Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review Of Portions Of Chapter 27: Standards For Timber Harvesting And Timber Harvesting Related Activities Within Unorganized And Deorganized Areas Of The State, A Major Substantive Rule Of The Department Of Agriculture, Conservation And Forestry, Bureau Of Forestry

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Bill Pluecker

Legislature will review and require changes to portions of Chapter 27 on timber harvesting standards in unorganized/deorganized areas before final adoption.

Signed by Governor

#agriculture #conservationandfore #rules #timberharvesting

Summary — LD 750 (Resolve Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 27: Standards for Timber Harvesting and Timber Harvesting Related Activities Within Unorganized and Deorganized Areas of the State)

Bill type: Resolve (legislative review of rule)

Bill number: LD 750

Subject: Timber harvesting standards; rule review (DACF, Bureau of Forestry)

Introduced: February 25, 2025

Final status: Finally passed April 22, 2025; Signed by the Governor April 25, 2025

Committee action: Reported OTP-AM; passed as amended by Committee Amendment “A” (H‑55)

Purpose / Intent

LD 750 directs the Legislature’s formal review of portions of Chapter 27 — the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Forestry’s major substantive rule titled “Standards for Timber Harvesting and Timber Harvesting Related Activities Within Unorganized and Deorganized Areas of the State.” The Resolve facilitates legislative oversight of that rulemaking and the department’s final adoption process.

Key provisions (as reflected in available documents)

Establishes a legislative review process for specified portions of Chapter 27 (the major substantive rule governing timber harvesting standards in unorganized and deorganized areas).

Anticipates or requires that the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry make any changes necessary for final adoption of the reviewed portions of the rule. (The fiscal notes reference “changes required for the final adoption of the rules referenced in this resolve.”)

Passed with Committee Amendment “A” (H‑55); the text of that amendment is not included in the provided materials.

Note: The provided materials do not include the specific regulatory language being reviewed or the substantive edits under consideration. For details of the rule content or the amendment text, consult the finalized Chapter 27 rulemaking record or the legislative bill file.

Who is affected

Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (Bureau of Forestry): responsible for responding to the review and any required adjustments to the rule prior to final adoption.

Timber harvesters, landowners, logging contractors and other businesses operating in unorganized and deorganized areas: subject to the standards in Chapter 27 once finalized.

Local stakeholders and interest groups (environmental organizations, municipal and county entities in affected areas): may be affected by changes to harvesting standards and compliance requirements.

Fiscal impact

Fiscal notes (preliminary and revised) indicate a minor General Fund cost increase to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

The department states any additional costs associated with making required changes for final adoption are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.

Legislative timeline / procedural notes

Referred to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (Feb 25, 2025).

Committee work sessions and votes occurred in March–April 2025; the committee recommended OTP‑AM.

Passed both chambers (with concurrence) in April 2025 and signed by the Governor on April 25, 2025.

The Resolve is procedural in nature (legislative review) rather than a direct change to statute; substantive effects flow from the underlying rule changes finalized by DACF.

If you want, I can locate and summarize the specific portions of Chapter 27 under review or provide the text of Committee Amendment H‑55 (if available).