The House sponsor of an agriculture nuisance lawsuit bill has stated he’s willing to work with Governor Nixon to resolve the issues that led the governor to veto it.
Rep. Casey Guernsey (R-Bethany) said he’s disappointed the governor vetoed the bill, but will work with the governor’s office to craft a bill he can sign. HB 209 passed the House on a 110-to-45 vote. To override a governor’s veto, the House must pull together at least 109 votes.
Guernsey said he would rather try to work with the governor on the bill rather than attempt a veto override.
“I would like to try to pursue this avenue first,” Guernsey told reporters. “If the governor’s willing to work with us on this language, then I’d be more than willing to try that first.”
Though the bill received enough votes to override a veto, it isn’t known whether all the Democrats who voted for it would stick with the majority and override Nixon, a fellow Democrat.
In a news release sent by his office, Nixon indicated the bill was written too broadly. He said that the provisions of the bill relating to standing and successive lawsuits would apply to nuisances beyond crop or animal production.
“My office has communicated with the House sponsor, and we are working with legislative leaders to clarify and improve the language of the bill in the time remaining in this legislative session,” Governor Nixon said in the statement.
