2005 Senate Bill 777 ↩

House Roll Call 370: Passed

To limit the authority of local governments to adopt and enforce ordinances that prohibit or regulate the labeling, sale, storage, transportation, distribution, use, or planting of of agricultural seeds, vegetable seeds, flower seeds, turf grass seeds, or forest tree seeds, including those that are genetically modified. An ordinance would have to be approved by the state Agriculture Commission, and could be allowed only if it prohibits or regulates "unreasonable adverse effects on the environment or public health," or if the local government has determined the seeds will result in the violation of other existing state or federal laws. The Department of Agriculture would have to hold a public hearing on the ordinance, and issue an opinion regarding whether it meets these standards.