Victory in Virginia – Bills Threatening Herd Shares Now Dead
February 6, 2018Farmers & Consumers Challenge Raw Milk Ban
February 19, 2018State-by-State tracking of legislation that could affect access to and distribution of raw milk and raw milk products in the U.S. Click on the bill label in parenthesis to go directly to the state legislative entry for more details and latest status. Visit State Updates and Summary of Raw Milk Laws by state for more legality information.
HAWAII
Hawaii Senate Bill 162 (SB 162)
to legalize sale of pet milk direct from producer
01/25/2017 – Referred to Senate Committees on Agriculture & Environment, on Commerce, Consumer Protection & Health, and on Ways & Means
FINAL – Died without committee hearing
Hawaii Senate Bill 1167 (SB 1167)
to officially legalize distribution of raw milk through herdshare agreements
01/27/2017 – Referred to Senate Committees on Agriculture & Environment and on Commerce, Consumer Protection & Health
FINAL – Died without committee hearing
ILLINOIS
Illinois House Bill 2466 (HB 2466)
Bill would give the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) authority to issue rules allowing the delivery of raw milk by dairies that are permitted through IDPH. Current law allows only on-farm sales.
03/31/2017 – Re-referred to Rules Committee
IOWA
Iowa House Bill 2055 (HF 2055)
to allow the unregulated sale of raw milk and raw milk products on-farm and through delivery; the sale of raw milk is currently illegal.
01/22/2018 – Referred to House Committee on Local Government
01/30/2018 – House subcommittee recommends passage by 2 to 1 vote
FINAL – Died without full committee hearing
Iowa House Bill 2056 (HF 2056)
to allow the distribution of raw milk through herdshare agreements
01/22/2018 – Referred to House Committee on Local Government
FINAL – Died without committee hearing
Iowa House Bill 2057 (HF 2057)
to allow sale of raw pet milk on-farm and through delivery
01/22/2018 – Referred to House Committee on Local Government
FINAL – Died without committee hearing
LOUISIANA
Louisiana House Bill 437 (HB 437)
to allow the on-farm sale of raw milk up to 500 gallons per month from either cows or goats
03/02/2018 – Referred to House on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development Committee
Louisiana Senate Bill 188 (SB 188)
to allow the on-farm sale of raw milk up to 500 gallons per month from either cows or goats
03/02/2018 – Referred to Senate Health and Welfare Committee
MASSACHUSETTS
Massachusetts House Bill 2938 (H.2938)
Companion bill to S.442–An agricultural omnibus bill which includes provisions that would officially legalize herdshare programs with no more than twelve (12) lactating cows or goats or a combination of the two. Bill would also allow the off farm delivery of raw milk by licensed dairies.
01/28/2018 – Referred to Joint Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee; see S.442
Massachusetts Senate Bill 442 (S.442)
Companion bill to H.2938–An agricultural omnibus bill which includes provisions that would officially legalize herdshare programs with no more than twelve (12) lactating cows or goats or a combination of the two. Bill would also allow the off farm delivery of raw milk by licensed dairies.
02/07/2018 – Passed out of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture
NEW JERSEY
New Jersey Assembly Bill 502 (A.502)
to allow licensed sale of raw milk on-farm; and allow unregulated distribution of raw milk through herd shares
01/09/2018 – Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma House Bill 3176 (HB 3176)
to allow sales of raw milk at farmers markets
02/06/2018 – Referred to House Rules Committee
TENNESSEE
Tennessee House Bill 2229 (HB 2229)
to allow the unregulated sale direct from producer to consumers of all foods except meat on the farm, at farmers markets and other venues
02/05/2018 – Referred to House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee
03/07/2018 – Failed in subcommittee
Tennessee Senate Bill 2104 (SB 2104)
to allow the unregulated sale direct from producer to consumers of all foods except meat on the farm, at farmers markets and other venues
02/05/2018 – Referred to Senate Health and Welfare Committee
03/07/2018 – Failed in committee
UTAH
Utah Senate Bill 108 (S.B. 108)
to allow sales of raw milk at farmers markets and from a mobile refrigerated truck by licensed dairies; to allow unregulated on-farm sale of raw milk up to 120 gallons per month
01/25/2018 – Referred to Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee
01/31/2018 – Held over in committee after January 31st hearing
02/14/2018 – Passed out of the Senate committee
02/23/2018 – Passed out of Senate; referred to House Committee on Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
03/01/2018 – Passed House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee
03/06/2018 – Passed the House
03/19/2018 – Signed into law, effective immediately
VIRGINIA
Virginia House Bill 825 (HB 825)
Bill would have officially legalized and regulated herdshare operations.
02/05/2018 – Stricken in House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources subcommittee by 8-0 vote February 5, 2018
Virginia Senate Bill 962 (SB 962)
Bill would have officially legalized and regulated herdshare operations.
02/01/2018 – Failed to pass in Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources by 8-7 vote February 1, 2018
