States, Cities and Counties
Here's a look at documents covering state government, cities and counties
Featured Stories
Tenn. Economic Dept.: State Leadership Announce Tennessee as Host of 48th SEUS/Japan Annual Joint Meeting
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, April 8 -- The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development issued the following news on April 7, 2026:
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State Leadership Announce Tennessee as Host of 48th SEUS/Japan Annual Joint Meeting
* Dates announced for 48th Annual Joint Meeting in Nashville
* Lee appoints former Gov. Bill Haslam as Chairman
* Bridgestone continues fifth year as Japan-side Chair Company, appoints Global CEO Yasuhiro Morita and former CEO Masaaki Tsuya as Joint Co-Chairs
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Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Deputy Gov. and Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) Commissioner
... Show Full Article
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, April 8 -- The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development issued the following news on April 7, 2026:
* * *
State Leadership Announce Tennessee as Host of 48th SEUS/Japan Annual Joint Meeting
* Dates announced for 48th Annual Joint Meeting in Nashville
* Lee appoints former Gov. Bill Haslam as Chairman
* Bridgestone continues fifth year as Japan-side Chair Company, appoints Global CEO Yasuhiro Morita and former CEO Masaaki Tsuya as Joint Co-Chairs
*
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Deputy Gov. and Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) CommissionerStuart C. McWhorter announced today that Tennessee will be the host state for the 48th Annual Joint Meeting between the Southeast U.S./Japan Association (SEUS/Japan) and its Japanese counterpart, the Japan-U.S. Southeast Association (Japan-USSE).
Taking place in Nashville on October 25-27, 2026, Bill Haslam, former governor of Tennessee, will serve as Chairman of the meeting alongside his Japan Joint Co-Chairs, Bridgestone Corporation (Bridgestone) Global CEO and Representative Executive Officer Yasuhiro Morita and Masaaki Tsuya, who served as Bridgestone's Global CEO from March 2012 through March 2020, and who continues to serve as Chairman of the Japan-USSE Association.
"For decades, Tennessee has built a strong and enduring relationship with Japan grounded in mutual respect, shared values and economic partnership," said Gov. Lee. "From advanced manufacturing to innovation and workforce development, Japanese companies have played a vital role in Tennessee's success, and our state remains committed to strengthening these ties for generations to come. As we convene this meeting, there is no better choice for chairman than former Gov. Haslam, whose steadfast leadership elevated Tennessee's global profile and deepened our ties with Japan."
Haslam served two terms as Tennessee's 49th Governor, elected in 2010 and reelected in 2014 by the largest margin in state history, leading the state through a period of strong economic growth. His administration expanded workforce development through free community and technical college, enacted the largest tax cut in state history and invested in critical transportation infrastructure.
Since leaving office, Haslam has returned to the private sector and remains active on local and national boards, serving as director of the Institute of American Civics, a professor at the Baker School of Policy and Public Affairs and chairman of the Nashville Predators.
"Tennessee and Japan share a rich, longstanding partnership that has created thousands of jobs, strengthened economies and expanded opportunity across the state," said former Gov. Haslam. "I am honored to serve as this year's Chair alongside Mr. Morita and Mr. Tsuya and excited to welcome our Japanese partners to Tennessee for the 48th Annual Joint Meeting."
Bridgestone Corporation, whose western global operations are headquartered in downtown Nashville, is one of Japan's iconic brands that has made a lasting impact in the Volunteer State since 1983 through its economic contributions and commitment to community development. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Bridgestone employs more than 3,800 Tennesseans across its manufacturing, retail sales and headquarters operations statewide and more than 14,200 in the seven SEUS/Japan member states. The company is in its fifth year as the Japan-USSE Co-Chair Company of the SEUS/Japan Annual Joint Meeting.
"It is a distinct honor to serve as Joint Co-Chair of this significant meeting in Nashville, a city that feels like a second home to Bridgestone," said Morita. "As we move toward a future of sustainable mobility and innovation, the partnership between Japan and the Southeast U.S. remains vital. I look forward to working alongside former Gov. Haslam and Mr. Tsuya as we welcome leaders from both sides of the Pacific to discuss how we can drive shared prosperity and growth for the next 50 years."
