REPEAL REGISTRATION OF FARM NAMES

House Bill 4663

Sponsor:  Rep. Ben Glardon

Committee:  Agriculture

Complete to 9-27-11

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4663 AS INTRODUCED 5-19-11

House Bill 4663 would repeal Public Act 35 of 1941, which provides a framework for voluntarily registering farm names.

Many of the provisions of PA 45 of 1941 are contained below.

o                   Farm owners may have the name of their farms, combined with the legal description, recorded and kept by the Office of the Commissioner of Agriculture.  The Commissioner is required for provide a certificate recognizing the name and legal description of the land. 

o                   $1.00 recording fee for recording a farm name

o                   Registered farm names are transferred upon the transfer of a title.  However, if only a portion of the farm is transferred the name remains with the original land owner unless stated otherwise in the conveyance. The transfer of a registered farm name can be done by application to the Agriculture Commissioner and payment of the $0.50 (fifty cents) fee.

o                   Registered farm names can be canceled for $0.50 (fifty cents).

o                   All funds generated are credited to the General Fund.

o                   Provides a penalty for using a registered name by someone other than the farm owner.

MCL 285.101 to 285.108

FISCAL IMPACT:

A fiscal analysis is in process.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Jeff Stoutenburg

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   William E. Hamilton

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.