Legislator plans to reintroduce modified version of plan

State Rep. Bronna Kahle today said she will reintroduce a modified version of her plan to protect Michigan’s family farmers from burdensome state rules and fees following the governor’s veto of her original plan.

Under current law, if a fatality happens on a family farm and the family does not report it to the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) within eight hours, the family faces a $5,000 fine.

Kahle was alerted about the issue by E.G.A. Inc., a family farm located in Blissfield Township, after owner Keith Eisenmann died in an accident on his own farm in November of 2019. Keith’s wife and brother, who co-owned the farm, received a massive fine after his death.

“I have reviewed the governor’s veto statement and spoken with members of her team to learn about the reasoning behind the veto,” Kahle said. “I’m committed to working in a bipartisan fashion to ensure no family is ever burdened by these exorbitant fees in the wake of a tragedy ever again. I am already working on a slightly modified version of my original plan. By solving the governor’s concerns, there should be no reason for another veto of this common-sense plan.”

Kahle’s legislation would have exempted family farm owners from reporting requirements in instances like the Eisenmann’s and would reduce the fine by 95 percent. The reintroduced version of the legislation would still accomplish those action items, but will include slightly modified language.

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