"It has been my privilege to be a part of the SEUS/Japan Annual Joint Meeting since 2022, and I am excited to now be representing Japan alongside Mr. Morita and working with my friend, former Gov. Haslam," said Tsuya. "I look forward to returning to Tennessee and Nashville for this important meeting, one which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the SEUS/Japan and Japan-USSE Associations and recognizes the friendships and mutual benefits that have been the result of this decades long collaboration."
Japan remains Tennessee's top partner for foreign direct investment (FDI) with nearly 210 Japanese businesses statewide that account for more than 50,000 jobs and more than $21 billion in capital investment.
"Tennessee's relationship with Japan continues to be a cornerstone of our global economic success, with more than 200 Japanese businesses statewide that employ over 50,000 Tennesseans," said Deputy Gov. McWhorter. "Supporting our Japanese partners is central to our mission of attracting investment and creating high-quality jobs, and we look forward to building upon these relationships to unlock new opportunities for continued collaboration and economic growth."
The state currently operates five FDI offices based in key countries across Europe and Asia, including the FDI office located in Yokohama, Japan, which was established in 1999 and is the state's longest serving FDI operation. Their local presence strengthens relationships and builds trust with global companies through direct in-market engagement.
Serving in a similar capacity to the state's international representatives, Tennessee is also fortunate to be home to Consul General Shinji Watanabe, the Consul General of Japan in Nashville, who plays an important role in strengthening ties between Japan and the Volunteer State.
"I am delighted that Tennessee will serve as the host of the 48th SEUS/Japan Annual Joint Meeting. This meeting provides a valuable opportunity to further deepen the long-standing and strong partnership between Japan and the Southeast U.S.," said Consul-General Watanabe. "I look forward to the meeting generating new momentum for innovative collaboration, further expanding Japan-U.S. cooperation and contributing to even stronger economic growth in both countries."
The 2026 meeting offers delegates an opportunity to meet with influential government and business leaders from Japan and the other Southeast U.S. member states and is expected to draw hundreds of top-level executives, governors and government officials. Discussions will focus on emerging technologies, supply chain resilience and the expanding role of the Southeast in the global automotive and clean energy sectors. The Annual Joint Meeting location rotates among Japan and the seven SEUS/Japan member states, with Tennessee last hosting the gathering in 2010.
For more information on the SEUS/Japan 2026 meeting and registration details, please visit seusjapan.org.
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About SEUS/Japan
The Southeast U.S./Japan Association was founded in 1976 to promote economic and cultural exchange. The annual joint meeting alternates between the Southeastern U.S. and Japan, serving as a vital link for the seven member states and their Japanese counterparts.
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About Bridgestone Corporation
Bridgestone is a global leader in tires and rubber, building on its expertise to provide solutions for safe and sustainable mobility. Headquartered in Tokyo, the company employs over 115,000 people globally and conducts business in more than 150 countries and territories worldwide.
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About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
TNECD is the state's primary agency committed to fostering economic growth through job creation and community development. By attracting new corporate investment and facilitating the growth of existing businesses, the department works to strengthen Tennessee's competitive landscape. Additionally, TNECD strives to increase the economic prosperity for all Tennesseans by providing grants to communities statewide, helping them to become vibrant, business-friendly environments where companies can flourish. For more information, visit us at tnecd.com. Join the conversation on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.
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Original text here: https://tnecd.com/news/state-leadership-announce-tennessee-as-host-of-48th-seus-japan-annual-joint-meeting/
Okla. A.G. Drummond Acts to Defend Illinois River Watershed Settlements
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 8 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on April 7, 2026:
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Drummond acts to defend Illinois River Watershed settlements
Attorney General Gentner Drummond today called on a federal court to quickly accept the hard-fought settlements totaling more than $31 million to clean up poultry litter pollution in the Illinois River Watershed. Every day without a ruling, he warned, risks unraveling agreements that took months of good-faith negotiations to reach.
The proposed settlements with Cargill, George's, Peterson Farms and
... Show Full Article
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 8 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on April 7, 2026:
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Drummond acts to defend Illinois River Watershed settlements
Attorney General Gentner Drummond today called on a federal court to quickly accept the hard-fought settlements totaling more than $31 million to clean up poultry litter pollution in the Illinois River Watershed. Every day without a ruling, he warned, risks unraveling agreements that took months of good-faith negotiations to reach.
