Ah the recycling of the RTFA click-bait. If it is on the internet it must be true.
The Michigan Right to Farm Act (PA93 of 1981) has not been changed since it was last legally amended in 1999. This is the actual law.
What did change was wording in the GAAMPs. The GAAMPs are guidelines to follow when using the law for a legal defense in a court case. MDARD and and Ag Commissioners changed the GAAMPs to restrict access to 80% of Michigan citizens by adding zoning and other wording that effectively denied equal protection to the population. So it became a local crap-shoot left up to each city, town or hamlet. Local ordinances are all over the spectrum and often make little sense.
What is worse, friends, is this recent introduction of two (2) senate bills.
http://legislature.mi.gov/documents/2015-2016/billintroduced/Senate/pdf/2016-SIB-1031.pdf
http://legislature.mi.gov/documents/2015-2016/billintroduced/Senate/pdf/2016-SIB-1032.pdf
At first glance it appears that an urban ag bill would be good but unfortunately it is not. The bills are linked in a shaky one-sided deal. The gist is that local communities can decide if they want an urban ag ordinance, but they don't have to have one if they don't want it (think Garden City). However, if they do have an ag ordinance, it must follow the guidelines that will be established by MDARD. This will become law if the bills pass.
If these bills pass, it means that the legislation is abdicating their legal power to enact state law. It gives the authority of law to the appointed bureaucrats of MDARD.
PS I'm back in court on Wednesday. I'll be missing a medical treatment just to keep the judge happy.
ETA:
One more thing...they are changing the GAAMPs again. Here is the link, http://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1599_1605---,00.html
The Michigan Right to Farm Act (PA93 of 1981) has not been changed since it was last legally amended in 1999. This is the actual law.
What did change was wording in the GAAMPs. The GAAMPs are guidelines to follow when using the law for a legal defense in a court case. MDARD and and Ag Commissioners changed the GAAMPs to restrict access to 80% of Michigan citizens by adding zoning and other wording that effectively denied equal protection to the population. So it became a local crap-shoot left up to each city, town or hamlet. Local ordinances are all over the spectrum and often make little sense.
What is worse, friends, is this recent introduction of two (2) senate bills.
http://legislature.mi.gov/documents/2015-2016/billintroduced/Senate/pdf/2016-SIB-1031.pdf
http://legislature.mi.gov/documents/2015-2016/billintroduced/Senate/pdf/2016-SIB-1032.pdf
At first glance it appears that an urban ag bill would be good but unfortunately it is not. The bills are linked in a shaky one-sided deal. The gist is that local communities can decide if they want an urban ag ordinance, but they don't have to have one if they don't want it (think Garden City). However, if they do have an ag ordinance, it must follow the guidelines that will be established by MDARD. This will become law if the bills pass.
If these bills pass, it means that the legislation is abdicating their legal power to enact state law. It gives the authority of law to the appointed bureaucrats of MDARD.
PS I'm back in court on Wednesday. I'll be missing a medical treatment just to keep the judge happy.
ETA:
One more thing...they are changing the GAAMPs again. Here is the link, http://www.michigan.gov/mdard/0,4610,7-125-1599_1605---,00.html
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