The House Agriculture Committee voted to advance House Bill 15‑51, a bill that creates definitions, labeling requirements and registration rules for so‑called “beneficial substances” such as inoculants and certain compost products.

Chairman Belts walked members through the amendments prepared with Legislative Council and reviewed definitions in the draft, including how the bill defines “labeling,” “person,” and “soil inoculum.” Representative Ulmer, a cosponsor, said the Agriculture Department had reviewed the amendments and was comfortable with the current draft. “Yep. I am. Yeah. It went through the ag department, totally reviewed it, worked with legislative council on the amendments,” Ulmer said.

The draft narrows repeated language by defining “beneficial substance” once and then using that definition throughout the code. It excludes existing regulated categories such as fertilizer and pesticides, and explicitly discusses inoculants used for crops such as soybeans.

The amended bill imposes a $50 product registration fee and a distributor license every two years for $100; it also permits product registration by the first registrant so that subsequent distributors need not re‑register the same product. Committee members questioned whether packaged farm products such as manure sold in retail stores would fall under the registration requirement; the committee located the exemption language on page 6 and confirmed that manure appears as an exemption in the draft.

Representative Ulmer moved that the committee give HB 15‑51 a do‑pass recommendation as amended. After further discussion the committee conducted a roll‑call vote; the clerk recorded the outcome and the motion passed. The bill has no fiscal note listed in committee discussion.

Supporters framed the bill as consumer protection for producers and sellers, describing prior market instances where unverified product claims harmed crop yields. Opponents warned about adding regulation to natural‑product markets; some members compared the measure to increased oversight of supplements. The committee approved the amendment package and the do‑pass motion as amended.