Louisiana gets irrigation contractor license law

Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco signed legislation in July mandating the licensing of irrigation contractors by the state's Horticulture Commission. The Louisiana Irrigation Association had pushed for the change in the interest of increased industry standards. The legislation was sponsored by House Speaker Joe Salter (D-Florien) and encountered no real opposition on its way to approval. The governor signed the bill on July 12.

A similar bill has been stalled in New York's assembly since June. Called A6098, the legislation would require certification of all irrigation contractors in the state. The bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli, is the product of long years of work by the Irrigation Association of New York.