The proposed settlements with Cargill, George's, Peterson Farms andTyson are uncontested, but the district court has yet to approve them or issue any ruling. Without such a ruling, the terms of the settlement are not in effect yet.
"Cargill, George's, Peterson Farms and Tyson did the right thing. They came to the table and worked hard to reach agreements that will deliver real remediation to the Illinois River Watershed. The court owes it to the people of Oklahoma to approve these agreements without delay," said Drummond. "The door to a fair and reasonable settlement remains open to the hold-out defendants, Simmons and Cal-Maine, as well. Their co-defendants found a path forward. They should too."
To protect the settlements, Drummond filed in two federal courts today. In the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, the State filed a notice urging the court to act on the pending settlements. In the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, the State filed an opposition to a motion by the settling defendants that could, if granted broadly, allow Simmons and Cal-Maine to pause their own obligations in the case.
Drummond also put the district court on notice that if the settling defendants' motion results in any relief for Simmons and Cal-Maine, Oklahoma will have no choice but to withdraw all pending settlements entirely. Should that happen, all defendants - including those who negotiated in good faith - would be forced back into full, active litigation.
The State of Oklahoma v. Tyson Foods litigation was originally filed in 2005 to address decades of phosphorus runoff from poultry litter that has polluted the Illinois River Watershed. In December 2025, U.S. District Judge Gregory Frizzell issued a final judgment finding all defendants jointly liable and ordering a 30-year court-supervised remediation program.
Read the notice filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma (https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oag/news-documents/2026/april/405-cv-00329-GKF-SH%20Notice.pdf)
Read the response filed in the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals (https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oag/news-documents/2026/april/26-5000_Documents.pdf)
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Original text here: https://oklahoma.gov/oag/news/newsroom/2026/april/drummond-acts-to-defend-illinois-river-watershed-settlements.html
N.Y. State Comptroller Audit: Woodbourne Fire District Audit Follow Up
ALBANY, New York, April 8 (TNSLrpt) -- The office of the New York State Comptroller issued the following audit report (2023M-98-F) on April 3, 2026, entitled "Woodbourne Fire District Audit Follow Up."
Here are excerpts:
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Purpose of Review
The purpose of our review was to assess the Woodbourne Fire District's (District) progress, as of November 2025, in implementing our recommendations in the audit report Woodbourne Fire District - Board Oversight (2023M-98), released in December 2023.
The audit determined that the Board of Fire Commissioners (Board) did not:
* Ensure the Treasurer/Secretary
... Show Full Article
ALBANY, New York, April 8 (TNSLrpt) -- The office of the New York State Comptroller issued the following audit report (2023M-98-F) on April 3, 2026, entitled "Woodbourne Fire District Audit Follow Up."
Here are excerpts:
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Purpose of Review
The purpose of our review was to assess the Woodbourne Fire District's (District) progress, as of November 2025, in implementing our recommendations in the audit report Woodbourne Fire District - Board Oversight (2023M-98), released in December 2023.
The audit determined that the Board of Fire Commissioners (Board) did not:
* Ensure the Treasurer/Secretary(Treasurer) maintained basic accounting records and reports or provided regular financial reports to the Board.
* Perform a thorough audit of all claims prior to payment
8 Adopt realistic budgets or maintain reasonable levels of fund balance. The District's December 31, 2022 fund balance was enough to fund nearly two and a half years of expenditures.
* Develop and adopt policies and procedures for the District's financial operations, including controls for wire transfers, online banking, investments, procurement, travel and conferences, fund balance, reserves, credit card use and capital assets.
* Transparently set aside funds for future building and equipment needs.
The audit included 10 recommendations to help the Board improve its oversight of the District's financial activities.
Background
The District provides fire protection and emergency services to the Town of Fallsburg in Sullivan County. The elected five-member Board governs the District and is responsible for its overall financial management and safeguarding resources. The Board-appointed Treasurer is the chief fiscal officer and is responsible for receiving, disbursing, transferring and accounting for all District funds and preparing financial reports.
