The North Dakota Legislature has approved a measure creating a State Department of Environmental Quality. The State Farm Bureau opposed the measure. Public Policy Director Pete Hanebutt says they opposed the legislation because it expands government.

He says there is still time to make some changes to the legislation because it doesn’t get implemented right away.

Hanebutt says the North Dakota House made some changes with the legislation that are positive for agriculture and its representation in the new department.

Hanebutt says it was difficult to stop the bill because of the strong support of North Dakota’s legislative leadership.