Engrossment for SB 2365 Defeated in House

The House Agriculture Committee recommended a DO NOT PASS for the engrossed SB 2365 and this past Friday the majority of the House of Representatives voted the same.

This is disheartening and frustrating but we have to keep moving forward. We must have faith that at some point in the future we will have a majority of State Senators and Representatives who acknowledge the high ethical standards of North Dakotans that is inherent in our nature. We are capable of providing protection to humans as well as animals. We are also independent in nature and need not fear that national animal welfare groups (which, for the record, are not “conspiring arms of PETA”) will take advantage of a stricter law by making unwarranted claims.

Is it not logical to take into account that all agriculture practices are (and would have continued to be…) exempt from the animal cruelty law? Regardless, if our farm animals are being cared for, as many farm organizations cited they are doing, then why is there fear of being charged with animal neglect and cruelty?


Portion of the Journal of the House from April 1, 2011 covering action on SB 2365:

SECOND READING OF SENATE BILL
SB 2365: A BILL for an Act to provide for a legislative management study of the laws relating to the humane treatment of animals.

ROLL CALL
The question being on the final passage of the bill, which has been read, and has committee recommendation of DO NOT PASS, the roll was called and there were 36 YEAS, 56 NAYS, 0 EXCUSED, 2 ABSENT AND NOT VOTING.

YEAS: Amerman; Anderson; Boe; Dahl; DeKrey; Delmore; Glassheim; Gruchalla;
Guggisberg; Hanson; Hawken; Hogan; Holman; Hunskor; Johnson, N.; Kaldor;
Keiser; Kelsh, J.; Kelsh, S.; Kilichowski; Klemin; Kreun; Kroeber; Meier, L.; Metcalf; Meyer, S.; Mock; Mueller; Nelson, J.; Onstad; Sanford; Steiner; Wall; Williams; Winrich; Zaiser

NAYS: Beadle; Bellew; Belter; Boehning; Brabandt; Brandenburg; Carlson; Clark; Conklin; Damschen; Delzer; Devlin; Dosch; Frantsvog; Froseth; Grande; Hatlestad;
Headland; Heilman; Heller; Hofstad; Johnson, D.; Karls; Kasper; Kelsch, R.;
Kempenich; Kingsbury; Klein; Koppelman; Kreidt; Kretschmar; Louser; Maragos;
Martinson; Monson; Nathe; Owens; Paur; Pietsch; Pollert; Porter; Rohr; Ruby; Rust;
Schatz; Schmidt; Skarphol; Streyle; Thoreson; Trottier; Vigesaa; Weiler; Weisz;
Wieland; Wrangham; Speaker Drovdal

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING: Nelson, M.; Sukut
Engrossed SB 2365 lost.