Bill > HB4117

This bill amends the Michigan Animal Industry Act to establish new standards for the housing and treatment of certain farm animals, specifically egg-laying hens, gestating sows, and calves raised for veal. The bill defines detailed requirements for "cage-free housing systems" for egg-laying hens, mandating that these animals must be able to roam freely within an indoor or outdoor environment, have access to enrichment areas like perches and scratch zones, and be provided with a minimum amount of usable floor space. Farm owners and operators are prohibited from tethering or confining these animals in ways that prevent them from lying down, standing up, fully extending their limbs, or turning around freely. The bill also restricts the sale of shell eggs produced by hens confined in non-compliant conditions, with an exemption for farms with fewer than 3,000 egg-laying hens. Exceptions to these requirements exist for specific situations like veterinary procedures, transportation, research, and exhibition. The restrictions for egg-laying hens will take effect on January 1, 2029, while provisions for gestating sows were set to take effect in 2020. The legislation allows for civil action to enforce these standards and explicitly states that it supplements existing animal welfare laws.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-HB-4117