Results of Review
Based on our limited procedures, the District fully implemented three recommendations, partially implemented four recommendations, and did not implement three recommendations. Until all recommendations are implemented, the Board cannot ensure District assets are fully safeguarded.
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The report is posted at: https://www.osc.ny.gov/files/local-government/audits/2026/pdf/woodbourne-fire-district-2023-98-f.pdf
N.Y. State Comptroller Audit: Village of Sherburne - Budgeting
ALBANY, New York, April 8 (TNSLrpt) -- The office of the New York State Comptroller issued the following audit report (2025M-83) on April 3, 2026, entitled "Village of Sherburne - Budgeting."
Here are excerpts:
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Audit Objective
Did the Village of Sherburne (Village) Board of Trustees (Board) develop realistic budgets?
Audit Period
February 28, 2022 - August 29, 2025
Understanding the Audit Area
A village board must develop realistic budgets for financial stability, public trust and transparency; service continuity; and to prevent shortfalls from overestimated revenues or underestimated
... Show Full Article
ALBANY, New York, April 8 (TNSLrpt) -- The office of the New York State Comptroller issued the following audit report (2025M-83) on April 3, 2026, entitled "Village of Sherburne - Budgeting."
Here are excerpts:
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Audit Objective
Did the Village of Sherburne (Village) Board of Trustees (Board) develop realistic budgets?
Audit Period
February 28, 2022 - August 29, 2025
Understanding the Audit Area
A village board must develop realistic budgets for financial stability, public trust and transparency; service continuity; and to prevent shortfalls from overestimated revenues or underestimatedcosts that can lead to tax hikes, service cuts or a fiscal crisis. Realistic and structurally balanced budgeting, where recurring expenditures are met by recurring revenues, builds community confidence, avoids reliance on temporary "one-shot" revenues or funding sources (i.e., appropriated fund balance) and allows for long-term planning to protect the village from unexpected emergencies and maintain essential services.
The Village has four operating funds: electric, general, sewer and water. The Village's 2024-25 budgeted appropriations were as follows:
* Electric fund: $4,012,640
* Sewer fund: $609,550
* General fund: $1,447,492
* Water fund: $449,739
Audit Summary
The Board's adopted budgets included underestimated revenues in the general fund and overestimated appropriations in the general, water and sewer funds. As a result, the Board levied more taxes than were needed to fund the Village's operations. When the Board underestimates revenues and overestimates appropriations, unplanned operating surpluses are produced, which can reduce public trust and transparency to Village residents and taxpayers.
During the audit period, the electric fund had reasonable budget estimates, and the water and sewer fund had reasonable revenue estimates. However, during this same period, the Board adopted budgets for the general, water and sewer funds that appropriated a combined total of $907,700 of fund balance and $219,0001 in reserve funds that were not needed and that underestimated revenues by a combined amount of approximately $930,000 and overestimated appropriations by a combined amount of approximately $1.3 million, as follows:
* The Board underestimated revenues totaling $695,000 and overestimated appropriations totaling $521,000 for the general fund and overestimated appropriations totaling $582,000 for the sewer fund and $240,000 for the water fund.
* Unrealistic budget estimates caused unplanned operating surpluses in the general, water and sewer funds totaling $1.1 million, even though the Board planned for operating deficits totaling $1.3 million. As a result, none of the appropriated fund balance was needed or used.
* Unrestricted fund balance increased by a total of approximately $1.1 million in the general, water and sewer funds.
In addition, the Board did not have written multiyear capital and financial plans, or a written fund balance policy in place to guide the Board's decisions regarding retaining appropriate fund balance amounts and reserve fund levels. Lastly, the budgets for the 2022-23 through 2025-26 fiscal years did not comply with New York State Village Law (Village Law) Section 5-506 or Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) guidance. The budgets did not contain sufficient information to assist Village officials in planning and monitoring the Village's financial operations or provide the public with enough information about the Village's annual financial plan to allow for meaningful input at budget hearings.
The report includes six recommendations that, if implemented, will improve the Village's budgeting process.
We conducted this audit pursuant to Article V, Section 1 of the State Constitution and OSC's authority as set forth in Article 3 of the New York State General Municipal Law (GML). Our methodology and standards are included in Appendix C.
