Committee advances three raw-milk bills; two substitutes fail

The House Committee on Government Operations voted to send three bills on the sale of raw milk to the committee on rules or to report them with recommendation after rejecting proposed substitutes. Chair Bagole said the bills, originally presented by Representative Maddox, would “permit the sale of raw milk by dairy farmers directly to the consumers.”

Representative McFall offered a substitute to HB 52-18 that would have required warning labels listing the most common bacteria found in raw milk and emphasizing that certain consumers are at higher risk of illness if they consume raw milk or raw-milk products. The committee rejected that substitute on a roll call the clerk read as two ayes and three nays; the clerk announced the substitute was not adopted.

Representative Fitzgerald offered a substitute to HB 52-19 intended to increase consumer protection by prohibiting sale of raw milk or raw-milk products to anyone under 19, banning free samples, and preventing donation of raw-milk products to food pantries and food banks. The committee rejected that substitute on a recorded vote that the clerk read as two ayes and three nays.

On final motions reported in committee business, Representative Harris moved to report HB 52-17 to the committee on rules; the clerk read a roll call that produced three yes votes and two no votes and announced HB 52-17 was referred to rules. The committee similarly reported HB 52-18 with recommendation and referred HB 52-19 to the committee on rules, both by three-to-two tallies.

The transcript does not include fuller debate on the policy merits of allowing raw-milk sales, nor does it record technical amendments to the bills beyond the two defeated substitutes. No additional details on regulatory or enforcement provisions, funding, or statutory citations were provided in the hearing record.

The committee adjourned after reading submitted witness cards: Terry Sabo of the DMVA submitted support on a card, and Judy Allen submitted a card expressing concerns but did not appear to testify in person.