobbying victory for the state association after the successful enactment of legislation exempting ag aircraft and related parts from state sales tax. Hats off to the Idaho AAA for advancing this important state legislative work!
See last month’s board meeting article under state reports for more background information.
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include the ingress and egress of aircraft to agricultural areas. The bill now heads to Idaho Gov.
Brad Little’s desk to be signed into law, which is expected to happen
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