The Board has the responsibility to initiate corrective action. A written corrective action plan (CAP) that addresses the findings and recommendations in this report should be prepared and provided to our office within 90 days, pursuant to Section 35 of GML. For more information on preparing and filing your CAP, please refer to our brochure, Responding to an OSC Audit Report, which you received with the draft audit report. We encourage the Board to make the CAP available for public review in the Village Clerk-Treasurer's office.
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The report is posted at: https://www.osc.ny.gov/files/local-government/audits/2026/pdf/sherburne-village-2025-83.pdf
N.Y. State Comptroller Audit: City of Mechanicville - Procurement
ALBANY, New York, April 8 (TNSLrpt) -- The office of the New York State Comptroller issued the following audit report (2025M-60) on April 3, 2026, entitled "City of Mechanicville - Procurement."
Here are excerpts:
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Audit Objective
Did City of Mechanicville (City) officials procure goods and services in accordance with the City's procurement policy, statutory requirements and good business practices?
Audit Period
January 1, 2022 - September 30, 2024
Understanding the Audit Area
One of the best methods for helping ensure that goods and services are acquired in a cost-effective manner
... Show Full Article
ALBANY, New York, April 8 (TNSLrpt) -- The office of the New York State Comptroller issued the following audit report (2025M-60) on April 3, 2026, entitled "City of Mechanicville - Procurement."
Here are excerpts:
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Audit Objective
Did City of Mechanicville (City) officials procure goods and services in accordance with the City's procurement policy, statutory requirements and good business practices?
Audit Period
January 1, 2022 - September 30, 2024
Understanding the Audit Area
One of the best methods for helping ensure that goods and services are acquired in a cost-effective manneris to seek competition, which is often required by State law or by locally adopted policy. One of the goals of seeking competition is to foster honest competition to obtain quality commodities and services at the lowest possible cost. Seeking competition also guards against favoritism, extravagance and fraud, while allowing interested vendors a fair and equal opportunity to compete. Whether using formal competitive bids, requests for proposals (RFPs)1 or written and verbal quotes, a well-planned solicitation effort is needed to reach as many qualified vendors as possible.
City officials made 3,808 payments for purchases totaling approximately $19 million in goods and services during the audit period.
Audit Summary
City officials did not always procure goods and services according to the City's procurement policy, statutory requirements and good business practices. As a result, officials made purchasing decisions without proper oversight, did not maintain adequate financial and purchasing records and did not always use a competitive process when procuring goods and services. Officials also did not establish adequate procurement guidelines. Without clear purchasing guidelines and adequate oversight of the purchasing process, the City could pay inflated prices, inefficiently spend public funds, incur legal liability and diminish public trust in the City's operations.
During our review of the City's procurement policy and process, we identified the following discrepancies:
* City Department heads did not always comply with the procurement policy or document whether they used competitive bidding, as required by the policy. We reviewed a sample of 35 purchases totaling $2.26 million and identified that 23 purchases totaling approximately $760,000 (34 percent) did not comply with the procurement policy or statutory requirements. For example, competitive bidding was not used for five purchases totaling $608,000 that exceeded $20,000, quotes were not obtained for 13 purchases totaling $106,500 that were between $2,000 and $20,000, and RFPs were not issued for five purchases totaling $44,900 where required.
* The City's Commissioner of Finance (Commissioner) and Deputy Commissioner of Finance (Deputy) did not verify that each purchase included the correct number of written or verbal quotes before paying vendors. Without these reviews and Verifications, purchases might not comply with the procurement policy and potential financial discrepancies could occur.
* The City's procurement policy was inadequate and inconsistent, which created confusion and increased the risk that staff would not comply with required procurement practices. The City also did not have formal, written procedures for its purchasing process or specific procurement guidelines for professional services in the procurement policy.
* The city did not have an individual designated as its official purchasing agent. Instead, each Department head was responsible for purchasing within their respective departments. This approach could result in varied practices and challenges with maintaining uniformity across departments.
* The procurement policy required Department heads to verify that funds were available before making purchases. However, the City's Finance office did not have updated accounting records, which made it difficult for Department heads to ensure that there were adequate funds for their purchases. Consequently, they made purchases without confirming there were available budget appropriations, which led to financial discrepancies and inefficiencies.
