Brand Committee fees, membership updated

A bill that raises Nebraska Brand Committee inspection fees and updates committee operations received final approval from lawmakers April 10.

LB1187, introduced by Niobrara Sen. Barry DeKay, raises the maximum per-head inspection fee from $1.10 to $1.50 and replaces mileage-based travel charges with a flat surcharge of up to $30 per inspection stop.

The measure also makes the following changes:
• limits audits of registered feedlots to no more than twice a year, with reviews covering 10% of records unless additional audits are approved for reasonable cause;
• updates how feedlot fees are calculated, replacing the current flat structure with a formula based on inspection fees;
• authorizes an annual feedlot charge equal to 25% of the per-head inspection fee multiplied by the facility’s one-time capacity;
• increases the brand renewal fee, paid once every four years, from $200 to $400;
• creates a classification for dairy heifer development facilities and exempts certain dairy-related cattle movements from inspection; and
• allows cattle already inspected and placed in a registered feedlot or background lot to move between feedlots without another inspection if proper documentation is provided.

The measure also makes several changes to the Brand Committee’s membership. Beginning Aug. 28, the current five-member committee will be replaced by a seven-member group made up of five cattle producers — one from each newly created geographic district — along with an owner or operator of a cattle feeding operation and a livestock auction market owner.

The governor will appoint all members, and current members may be reappointed if they meet the new requirements.

LB1187 passed 39-9.