March 4, 2007

was doing a bit more research on the NAIS and was curious to see where all the States current standings on it were and I could not find anything, so I started compiling:

As of January 29, 2007 there were 350,351 National Livestock Premises Registered (farms registered with the NAIS that is an average of 7,000 farms per State in the US). What began as a federal move toward a mandatory animal identification program has been knocked down a notch last November, but it still exists and it still is mandatory in some states.. But making the National Animal Identification System voluntary doesn’t mean that it will fade from existence. Make sure to continue to handwrite letters to your State Representatives and State Senators to favor anti-NAIS legislation bills. 

The reason if a State is blank, this is an ongoing work and I am adding to it as I find out more information and update it when I do. If you want to search for legislation yourself, click on the States name. 

Alabama - April 2, 2006 Alabama HB 254 was adopted by the Legislature Thursday and sent to the Governor for signature. It directs the agency to adopt a plan "that is consistent" with USDA's NAIS.

Alaska - 2007 Federal funding of $80,000  for NAIS Programs 

Arizona - SB1428, as introduced, would have barred all participation in NAIS or any national program of premises registration. At the hearing on February 14, the bill was amended to bar a mandatory program, and it was approved by the committee by a vote of 6-1! This was the first anti-NAIS bill to make it out of committee!! The sponsor, Senator Johnson, will be introducing a "non-discrimination" amendment on the floor, to prevent coercive measures from being used
 o force people into the program.

Arkansas- A draft bill would bar the state and local governments from requiring animal or plant producers to register their premises, secure a permit or license of production, report sales or purchases, or use electronic identification, "unless a law or rule to the contrary was in effect before January 1, 2007."

California - 

Connecticut - 2007 Federal funding of $80,000 for NAIS Programs 

Delaware - 2007 Federal funding of $80,000 for NAIS Programs 

Florida -

Georgia -

Hawaii -

Idaho -

Illinois -

Indiana - MANDATORY NAIS SB 486 would stop the state from participating in NAIS or any component of it and includes a non-discrimination provision for private programs. This bill tacks the Liberty Ark model bill very closely, and was approved by the committee without any amendments on February 19th by a vote of 8-1! Like the Arizona bill, the Indiana bill will soon face a floor vote. (THANK YOU SENATOR STEELE!!)

Iowa -

Kansas -

Kentucky - On December 15, 2006, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture published proposed regulations that would make NAIS mandatory. In place of the 24-hour reporting requirement in the federal NAIS plans, the proposed Kentucky regulations would require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) for all movements, sales, and exhibitions, with only limited species-specific exceptions. "Exhibition" is defined to mean a "fair, show, exposition, rodeo, competition, or trail ride." "Movement" is defined as "the act of moving, shipping, transporting, delivering, receiving or collecting animals by any means, method, or vehicle by any person for any purpose." These broad definitions mean that almost every time an animal taken off the owners' property, it would need a CVI. By email on February 6, the State Veterinarian's office stated that the proposed regulations had been withdrawn to incorporate some public comments, and would be re-issued at some point in the future.

Louisiana -

Maine - 2007 Federal funding of $80,000 for NAIS Programs 

Maryland -

Massachusetts - 2007 Federal funding of $80,000  for NAIS Programs . Two related but somewhat differing bills were introduced in Massachusetts. House Docket 1324 provides that the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture shall not take any federal funds for NAIS in FY 2007, shall stop uploading premises registration data to the federal database, and shall arrange for people who have been registered without their consent to be taken out of the database. Senate Docket (SD) 1472 includes these provisions and adds two important provisions: (1) it bars any program of premises registration or livestock animal identification, except for existing disease-specific programs; (2) it prevents discrimination for not participating in NAIS or any substantially similar federal, state, or private program any federal, state, or private program.

Michigan - MANDATORY NAIS & federal money supporting mandatory radio frequency identification (RFID) cattle tags. Under the guise of the tuberculosis program, the Michigan Department of Agriculture is requiring that all cattle be identified with an RFID tag as of March 1, 2007. Efforts are continuing to convince the Governor to step in to stop this program. At least one legislator has also filed a bill request for a bill to stop the NAIS.

Minnesota -

Mississippi -

Missouri - Three bills have been introduced. Both HB 422 and HB 478 are one-sentence long, stating simply that the Agriculture Department may not participate in NAIS without specific authorization from the legislature. HB 747 is a more comprehensive bill that would prohibit any NAIS, specifically addresses the role of private programs and current state animal disease programs, and includes a non-discrimination provision.

Montana -

Nebraska -

Nevada -

New Hampshire -

New Jersey - 2007 Federal funding of $80,000 for NAIS Programs 

New York -

North Carolina -

North Dakota -

Ohio -

Oklahoma - HB 1842 initially provided an exemption for premises that sold less than $10,000 in agricultural products. A committee substitute has been filed that would absolutely bar any government NAIS program. Activists are pushing to get the bill set for hearing.

Oregon -

Pennsylvania - is considering a statute for NAIS  (not against)

Rhode Island - 2007 Federal funding of $80,000 for NAIS Programs 

South Carolina -

South Dakota - MANDATORY NAIS. South Dakota already has legislation that authorizes that State vet to implement NAIS on a mandatory basis. A bill was introduced to limit the program to a voluntary program only. At the committee hearing, several legislators who had sponsored the bill changed their position and ultimately voted against it; the bill died in committee.

Tennessee - Four bills have been introduced to stop NAIS: HB-764, HB-977, HB978, and one not-yet-numbered. These bills take a variety of approaches, based on what other states have been introducing.

Texas - 2007 Federal funding of $1,200,000 for NAIS Programs . Texas HB 637 would amend the existing statute that authorized implementation of NAIS, removing the agency's authority to implement a mandatory program. HB 637 also provides important protections for any voluntary program: (1) it includes a non-discrimination clause; (2) it requires full disclosure and informed consent before anyone can be signed up; and (3) it allows people to withdraw at any time and have their information deleted. A committee hearing is expected to occur within a few weeks. The proposed Texas regulations included fines of up to $1,000 per day and even criminal penalties.

Utah -

Vermont - Has proposed regulations for NAIS (not against)

Virginia - HB 1990 in Virginia initially consisted of just one sentence, barring the state agency from "participat[ing] in or provid [ing] any assistance to the establishment of the National Animal Identification System or any substantially similar program." At a subcommittee hearing on January 23, the legislators agreed to amend the bill to bar only a mandatory program and to allow the agency to remain involved in the USDA discussions on the program. The amended bill died when it reached the full committee.

Washington - HB 1151 bill cuts off the existing agreements with the USDA and stops the state from participating in NAIS or any component of it. It limits private tracking programs to prevent Agri-business from abusing their control of the market to force individuals into their systems, and stops government entities from discriminating against people based on their refusal to participate in a private system.

West Virginia -

Wisconsin - MANDATORY NAIS . In contrast to USDA's assertion in this Guide that there are "no enforcement mechanisms or penalties," Wisconsin's regulations provide for revocation of licenses and penalties of up to $1,000 for failure to register.

Wyoming -

Although the USDA repeatedly states that NAIS is “voluntary” at the federal level, it is encouraging mandatory state programs through grants. The USDA’s stated goal is 100% participation by January 2009.