The South Dakota House Ag Committee voted 7 to 6 today to move HB 1228 to the 41st legislative day effectively killing the measure. HB 1228 called for creating a mandatory state country of origin labeling meat program. Ag Chair, Representative Lee Qualm of Platte says he thinks the bill has problems with how it would be enforced.
Qualm says he understands the concerns of the proponents of the bill but doesn’t think South Dakota should set itself apart from the rest of the country on that issue.
South Dakota Stock Grower’s Executive Director Silvia Christen testified in favor of the measure saying consumers have a right to know where their meat comes from. HB 1228 was sponsored by Representative Paula Hawks of Hartford with Senator Jason Frerichs of Wilmot carrying the measure in the Senate.
