Senate File 514, introduced April 1, would move the MPCA’s administrative definition of "feedlot" into statute and add an explicit exemption clarifying that small backyard chicken coops (the bill’s sponsor proposed a 12‑bird threshold) do not constitute a feedlot under state rules.

Senator Hoffman said the change reflects concerns raised by Wright County feedlot officers and homeowners about inconsistent application of the MPCA rule. Wright County officials described numerous residential properties that would be subject to feedlot setbacks under a literal reading of current administrative definitions and asked the legislature to provide clearer statutory language.

Derek Vetch, Wright County board chair, and Commissioner Nadine Shane testified that local feedlot officers seek a practical, enforceable threshold to avoid penalizing backyard chicken keepers and to preserve county capacity for enforcing true agricultural feedlot rules. Wittnesses said municipalities and the Association of Minnesota Counties were working with county staff and the MPCA on language tweaks.

Senators asked about how the threshold was selected and whether different numbers (12, 24, 50) would be more appropriate; proponents said 12 was a starting point chosen to reduce conflict and preserve enforcement resources, and that Wright County would work with AMC and MPCA staff on refinements. The committee laid the bill over to continue drafting with stakeholder input.