Gov. Mike Parson will be at the Pineville Community Center in McDonald County on Aug. 21, for a ceremonial signing of combined House Bill 2134/1956, also known as “The Sludge Bill.”

The bill, sponsored by State Rep. Dirk Deaton, R-Noel, and fellow State Rep. Ed Lewis, R-Moberly, was officially signed into law by Governor Parson, in Jefferson City, on July 9. But, said Deaton, none of his constituents from southwest Missouri were able to attend that signing.

“I just want to make sure the folks here in southwest Missouri who worked so hard toward bringing this legislation to pass can receive some recognition,” Deaton said. “So, I requested this special ceremonial signing in McDonald County. I’m glad the governor was able to put it on his schedule.”

House Bill 2134/1956 closed a loophole that once allowed meat-processing sludge to be land-applied under a permit from the Missouri Fertilizer Control Board.

Also included in the new statute is the establishment of a nutrient standard for land-applied industrial food and meat byproducts, annual testing requirements for those materials and setback requirements from public buildings and residences for open, industrial sludge storage basins.

The ceremonial bill signing for HB 2134/1956 will take place at 2 p.m. on Aug. 21, at the Pineville Community Center, located at 602 Jesse James Road in Pineville.