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Bill > H864

MA H864

To upgrade hen welfare and establish uniform cage-free standards

summary

Introduced
03/29/2021
In Committee
03/29/2021
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2022

Introduced Session

192nd General Court

Bill Summary

For legislation to further regulate the prevention of cruelty to farm animals. Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture.

AI Summary

This bill aims to upgrade hen welfare and establish uniform cage-free standards. The key provisions include: 1. Prohibiting the sale of egg products derived from hens confined in a cruel manner, such as in enclosures that do not meet minimum space requirements or lack access to a cage-free housing system. 2. Defining key terms, such as "cage-free housing system," "covered animal," and "confined in a cruel manner," to establish clear standards for hen welfare. 3. Allowing a defense against enforcement actions if the business owner or operator relied in good faith on a supplier's certification that the products were not derived from animals confined in a cruel manner. 4. Requiring the Department of Agricultural Resources to promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation of the act, including authorizing the use of third-party validators to assist with compliance. 5. Setting an effective date of January 1, 2022, for the key provisions of the bill.

Committee Categories

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Sponsors (55)

Dan Cahill (D)*,  Jim Arciero (D),  Brian Ashe (D),  Ruth Balser (D),  David Biele (D),  Pete Capano (D),  Edward Coppinger (D),  Brendan Crighton (D),  Josh Cutler (D),  Carol Doherty (D),  Dan Donahue (D),  Jamie Eldridge (D),  Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D),  Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D),  Bill Galvin (D),  Sean Garballey (D),  Carmine Gentile (D),  Jessica Giannino (D),  Ken Gordon (D),  Tami Gouveia (D),  Rich Haggerty (D),  Sheila Harrington (R),  Jim Hawkins (D),  Chris Hendricks (D),  Natalie Higgins (D),  Vanna Howard (D),  Brad Jones (R),  Patrick Kearney (D),  Kay Khan (D),  Mike Kushmerek (D),  David LeBoeuf (D),  Jack Lewis (D),  Jay Livingstone (D),  Adrian Madaro (D),  Leonard Mirra (R),  Matt Muratore (R),  Brian Murray (D),  Tram Nguyen (D),  Patrick O'Connor (R),  Jake Oliveira (D),  Steve Owens (D),  Alice Peisch (D),  Angelo Puppolo (D),  Dave Robertson (D),  Dave Rogers (D),  Danny Ryan (D),  Lindsay Sabadosa (D),  Adam Scanlon (D),  Dan Sena (D),  Tom Stanley (D),  Walter Timilty (D),  Paul Tucker (D),  Steve Ultrino (D),  Tommy Vitolo (D),  Steve Xiarhos (R), 

Last Action

Accompanied a new draft, see S2470 (on 06/10/2021)
(5 Companion Bills)

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Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H864
Bill https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H864.pdf
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