Sen. Grooms has introduced SB 97 which would recognize Indiana grown popcorn as the state snack of Indiana. Sure, these things are kind of silly, but I’m a popcorn junkie (mainly because it’s a vehicle for salt and butter), so this is one I can get behind. I will, however, criticize the legislative drafting. It has the sort of “whereas” puffery that’s more at home in a resolution. (E.g. “Whereas, the State of Indiana produces nearly five hundred million (500,000,000) pounds of popcorn on Hoosier soil each year.”)
Silly legal question for a silly bill: could “the State of Indiana produces nearly five hundred million (500,000,000) pounds of popcorn” be construed as a limit. Would growing more than 500 million pounds be illegal? Would growing 400 million?
Also, the language you quoted implies that the State of Indiana grows popcorn outside of the Hoosier state and/or not in soil.
Further! Does the capitalization of “State of Indiana” mean that the state government grows it, as opposed to private entities in the state? Is Senator Grooms socializing popocorn?
Your questions are well taken. But all of that “whereas” garbage is legally irrelevant — which is why I take exception to larding up a bill with that stuff.
I’ll keep that in mind when I am arrested for growing popcorn after the state has reached the 500 megapound threshold. :-)
Don’t be dissing the popcorn!
Jay Hulbert
Ag Alumni Seed
Leading popcorn seed company
Diss the popcorn? Never!!!
(The General Assembly on the other hand … )
Does this count Indiana grown corn sold to an out of state processor?