The report includes 13 recommendations that, if implemented, will improve the City's procurement practices and ensure economic use of public funds in the taxpayers' best interests. City officials generally agreed with our recommendations and have initiated or indicated they planned to initiate corrective action.
We conducted this audit pursuant to Article V, Section 1 of the State Constitution and the State Comptroller's authority as set forth in Article 3 of the New York State General Municipal Law (GML). Our methodology and standards are included in Appendix C.
The City Council (Council) has the responsibility of initiating corrective action. We encourage the Council to prepare a written corrective action plan (CAP) that addresses the recommendations in this report and forward it to our office within 90 days. For more information on preparing and filing your CAP, please refer to our brochure, Responding to an OSC Audit Report, which you received with the draft audit report. We encourage the Council to make the CAP available for public review.
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The report is posted at: https://www.osc.ny.gov/files/local-government/audits/2026/pdf/mechanicville-city-2025-60.pdf
N.Y. State Agriculture Department Reminds Farm That New Produce Safety Rule Requirement is Now in Effect for Small Operations
ALBANY, New York, April 8 -- The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets issued the following news on April 7, 2026:
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State Agriculture Department Reminds Farm that New Produce Safety Rule Requirement is Now in Effect for Small Operations
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets reminds farmers that a revised requirement under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule is now in effect for small farm operations as of April 6, 2026. The requirement includes the need for farms that are covered by the Produce Safety Rule to complete a pre-harvest
... Show Full Article
ALBANY, New York, April 8 -- The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets issued the following news on April 7, 2026:
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State Agriculture Department Reminds Farm that New Produce Safety Rule Requirement is Now in Effect for Small Operations
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets reminds farmers that a revised requirement under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule is now in effect for small farm operations as of April 6, 2026. The requirement includes the need for farms that are covered by the Produce Safety Rule to complete a pre-harvestagricultural water assessment. The water assessment will help farms identify potential food safety concerns and make risk-management decisions.
Commissioner Ball said, "The Produce Safety Rule provides our growers with a comprehensive, preventative approach to food safety on the farm. Our growers take great care in producing food the right way and already implement many of these food safety practices, whether it be through participation in the voluntary NYS Grown & Certified program or the USDA's Good Agricultural Practices programs. And, while the Department has long been working with our New York farms that need to meet these requirements, we want to remind them of this new effective date and that we are here to help them as needed."
As part of the new agricultural water assessment requirement, farms will need to consider several elements, including location and nature of the water source; water distribution system used; the degree to which the system is protected from possible sources of contamination; the type of application method; the time interval between the last direct application of agricultural water and harvest; and other elements, such as testing. Additional information can be found here.
Dr. Betsy Bihn of the Produce Safety Alliance, Cornell University, said, "There is a free on-demand video training for growers who need information about the new agricultural water assessment requirements and we have been conducting new trainings throughout New York State to help growers learn how to minimize risks in their agricultural water." This information is available at the Produce Safety Alliance and National GAPs Program websites.
The Produce Safety Rule sets standards for growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce, and applies to covered fruits and vegetables normally consumed raw, such as apples, carrots, lettuce, onions, and tomatoes. The Produce Safety Rule does not apply to produce rarely consumed raw (such as winter squash) or produce grown for personal consumption.
The Produce Safety Rule requires that covered farms have to ensure that agricultural water that is intended to, or likely to, contact covered produce or food-contact surfaces is safe and of adequate sanitary quality. It is one of seven areas that farmers must comply with as part of the Produce Safety Rule.
The Produce Safety Rule establishes standards for:
* Agricultural water
* Biological soil amendments of animal origin
* Health and hygiene
* Domesticated and wild animals
* Equipment, tools, and buildings
* Training
* Sprouts
Accompanying these areas are certain record-keeping requirements that document compliance with requirements, including for training, agricultural water quality systems inspection, agricultural water assessment, use of biological soil amendments of animal origin, cleaning and sanitizing practices, and any other required practices. The production of sprouts has different requirements than for other covered produce, so producers are encouraged to be aware of those differences. These practices are confirmed through an inspection conducted by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
As of today, farms that are covered by the FSMA's Produce Safety Rule that are expected to be in compliance with the new pre-harvest agricultural water rule requirements and subject to inspections, unless they have a qualified exemption, include large farms with an average annual monetary value of produce sold during the previous three years of more than $500,000 and small farms (less than $500,000 and more than $250,000). Very small farms (less than $250,000 and more than $25,000) have until April 5, 2027 to comply with these new requirements. All farms are already subject to other Produce Safety Rule requirements, including those for harvest and post-harvest agricultural water.
