A bill would give Missouri's farmers increased protection from lawsuits

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Intro:	Missouri's farmers may get additional protection after legislation cleared the House Thursday.
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Wrap: Missouri's House passed a bill that would protect farmers from repeatedly getting sued over the smell of animal manure.

St. Louis City's Democratic Representative Mike Colona opposes the bill.

He says when a farm moves next door, the value of property is going to decrease and the bill doesn't acknowledge this.

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Description: "So that I am to believe, that if a big hog farm moves next to me, where morning, noon, and night I don't have that great smell of bacon, as the gentlemen from that side of the aisle said the other day...I have the smell of hog...manure, that will not affect the value of my property?

Supporters say the bill would preserve Missouri's agriculture industry and protects the rights of farmers.

The bill goes to the governor next.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Emily Kissee.

Intro:	A bill that would give Missouri's farmers more protection from lawsuits was passed on to the governor Tuesday.
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Wrap: Missouri's House passed a bill to protect farmers from repeatedly getting sued over the smell of animal manure.

Harrison’s Republican Representative Casey Guernsey sponsors the bill.

He says it helps protects the rights of farmers, property value, and Missouri 33-billion dollar a year agriculture industry.

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Description: "If we don't fix this problem we aren't going to have the AG industry in this state."

Opponents say the bill doesn't help anyone but farmers.

They say it doesn't address the drop of property value associated with the stench of living next to a farm.

The bill goes to the governor next.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Emily Kissee.

Intro:	Missourians will have to clean out the junk in their backyard under a bill that's headed to Governor Jay Nixon.
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Wrap: With this bill, residents would have to get rid of annoyances that cause health and safety concerns for their neighbors.

Cass County Republican Representative Chris Molendorp supports the bill.

He says it'll help keep Missouri's communities clean.

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Description: "This is a mechanism for us to keep our communities clean and free of trash and debris in the ditches and in the roads."

Opponents have problems with the part of the bill that protects farmers from lawsuits.

They say it does nothing to address falling property values associated with living next to a smelly farm.

The bill goes to the governor next.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Emily Kissee.