HB1436
To Place Location Restrictions On Certain Food Processing Plants Operating A Slaughterhouse On The Same Grounds As The Food Processing Plants.
AI-Generated Summary
This bill proposes to add a new section to Arkansas Code concerning location restrictions for certain food processing plants. Specifically, it would restrict food processing plants that also operate a slaughterhouse on the same grounds from being located within two miles of a church, public school, or densely populated residential area in cities of the first class. The bill defines a "food processing plant" as a commercial operation processing food for human consumption and distributing it to other entities, excluding retail food stores, restaurants, and similar establishments. It clarifies that this restriction does not preclude a city of the first class from regulating or approving such operations. Importantly, the bill includes an exemption for food processing plants already in operation on the effective date of the act. The primary intent is to establish spatial limitations for these types of facilities in relation to sensitive community areas.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries of this bill would likely be residents living in densely populated areas within cities of the first class, as well as religious institutions and public schools, by creating buffer zones that may reduce potential impacts associated with slaughterhouse operations. Local governments in cities of the first class would also benefit from having explicit legislative guidance for regulating the placement of these facilities, potentially leading to fewer land-use disputes.
Who Might Suffer?
The groups most directly and negatively impacted by this bill would be new food processing plants that operate a slaughterhouse on the same grounds and are seeking to establish operations within cities of the first class. These businesses may face significant challenges in finding suitable locations that meet the two-mile restriction from churches, public schools, and densely populated residential areas, potentially increasing their operational costs or limiting their expansion opportunities. Existing businesses are exempted, but any new entrants or those seeking to relocate or expand in a way that would be considered a new operation could be deterred.