Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law earlier this month and one local legislator was on hand for the bill signing.

Iowa District 24 Senator Jesse Green shared his reaction to the signing of House File 857, which creates state grants to help local, small meat lockers expand and establishes a task force for a feasibility study to start a butchery program at a college, which would be governed by the board of regents.

“I was so grateful. There was so many different people that had a part to play in the passage. Everybody was on the same page about how this was a big issue facing our state. So people in both chambers (Senate and House) saw that reality and that’s why the bill passed with bipartisan support and so quickly.”

Green is excited about getting an educational program established and described how he would like to take it further than the collegiate level.

“So next year, one of the bills I would really like to work on is for high school apprenticeships, for kids to start thinking about the opportunities that exist in the industry. I think the opportunities are endless and we’re just going to begin to see the fruits of that.”

The new law was highlighted at the beginning of the legislative session, due to the global pandemic and driving the demand for more meat consumption. Click the link below to see the legislation.  

House File 857: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/NOBA/1221400.pdf