The Department has been implementing the new produce safety standards as required by FSMA since it was signed into law on the federal level to encourage a proactive, preventative approach to food safety on farms. Department staff has been conducting outreach and actively educating New York farms that are required to meet these new standards and performing the required inspections.
Additional information on FSMA can be found on the Department's website. Questions about this new requirement for small farm operations, or the Produce Safety Rule in general, can be directed to Steve Schirmer at (315) 487-0852 or steve.schirmer@agriculture.ny.gov.
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Original text here: https://agriculture.ny.gov/news/state-agriculture-department-reminds-farm-new-produce-safety-rule-requirement-now-effect-small
Ill. Auditor General: 'Illinois Grain Insurance Corporation -- Compliance Examination'
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 8 (TNSLrpt) -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following report involving Illinois Grain Insurance Corporation -- Compliance Examination.
Here are excerpts:
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REPORT DIGEST
ILLINOIS GRAIN INSURANCE CORPORATION COMPLIANCE EXAMINATION
FOR THE TWO YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 Release Date: March 31, 2026 FINDINGS THIS AUDIT: 0
FINDINGS LAST AUDIT: 0
State of Illinois, Office of the Auditor General
FRANK J. MAUTINO, AUDITOR GENERAL To obtain a copy of the Report contact: Office of the Auditor General, 400 West Monroe, Suite 306, Springfield, IL 62704-9849
(217)
... Show Full Article
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 8 (TNSLrpt) -- The Illinois Auditor General issued the following report involving Illinois Grain Insurance Corporation -- Compliance Examination.
Here are excerpts:
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REPORT DIGEST
ILLINOIS GRAIN INSURANCE CORPORATION COMPLIANCE EXAMINATION
FOR THE TWO YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 Release Date: March 31, 2026 FINDINGS THIS AUDIT: 0
FINDINGS LAST AUDIT: 0
State of Illinois, Office of the Auditor General
FRANK J. MAUTINO, AUDITOR GENERAL To obtain a copy of the Report contact: Office of the Auditor General, 400 West Monroe, Suite 306, Springfield, IL 62704-9849
(217)782-6046 or TTY (888) 261-2887 This Report Digest and Full Report are also available on the worldwide web at www.auditor.illinois.gov INTRODUCTION
The Illinois Grain Insurance Corporation (Corporation) was created to make investments with funds assessed and collected by the Department of Agriculture (Department) and to transfer funds to the Department's Grain Indemnity Trust Fund when the Director of the Department determines it necessary in order to compensate claimants in accordance with the Illinois Grain Code. The assessments are collected from grain dealers, warehousemen, grain sellers, and lenders as established in the Code.
This digest covers the compliance examination of the Corporation for the two years ended June 30, 2025. A separate digest covering the Corporation's Financial Audit as of and for the year ended June 30, 2025 and June 30, 2024 is being separately released.
There were no material findings of noncompliance disclosed during our examination.
AUDITOR'S OPINION
The financial audit report was separately released. The auditors stated the financial statements of the Corporation as of and for the years ended June 30, 2025, and June 30, 2024, are fairly stated in all material respects.
ACCOUNTANT'S OPINION
The accountants conducted a State compliance examination of the Corporation for the two years ended June 30, 2025, as required by the Illinois State Auditing Act. The accountants stated the Corporation complied, in all material respects, with the requirements described in the report.
This compliance examination was conducted by Adelfia LLC.
COURTNEY DZIERWA
Division Director
This report is transmitted in accordance with Section 3-14 of the Illinois State Auditing Act.
FRANK J. MAUTINO
Auditor General
FJM:eo
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The report is posted at: https://www.auditor.illinois.gov/Audit-Reports/Compliance-Agency-List/Grain/FY25-Grain-Ins-Corp-Comp-Digest.pdf
