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OK Farmers Union pleased with legislative session
Oklahoma
As the 49th Legislative Session came to an end, Oklahoma Farmers Union was excited about the various legislation passed during the session.
Ray L. Wulf, president and CEO, said this session was "extremely important to OFU and the rural farm and ranch families." While the tort reform bill of HB2661 was controversial, several of the sections greatly benefited farm and ranch owners. Section 25 and others encouraged landowners to offer available land to the public for outdoor recreational purposes by limiting their liability to persons entering and using such land. Wulf said, "The purpose of this section was to create a limitation of liability under the protection of the Farming and Ranching Land Act. This provision is just one of the ways OFU is making efforts to stabilize and encourage our rural economy in the state of Oklahoma."
Wulf, who is also president and CEO of Oklahoma Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Company, was pleased with the results of House Bill 2470. The bill provided much needed relief to the in-state insurance companies to obtain declaratory judgments from the courts on claims filed without merit.
Other provisions in the bill provided for a broader market base to auction damaged or destroyed vehicles and recover a higher value per vehicle.
President Wulf and Oklahoma Farmers Union expressed regrets that House Bill 2361 did not make it out of Conference Committee to become law. This bill would have allowed ethanol facilities to transfer credits while requiring a transfer agreement be filed with the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Ethanol is the fuel of the future when considering its renewable base from agricultural products. There is an apparent and immediate need for an alternative fuel supply when considering the recent rise in fuel cost and the evidence of terrorist activities that cause an interruption in adequate supplies.
Looking ahead to next year, Oklahoma Farmers Union is preparing for the upcoming elections. Due to term limits, many new candidates have filed for positions in the House and Senate. Wulf stated, " We look forward to working with those who will return as the continued leadership and those who will be new to the capitol. The interest and well being of our rural communities is a priority of OFU and it is up to those in the agriculture industry to emphasize and encourage a strong commitment to those who are returning or newly elected to serve the state of Oklahoma."
Date: 6/24/04
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