Bill > SSB3145

This Study Bill mandates that grocery stores in Iowa that participate in federal food programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), must maintain a regular inventory of conventional eggs if they offer specialty eggs for sale. Conventional eggs are defined as standard shell eggs graded AA, A, or B, while specialty eggs include those advertised as cage-free, free-range, or from enriched colony cages. The bill clarifies that grocery stores are not required to stock specialty eggs, nor are they forced to sell any eggs if they choose not to as part of their normal business, and stores that exclusively sold specialty eggs before January 1, 2018, are exempt. Violations of the inventory requirement will result in a civil penalty of up to one hundred dollars per day, though this will not automatically disqualify a store from federal programs unless the U.S. Department of Agriculture authorizes it. The Iowa Department of Public Health, with assistance from the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, will establish rules and may seek waivers from federal regulations to implement and enforce these provisions.