ATLANTA – State Representative Robert Dickey (R-Musella) commented today on Governor Nathan Deal signing into law House Bill 298, legislation, which provides for an Agriculture Commodity Commission for Georgia Grown products. Sponsored by Rep. Dickey, HB 298 passed the General Assembly with broad, bipartisan support during this year’s legislative session, receiving a vote of 161 to 1 in the House and a vote of 49 to 0 in the Senate.
“I want to thank Governor Deal for signing this bill and for Commissioner Black for giving me the opportunity to sponsor this bill in the House” said Rep. Dickey. “My farm has been a member of the Georgia Grown program since the program began and I look forward to opportunities this commission will provide for Georgia Grown products.”
HB 298 provides for an Agriculture Commodity Commission for Georgia Grown products. This bill will provide an avenue for agribusiness to connect with one another to promote Georgia Grown products. Under this bill, producers, processors, retailers and growers would be given the opportunity to voluntarily contribute funds which would be used for the advertising, promotion and education of Georgia Grown products. These products would include agricultural, horticultural, floricultural, silvicultural or vegetable products commercially produced in Georgia.
This commission will assist in raising awareness to local and national retailers of the products that the state produces. This commission, as well Georgia’s ten other commodity commissions, is producer-funded and reimburses the state for any costs. The Agriculture Commodity Commission for Georgia Grown products may only use its funds to educate, promote and do research for Georgia Grown Products.
Governor Deal signed HB 298 at the 26th annual Georgia Sheriffs’ Association’s annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner in Glennville on Thursday, April 18, 2013.
“This was an ideal setting for the bill signing – right in the heart of Vidalia onion country, whose growers have started harvesting their onions this week,” added Rep. Dickey.
For more information on HB 298, please click here.
Representative Robert Dickey represents the citizens of District 140, which includes portions of all of Crawford County, and portions of Peach, Bibb, Houston, and Monroe Counties. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2010, and currently serves as the Secretary on the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations, Banks & Banking, and Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications committees.
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