‘Right to Farm’ law expansion clears Senate panel

Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A Senate committee has endorsed changes to the state’s “Right to Farm” law that would make it more difficult to file nuisance lawsuits against farmers seeking to expand their operations. The Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee on Tuesday passed the bill 6-2, with Democrats voting against. Approval comes amid concerns farmer growth would be unchecked, not only by local government officials seeking to enforce zoning laws but citizens and neighbors worried about farm and feedlot growth pushing to their property lines. But farm industry lobbyist Roger Batt says the bill aims to protect one of Idaho’s biggest economic engines and enable farmers big and small to operate without fear of reprisals from nuisance lawsuits. The bill, HB 210, earlier passed the House.